▲动词 receive 和 accept 的基本区别是：receive 通常指被动地“收到”或“接到”，而 accept 则指主动地“接受”。如：

We haven’t received his letter for a long time. 我们很久没有收到他的来信了。

She offered him a lift and he accepted (it). 她请他坐她的车，他就领情了。

体会下面句子中 receive 和 accept 的用法：

She received his present, but she didn’t accept it. 她收到了他的礼物，但是没有接受。

We cannot accept applications received after this date. 我们不会接受在这个日期之后收到的申请。

▲以上说的是基本区别，但也要注意：我们也不能简单地认为 receive＝收到，accept＝接受。如“接受礼物”说成英语是 accept a gift, 而“接受教育”却是 receive an education。

再如你提到的这个问题——“领奖”，英语既可用 receive a prize，也可用 accept a prize，但略有区别：receive a prize侧重指领奖的具体动作，而 accept a prize 则侧重指领奖的心里感受。比较：

I stepped forward to receive my prize. 我走向前去领奖。

She flushed with pleasure as she accepted the prize. 她领奖时高兴得红光满面。

但在实际使用中，两者的区别很小，常可混用。

▲补充用法: 要表示汉语的“领奖”，除了用 accept 或 receive 外，有时还用 get, collect 等。如：

Everyone clapped us when we went up to get our prize. 我们上前领奖时，大家都为我们鼓掌。

His heart swelled with pride as he watched his daughter collect her prize. 他看着女儿领奖，心中充满了自豪。