Question

Find the synonym of the underlined word.
Further arms limitations talks were called off when Congress failed to ratify the treaty.
a. Cancelled
b. Postponed
c. Scheduled
d. Interrupted
e. Announced

Answer 1

Hint: The underlined word is a phrasal verb. We are asked to find the word that means the most exact to it.

Complete answer:
Phrasal verbs are a combination of a verb and a preposition that gives another meaning. In the given phrasal verb ‘called off,’ the verb ‘call’ is written along with ‘off.’ It now means to cancel or abandon a program that was supposed to happen at a prescribed time.
Synonym gives a very similar meaning to another word.
> Among the given options, option a gives us the correct synonym for ‘called off’.
- Postponed in option b is wrong because we use ‘put off’ as the phrasal verb to mean the same.
- Similarly, option c is also incorrect. Scheduled indicates an event or program that is planned to happen. We use ‘set up’ or ‘work out’ to indicate this meaning.
- Interrupted in option d is the wrong option. Break in, cut off or cut in are the generally used phrasal verbs for ‘interrupt.’
- Option e is also incorrect as ‘bring out’ is used to indicate ‘announce’.

Note: Phrasal verbs can be confusing as in “put out the light, then put out the light.“ ‘Put out’ is used in two contexts here – to extinguish the light and put it out.