Choose the word that best expresses the meaning of the underlined phrasal verb:
The new coach was quick to pick up on the slight limp in Rehan’s run, though Rehan had told no one about his sore ankle.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → detect
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.
Pick up on means to notice something that is not easy to see or is not openly said. Its closest meaning is detect. Example: Maa always picks up on my mood the moment I come home.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) overlook | to fail to notice something | The checker overlooked a wrong answer in my paper. |
| (2) imitate | to copy the way someone moves or speaks | My little brother imitates our maths teacher perfectly. |
| (3) treat | to give medical care to a person or for an illness | The doctor at the camp treated the boy’s burns. |
| (4) detect (answer) | to notice or discover something that is hard to see (same as pick up on) | The machine detected a small crack in the water pipe. |