Choose the most appropriate option to complete the following sentence…

The correct answer is Option (3) → taken up

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.

Many people have started on the task of writing the country's history, but few have finished it successfully, so "taken up" fits.
Complete sentence: Several people have taken up the task of writing the history of the country, but very few have succeeded.

Phrasal verb	Meaning	Example
(1) taken out	to remove something, to take someone to a restaurant or show, or to obtain a loan or policy. One does not take out a task.	He took out a loan to buy the house.
(2) taken off	to remove clothing, or (of a plane) to leave the ground. It does not mean starting a task.	Please take off your shoes before entering.
(3) taken up (answer)	to start doing a task or accept it as a job	She has taken up the job of organising the school fete.
(4) taken into	used in phrases like take into account or take into custody. "Taken into the task" is not English.	We must take into account the cost of travel.