I will call the police ______ you pay me for what you have taken!

I will call the police ______ you pay me for what you have taken!

• A. If
• B. Unless
• C. Until
• D. When

Answer: (B)

The sentence tests using unless to express a negative condition: I will call the police unless you pay me for what you have taken. Here, unless means “if not,” so the threat to call the police happens only if the payment does not occur. Paying would prevent the action from happening. If would incorrectly link the calling to paying as a positive condition, making it say you’ll be called only if you pay, which is the opposite of the intended threat. Until would set a time frame—“I will call the police until you pay me”—implying ongoing action until payment, which isn’t the idea here. When would place the calling after payment, which contradicts the threat.

The sentence tests using unless to express a negative condition: I will call the police unless you pay me for what you have taken. Here, unless means “if not,” so the threat to call the police happens only if the payment does not occur. Paying would prevent the action from happening.

If would incorrectly link the calling to paying as a positive condition, making it say you’ll be called only if you pay, which is the opposite of the intended threat. Until would set a time frame—“I will call the police until you pay me”—implying ongoing action until payment, which isn’t the idea here. When would place the calling after payment, which contradicts the threat.