Choose the appropriate option to complete the following sentence:
“Did you notice how the students ________ at the last moment ? That really riled me up.”
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → backed out
To back out means to withdraw from something one had agreed or promised to do. Students withdrawing at the last moment is what annoyed ("riled") the speaker.
Example: He backed out of the trip a day before we left.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: worked up — Incorrect. To work up means to make someone excited or upset, or to develop something gradually. It needs an object here and does not mean withdrawing.
Example: The speaker worked up the crowd.
Option 3: laid off — Incorrect. To lay off means to stop employing workers, usually because there is not enough work. It is done by an employer, and students are not laid off.
Example: The factory laid off fifty workers.
Option 4: kept up — Incorrect. To keep up means to continue at the same level. Students continuing their work would not annoy the speaker.
Example: She kept up her practice every day.
The following words have also been asked in other CUET (UG) English papers:
| Word | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| work up | 12-05 S1 12-05 S2 | – | – | – | – |
| lay off | 11-05 S1 18-05 S1 | – | – | 30-05 S3 | – |