Fill in the blanks with the appropriate Phrasal Verbs from the options given below:-
The negotiations between the neighbouring states will surely ------------------ over the contentious river water issue.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → break down
Break down (of talks or a relationship) means to fail or come to an end without success. Talks between states over a contentious (disputed) issue may fail, so the negotiations "break down".
Example: The peace talks broke down after both sides refused to compromise.
Complete sentence: The negotiations between the neighbouring states will surely break down over the contentious river water issue.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 2: break in — Incorrect. Break in means to enter a building by force or to interrupt a conversation; negotiations cannot break in.
Example: Thieves broke in through the back door.
Option 3: break of — Incorrect. "Break of" is not a phrasal verb in English; the phrasal verb "break off" (to end suddenly) is spelt differently.
Option 4: break with — Incorrect. Break with means to end a connection with a person or a tradition; it needs an object ("break with tradition") and does not fit "over the issue".
Example: She decided to break with family tradition and become an artist.
The following words have also been asked in other CUET (UG) English papers:
| Word | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| break off | 18-05 S1 26-05 S1 | – | – | 22-05 S1 08-06 S3 | – |