Defining Moments
Gap Grabbers
Sentence Sleuth
Context Crusaders
Verb Voyage
100
Which verb means "to think about something carefully and for a long time before making a decision"?
• a) To hit upon
• b) To mull over
• c) To stumble across
To mull over
100
The detectives spent weeks trying to ______ the missing witness.
• a) stake out
• b) track down
• c) nose around
track down
100
The police decided to ______ the suspect's apartment for several nights, hoping to catch him returning.
To mull over (the decision)
To keep sth back (from sb)
To stumble across
To track down (the perpetrators)
To stake out (the house)
To nose around (the property)
To size up (if/whether)
To root out (corruption)
To hit upon (the idea)
__To catch up with (a mistake/crime…sb)
stake out
100
You're walking down the street and unexpectedly find a twenty-dollar bill. Which verb describes what happened?
To mull over (the decision)
To keep sth back (from sb)
To stumble across
To track down (the perpetrators)
To stake out (the house)
To nose around (the property)
To size up (if/whether)
To root out (corruption)
To hit upon (the idea)
__To catch up with (a mistake/crime…sb)
You stumbled across it.
100
True or False: "To stake out" usually involves open and obvious observation.
False. It usually involves hidden or discreet observation.
200
If you "keep something back" from someone, what are you doing?
• a) Giving them extra information.
• b) Delaying giving them something.
• c) Withholding information or a secret.
Withholding information or a secret.
200
He felt guilty for trying to ______ the truth from his parents.
• a) mull over
• b) keep back
• c) root out
keep back
200
After months of investigation, justice finally began to ______ the criminals.
To mull over (the decision)
To keep sth back (from sb)
To stumble across
To track down (the perpetrators)
To stake out (the house)
To nose around (the property)
To size up (if/whether)
To root out (corruption)
To hit upon (the idea)
__To catch up with (a mistake/crime…sb)
catch up with
200
Your boss asks you for your opinion on a complex new project. You need some time to think deeply about it. What verb would you use to describe this process?
To mull over (the decision)
To keep sth back (from sb)
To stumble across
To track down (the perpetrators)
To stake out (the house)
To nose around (the property)
To size up (if/whether)
To root out (corruption)
To hit upon (the idea)
__To catch up with (a mistake/crime…sb)
To mull over the project.
200
If you finally "hit upon" a solution, was it easy to find? Why or why not?
No, it was likely difficult. "To hit upon" implies a sudden discovery or realization after a period of thought or struggle.
300
Explain the difference between "to track down" and "to stumble across."
"To track down" implies an intentional and often difficult search for something or someone. "To stumble across" means to find something or someone by accident, without looking for it.
300
While hiking in the woods, she ______ an abandoned cabin.
• a) hit upon
• b) sized up
• c) stumbled across
stumbled across
300
Rewrite the following sentence using one of our verbs: "The government needs to eliminate inefficiency in public services."
To mull over (the decision)
To keep sth back (from sb)
To stumble across
To track down (the perpetrators)
To stake out (the house)
To nose around (the property)
To size up (if/whether)
To root out (corruption)
To hit upon (the idea)
__To catch up with (a mistake/crime…sb)
The government needs to root out inefficiency in public services.
300
A new person has joined your team, and you're trying to quickly assess their personality, skills, and potential. Which verb describes what you're doing?
To mull over (the decision)
To keep sth back (from sb)
To stumble across
To track down (the perpetrators)
To stake out (the house)
To nose around (the property)
To size up (if/whether)
To root out (corruption)
To hit upon (the idea)
__To catch up with (a mistake/crime…sb)
You are sizing up the new person.
300
Which verb from our list is specifically about preventing information from being revealed?
To mull over (the decision)
To keep sth back (from sb)
To stumble across
To track down (the perpetrators)
To stake out (the house)
To nose around (the property)
To size up (if/whether)
To root out (corruption)
To hit upon (the idea)
__To catch up with (a mistake/crime…sb)
To keep back (information/a secret).
400
Which two verbs from our list involve observing something or someone intently, often with a specific purpose (e.g., surveillance or assessment)?
To mull over (the decision)
To keep sth back (from sb)
To stumble across
To track down (the perpetrators)
To stake out (the house)
To nose around (the property)
To size up (if/whether)
To root out (corruption)
To hit upon (the idea)
__To catch up with (a mistake/crime…sb)
To stake out and To size up. (Also, "to nose around" involves observation, but usually more casually and intrusively).
400
The company's new CEO vowed to ______ all forms of corruption within the organization.
• a) root out
• b) catch up with
• c) stake out
root out
400
He spent hours trying to ______ the best strategy for the chess game.
To mull over (the decision)
To keep sth back (from sb)
To stumble across
To track down (the perpetrators)
To stake out (the house)
To nose around (the property)
To size up (if/whether)
To root out (corruption)
To hit upon (the idea)
__To catch up with (a mistake/crime…sb)
mull over
400
Imagine a politician is trying to eliminate a long-standing system of bribery in their department. What is the politician trying to do to the bribery?
To mull over (the decision)
To keep sth back (from sb)
To stumble across
To track down (the perpetrators)
To stake out (the house)
To nose around (the property)
To size up (if/whether)
To root out (corruption)
To hit upon (the idea)
__To catch up with (a mistake/crime…sb)
They are trying to root out the bribery.
400
You're visiting a friend's new house and you start looking into cupboards and private rooms without permission. Which verb describes this intrusive behaviour?
To mull over (the decision)
To keep sth back (from sb)
To stumble across
To track down (the perpetrators)
To stake out (the house)
To nose around (the property)
To size up (if/whether)
To root out (corruption)
To hit upon (the idea)
__To catch up with (a mistake/crime…sb)
To nose around the property/house.
500
You've had a brilliant, sudden idea. Which verb describes this moment, and what is the typical preposition used with it?
To mull over (the decision)
To keep sth back (from sb)
To stumble across
To track down (the perpetrators)
To stake out (the house)
To nose around (the property)
To size up (if/whether)
To root out (corruption)
To hit upon (the idea)
__To catch up with (a mistake/crime…sb)
To hit upon. (e.g., "She hit upon the perfect solution.")
500
Before agreeing to the partnership, we need to ______ whether they are truly reliable.
• a) mull over
• b) stake out
• c) size up
size up
500
Identify the two verbs that could fit in this sentence, and explain the subtle difference in meaning: "She tried to ______ the old man's private study, looking for clues."
To mull over (the decision)
To keep sth back (from sb)
To stumble across
To track down (the perpetrators)
To stake out (the house)
To nose around (the property)
To size up (if/whether)
To root out (corruption)
To hit upon (the idea)
__To catch up with (a mistake/crime…sb)
Possible Answers: "nose around" or "stumble across".
Explanation: "Nose around" implies intentionally and curiously searching or prying. "Stumble across" implies finding something by accident, not intentionally looking for it. "Nose around" is the more fitting choice for "looking for clues."
500
You've made a serious error at work, and you know there will be consequences eventually. How would you express the idea that these consequences will inevitably find you?
To mull over (the decision)
To keep sth back (from sb)
To stumble across
To track down (the perpetrators)
To stake out (the house)
To nose around (the property)
To size up (if/whether)
To root out (corruption)
To hit upon (the idea)
__To catch up with (a mistake/crime…sb)
The consequences will catch up with you.
500
Describe a scenario where a crime might "catch up with" a criminal, and explain what that means in this context.
