Choose the best option to fill in the blank with an appropriate preposition:
We climbed up to the road and set _________ on what proved to be a very long march to the forest.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → off
A phrasal verb is a verb joined with a small word such as up, out or together. The two words together have a new meaning.
Set off means to begin a journey. After climbing up to the road, the group started on the long march to the forest, so "set off" fits.
Complete sentence: We climbed up to the road and set off on what proved to be a very long march to the forest.
Example: We set off for the hills before sunrise.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: of — Incorrect. "Set of" is not a verb phrase. A set of is a noun phrase meaning a group of similar things.
Example: She gave me a set of coloured pencils.
Option 2: on — Incorrect. Set on (or set upon) means to attack someone suddenly. It does not mean starting a march.
Example: The dogs set on the thief as he climbed the wall.
Option 3: about — Incorrect. Set about means to start doing a task. It takes an object (set about the work) and is not used for starting a journey.
Example: After lunch, she set about cleaning the kitchen.
| Also asked in CUET (UG): set off – 25-05-2026 Slot 1, 23-06-2023 Slot 3 set about – 23-06-2023 Slot 3 |