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Question

Difficulty: MediumPhrasal Verbs and Prepositional Verbs

Complete the sentence below by supplying the appropriate particle to form the correct phrasal verb.

Answer:After interviewing over fifty qualified applicants, the recruitment panel managed to whittle the list 【down】 to just three final candidates.

Answer

down
The correct particle is 'down'. The phrasal verb 'whittle down' means to gradually reduce the size, number, or list of items or people. In this context, reducing fifty applicants to three finalists requires 'down'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context of the sentence to identify the intended meaning of the action.
The recruitment panel is systematically reducing a large pool of fifty applicants to a smaller number of three candidates.
Understanding the context helps determine which phrasal verb particle expresses gradual reduction.
2
Identify the standard phrasal verb formed with the verb stem 'whittle' that means to diminish or cut down numbers gradually.
The phrasal verb 'whittle down' means to reduce something in size, amount, or number by degrees.
'Whittle' literally means to carve wood by cutting thin slices; idiomatically, combining it with 'down' signifies narrowing options.

Key Concept

Idiomatic Particle Selection in Phrasal Verbs
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Phrasal Verbs and Prepositional Verbs

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