Which one of the following phrasal verbs means 'to stop doing an activity or a job' ?

Question

Accepted Answer

Option 3, "give up," is the correct answer because the phrasal verb "give up" means to stop doing an activity or a job. This is a commonly used expression in English to indicate that someone has decided to cease an effort or discontinue an activity, often due to difficulty, lack of success, or a change in priorities.

1. **Explanation for Option 3 ("give up"):**
   - The phrase "give up" is widely recognized as meaning to quit or stop doing something. For example, if someone says, "I give up smoking," it means they have decided to stop smoking. Similarly, if someone gives up a job, it means they have decided to leave that job and stop working there. This aligns perfectly with the question's requirement of a phrasal verb that means 'to stop doing an activity or a job.'

2. **Explanation for why other options are incorrect:**

- **Option 1 ("take up"):**
     - "Take up" means to start doing a new activity or hobby. For example, "She decided to take up painting" means she started painting as a new activity. This is the opposite of stopping an activity, making it incorrect for the question.

- **Option 2 ("run down"):**
     - "Run down" can mean to criticize someone or something unfairly or to become tired or less effective. It does not mean to stop doing an activity or a job, so it is not the correct choice for this question.

- **Option 4 ("look for"):**
     - "Look for" means to search for something or someone. For example, "I am looking for my keys" means you are trying to find your keys. This has no relation to stopping an activity or a job, making it an incorrect option for the question.

In conclusion, Option 3, "give up," is the correct choice because it directly means to stop doing an activity or a job, which is precisely what the question asks for.