The instructor agreed but could not answer my question with an alternative answer.

This presents two or more alternative answers, as in "Do you want fish or lamb?"

All this computer activity obviously has produced no alternative answer, except to make me wonder if you had gone soft.

There is no obligation and the player is free to lock in an alternative answer.

Answer guide: Once again a number of alternative answers are acceptable here.

Thus a number of alternative answers are possible and acceptable.

But with a "Hell no" you have to suggest an alternative answer.

Lorazepam may create conditions where alternative answers come to mind more easily.

But experience suggests that it will end up as yet another alternative answer to a question that is too interesting to be answered for good.

All this is gleaned from 12 questions with four alternative answers.