Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that most appropriately completes the sentence “Don’t wear…

Analyze the question: This tests phrasal verbs with "wear". The sentence is a warning against overdoing exercise, so we need the particle that means "exhaust yourself."

Explain the concept: Different particles change the meaning of "wear":

• wear out: to become exhausted or to use something until it is finished. It can be used reflexively, as in "wear yourself out," meaning to tire yourself completely.
• wear off: to fade gradually (e.g., "the pain wore off").
• wear in: to make new shoes or equipment comfortable by using them.
• wear up: not a standard phrasal verb.
• wear down: to gradually reduce something, or to wear someone down by persistent pressure. It is not normally used reflexively for tiring yourself out.

Solution:

• "Don't wear ___ yourself by trying to do too much too soon" means "Don't exhaust yourself by trying to do too much."
• "Wear yourself out" is the standard idiomatic expression for this.
• "Wear yourself off," "wear yourself in," and "wear yourself up" make no sense.
• "Wear yourself down" is not the usual idiom, and "wear out" fits the meaning of overexertion best.

Completed sentence: "Don't wear yourself out by trying to do too much too soon," the instructor warned.

The word order in the question ("wear ___ yourself") places the particle before the pronoun, but "out" still fits as the intended answer.

Answer: A. out

Tip: Remember "wear yourself out" and "tire yourself out" together. When the meaning is exhaustion from too much effort, "out" is the particle to choose.