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Question

Direction: Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank.

Simon ______ the contact details of renowned paediatricians in the telephone directory.

This question was previously asked in
SSC Stenographer 2022 Previous Year Paper (17-Nov-2022) (Shift 2)
The correct answer is

looked up

Understanding Phrasal Verbs in Context

The question asks us to choose the most appropriate phrasal verb to complete the sentence: "Simon ______ the contact details of renowned paediatricians in the telephone directory." We need to understand the meaning of each option provided to determine which one fits the action of finding information in a directory.

Analysing the Phrasal Verb Options

Let's break down the meaning of each phrasal verb given in the options:

  • looked into: This phrasal verb typically means to investigate or examine something closely, like a problem or a situation. Example: "The police are looking into the cause of the accident." This does not fit the context of searching for contact details.
  • looked up: This phrasal verb means to search for information, often in a reference book, list, dictionary, or directory. Example: "I looked up the meaning of the word in the dictionary." This action perfectly matches searching for contact details in a telephone directory.
  • looked after: This phrasal verb means to take care of someone or something. Example: "My neighbour looked after my cat while I was on holiday." This is unrelated to finding contact details.
  • went on: This phrasal verb has several meanings, including to continue, to happen, or to proceed. Example: "The show went on despite the power cut." This does not fit the context of searching for information.

Selecting the Correct Phrasal Verb for Finding Information

The sentence describes Simon's action of finding specific information (contact details of paediatricians) within a reference book (a telephone directory). Out of the options provided, the phrasal verb that means to search for information in this way is "looked up".

Therefore, the most appropriate option to fill in the blank is "looked up". The completed sentence reads: "Simon looked up the contact details of renowned paediatricians in the telephone directory."

Summary of Phrasal Verb Meanings
Phrasal Verb Meaning Context in Sentence
looked into Investigate, examine Not relevant to searching a directory.
looked up Search for information (in a list/book) Fits the action of using a telephone directory.
looked after Take care of Not relevant to searching a directory.
went on Continued, happened Not relevant to searching a directory.

Revision Table: Key Phrasal Verbs for Vocabulary

Common Phrasal Verbs and Examples
Phrasal Verb Meaning Example Sentence
look up Find information Please look up his address in the address book.
look into Investigate They will look into the complaint.
look after Take care of Who will look after the children?
go on Continue / Happen The lecture went on for two hours. / What is going on?

Additional Information on English Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs are combinations of a verb and an adverb or a preposition, or sometimes both. The meaning of a phrasal verb is often different from the individual words. Understanding phrasal verbs is crucial for mastering English vocabulary and usage, especially in contexts like reading comprehension and filling in blanks in sentences.

Learning phrasal verbs requires memorisation and exposure to how they are used in different contexts. Pay attention to the particles (the adverbs/prepositions) as they change the meaning of the base verb significantly.

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