Choose the best option to complete the following sentence:
The fear that COVID has broken ________ in our city is not unfounded.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → out
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.
The phrasal verb break out means to start suddenly, used for something unpleasant such as a disease, war or fire. The fear is that COVID has broken out, that is, started spreading suddenly, in the city.
Complete sentence: The fear that COVID has broken out in our city is not unfounded.
Example: Cholera broke out in the village after the floods.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: up — Incorrect. Break up means to end a relationship or to come apart, or (of a school) to close for the holidays. A disease does not "break up".
Example: The meeting broke up without any decision.
Option 2: about — Incorrect. "Break about" is not an English phrasal verb.
Option 3: down — Incorrect. Break down means to stop working (a machine) or to lose control of one's feelings. It does not describe a disease starting.
Example: Our bus broke down on the highway.