They had to cancel the match as the ground was too wet to play on. Replace the underlined word with an appropriate phrasal verb :

Question

Accepted Answer

The sentence in question is: "They had to cancel the match as the ground was too wet to play on." The task is to replace the word "cancel" with an appropriate phrasal verb. The correct answer provided is Option 1: "call off."

1. **Explanation for Option 1 (call off):**
   - The phrasal verb "call off" means to cancel an event or an arrangement. In the context of the sentence, the match was canceled due to the wet ground, making "call off" the most suitable replacement for "cancel." This phrasal verb accurately conveys the action of canceling the match, aligning perfectly with the intended meaning of the sentence.

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

- **Option 2 (call out):** 
     - "Call out" typically means to shout or to summon someone to come forward. It can also mean to challenge someone. This meaning does not fit the context of canceling a match, as it does not convey the idea of cancellation or termination of an event.

- **Option 3 (call up):**
     - "Call up" generally refers to summoning someone for a particular purpose, such as calling someone on the phone or enlisting someone for military service. It does not imply canceling an event, and therefore, it is not appropriate for replacing "cancel" in this context.

- **Option 4 (call in):**
     - "Call in" is often used to refer to requesting someone to come, such as calling in a specialist or reporting one's presence by phone. It does not convey the meaning of canceling an event, making it unsuitable for this sentence.

In conclusion, "call off" is the correct phrasal verb to replace "cancel" in the sentence, as it precisely communicates the action of canceling the match due to the wet ground. The other options do not fit the context of the sentence and do not convey the intended meaning of cancellation.