Resolving Disputes: Finding the Right Word

The sentence describes a situation where two companies have a disagreement (a dispute) that they cannot solve on their own. They decide to bring in a neutral third person to help them find a solution and resolve the matter.

Analyzing the Options

We need to find the single word that best fits the role of this independent person. Let's look at the meaning of each option:

• Dictator: This is someone who has absolute power and authority, often ruling a country. This doesn't fit the context of a neutral person helping to solve a disagreement.
• Arbitrator: This is a neutral person or body chosen by the parties in a dispute to make a binding decision. This perfectly matches the need for an independent person to resolve the company dispute.
• Orator: This is a skilled public speaker. While they might be persuasive, their role isn't specifically to settle disputes between parties.
• Translator: This person converts speech or text from one language to another. This is unrelated to resolving business disagreements.

Choosing the Correct Substitution

Based on the definitions, the most appropriate word to fill the blank is arbitrator. An arbitrator is specifically appointed to settle disputes when the parties involved cannot do so themselves.

Therefore, the completed sentence is: When the two companies could not settle the dispute themselves, they agreed to appoint an independent arbitrator to resolve the matter.