Select the most appropriate word(s) to fill in the blank: My family is my priority but there were times when I had to ______ because of work pressures.
pull away
Understanding Fill in the Blank Questions
Fill in the blank questions test your vocabulary and understanding of context. You need to choose the word or phrase that best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole. In this specific question, we are looking for a phrase that describes having to distance oneself from family commitments due to work demands.
Analyzing the Sentence Context
The sentence "My family is my priority but there were times when I had to ______ because of work pressures" sets up a contrast. Family is important, but work pressures sometimes forced a different action. This action must be something that conflicts with prioritizing family, implying a need to step away or reduce focus on family.
Evaluating the Options
Let's look at each option and see if it fits the context of having to neglect or distance oneself from family due to work pressures:
- look into: This phrase means to investigate or examine something. For example, "The manager asked me to look into the customer complaint." This does not fit the context of distancing oneself from family.
- sit in: This phrase can mean to participate in a protest by occupying a place, or to attend a meeting as an observer. For example, "Students decided to sit in at the administrative office" or "I'll just sit in on the meeting if you don't mind." Neither meaning fits the idea of being away from family due to work pressure.
- pull away: This phrase means to move away from something or someone, or to withdraw. For example, "The car began to pull away from the curb." In a figurative sense, it means to distance oneself emotionally or physically from a person or situation. This strongly fits the context of having to distance oneself from family due to intense work demands.
- put off: This phrase means to postpone something, or to discourage someone. For example, "Don't put off your homework" or "His rude attitude put me off." While work pressure might cause you to put off family activities, the phrase "put off" by itself doesn't directly mean distancing from the family unit itself in this context. "Pull away" better captures the act of withdrawal from family presence or involvement.
Comparing the options, "pull away" is the most appropriate phrase to describe the act of having to distance oneself from family involvement or presence because of overwhelming work pressures.
| Option | Meaning | Fits Context? |
|---|---|---|
| look into | Investigate/Examine | No |
| sit in | Protest/Observe | No |
| pull away | Distance oneself/Withdraw | Yes |
| put off | Postpone/Discourage | No (Doesn't fit as well as 'pull away') |
Based on the analysis, "pull away" correctly conveys the intended meaning of the sentence.
Revision Table: Phrasal Verbs in Context
| Phrasal Verb | Common Meaning(s) | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|
| look into | investigate, examine details | The police will look into the case. |
| sit in | participate in a sit-in protest; attend as an observer | Students decided to sit in on the lecture. |
| pull away | move away; withdraw; drive off (vehicle) | The boat started to pull away from the dock. |
| put off | postpone; discourage; make someone dislike | Don't put off your work until tomorrow. |
Additional Information: Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs are combinations of a verb and an adverb or preposition, or sometimes both, that create a new meaning. The meaning of the phrasal verb is often different from the meaning of the individual words. They are very common in spoken and informal English.
Understanding phrasal verbs is important for fluency. They can be challenging because their meanings are not always obvious from their parts. Context is crucial in determining the correct meaning of a phrasal verb.
For example:
- "Take off" can mean to remove clothing, to leave the ground (for a plane), or to become successful quickly.
- "Give up" can mean to surrender or to stop trying.
Learning phrasal verbs often requires memorization and practice with different contexts.
Important Questions from Fill in the Blanks
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