A. intention B. reaction C. push D. drive
答：看這題有爭議。因為此題有改編。
搜索網上，此題的原型：
英語Ⅲ級單選參考題 Unit 1[2007年01月08日]_
11. The ________ of the man who beat the girl to death was not for money but for killing.
A. motive B. motivation C. push D. drive
答案是A
而在新視野vocabulary 文檔 (2)_百度文庫 此題變成了：
11. The _ of the man who beat the girl to death was not money but sheer killing.
A. intention. B. reaction C. push D. drive
這兩題考查近義詞，我們還是查詞典來說明問題吧：
1. motive: 朗文當代英語詞典
the reason that makes someone do something, especially when this reason is kept hidden
What do you suppose the killer's motive was?
因為定語從句這故，題句不用the man's motive 而用the motive of the man who...是可以的。
劍橋高級學習詞典
motive 1
a reason for doing something:
Why would she have killed him? She has no motive.
Does he have a motive for lying about where he was?
What is the motive behind (= the reason for) the bombing?
I think you should examine/question their motives in offering to lend you the money.
She denies that she has has an ulterior (= secret) motive for making the donation.
見過one's motive for doing sth.的表達，沒找到：one's motive is for sth. 或is for doing sth.的例句。暫且承認，此句意思是：
將女孩打死的男子的動機不是為了錢而就是要她的命。
原題中motivation是最大的幹擾項，因為這兩個詞都有“動機”的解釋，而motive主要是作為動詞使用的。
2 [C] the need or reason for doing something:
What was the motivation for the attack?
The motivation behind the decision is the desire to improve our service to our customers.
似或第壹題出得不太好，因為這兩個是同義詞。只不過motive較好些，因為
麥克米蘭英語詞典 - American 後面講到了motive:
motive 1
the reason you do something:
Her motive was a genuine desire to improve conditions.
motive for: The motive for the attack is still unknown.
a. used in a negative way for showing that someone's real reasons for doing something are not the ones that they tell other people:
real/underlying/ulterior motive: People thought he must have a ulterior motive for wanting to help.
這裏是負面的動機，且涉及其真實動機。所以A最佳。
有人選D. drive，我們看壹下這個作名詞時的意思和用法：
If you say that someone has drive, you mean they have energy and determination.
John will be best remembered for his drive and enthusiasm.
[U] energy; ability to get things done 幹勁; 能力; 魄力: Our sales people need determination and drive. 我們的推銷人員需要有決心和幹勁.
[C, U] (psychology 心) desire to attain a goal or satisfy a need 欲望; 內驅力: (a) strong sexual drive 強烈的性欲.
原題不是什麽是什麽，而是什麽是為了什麽（for sth.),所以這個drive不合邏輯。
但改過的題就不壹樣了，系表就是：is not money ,but sheer killing. 所以選D也有道理。
改編後的B項沒有了motivation, 改成了不可能的reaction “反應”題目又簡單壹點了。
push作為名詞，與drive是同義詞：《牛津雙解》：
[U] (infml 口) determination to succeed; drive 毅力; 推動力: He hasn't enough push to be a successful salesman. 他缺乏優秀推銷員應有的闖勁.
最後我們來看這個intention:
牛津高階英漢雙解詞典
intention
/ ?n?ten?n; ?nˋt?n?n/ n
(a) [C, U] ~ (of doing sth/that...) that which one proposes or plans to do 意圖; 意向; 目的; 打算: What are your intentions? ie What do you plan to do? 妳有什麼打算? * She's keeping her intentions to herself, ie not telling anyone what she plans to do. 她對自己的意圖秘而不宣. * I came with the/every intention of staying, but now I've decided to leave. 我來時壹心想留下, 但現在我已決定離開. * My intention was to stay. 我原意要留下. * I have no intention of coming (ie I shall certainly not come) to this terrible place again! 我再也不想到這個糟糕的地方 來了. * (dated 舊) Peter asked the young man if his intentions were honourable, ie if he intended to marry his daughter, whom he was courting. 彼得問那年輕人是否真心實意要娶他的女兒. (b) [U] (fml 文) intending 有意; 蓄意: I'm sorry I offended you; it wasn't my intention. 對不起, 我冒犯您了, 但決不是有意的.
[C] purpose or aim; meaning 意圖; 目的; 意思: What do you think was the author's intention in this passage? 妳認為作者寫這壹段的用意是什麼?
看了這麽多，沒有找到壹句有 某人的motive( motivation/ drive/ push/ intention) is (not) sth. 或is (not) for sth. 的表達。
題句是漢語思維的結果吧。
題句本身不是很好，答案就不好說了。改過後的答案就A吧。