In the following question, a phrasal verb is given in bold, it is then…
2024
In the following question, a phrasal verb is given in bold, it is then followed by three sentences which have used the given phrasal verb. Choose the best set of alternatives from the five options given below which has correctly used the given phrasal verb without altering the meaning of the sentence.
Come up
(A) The issue of parking spaces came up during the meeting, and we spent an hour discussing it.
(B) An interesting opportunity came up, so I decided to apply for the job.
(C) The sun will come up in the west tomorrow, according to the weather report.
- A.
Both A & B
- B.
Only C
- C.
Both B & C
- D.
Only A
- E.
Both A & C
Attempted by 12 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Concept
The phrasal verb “come up” means an issue, topic, opportunity or event “arises, is raised, or presents itself” (e.g. a matter comes up for discussion; a chance comes up). When its subject is a celestial body such as the sun, “come up” carries its literal sense “to rise / appear above the horizon.” In a usage question, a sentence is acceptable only when the phrasal verb fits the sense AND the resulting statement is itself logically and factually sound — the meaning must not be distorted.
Application
“The issue of parking spaces came up during the meeting…” — here “came up” means the topic was raised for discussion. The sense fits and the sentence makes complete sense.
“An interesting opportunity came up, so I decided to apply…” — here “came up” means a chance arose/presented itself. Again the sense fits and the sentence is sound.
“The sun will come up in the west tomorrow…” — “come up” for the sun does mean “rise,” but the statement claims the sun rises in the west. The sun always rises in the east, so the sentence is factually impossible and its meaning is distorted; this usage is therefore not acceptable.
Cross-check
Keep the two sentences whose phrasal-verb sense fits AND whose meaning stays intact (the parking-meeting sentence and the job-opportunity sentence), and reject the sun-rises-in-the-west sentence. The set that keeps exactly those two correct sentences is “Both A & B.”