As a result of the power cut, production at the paint factory came to a …

Analyze the question The sentence is: "As a result of the power cut, production at the paint factory came to a ......". We need a word or phrase that completes the idiom meaning "stopped completely."

Explain the concept The idiom is "come to a standstill", meaning to stop completely. The standard spelling is one word, "standstill", but in this question the option is written as "stand still".

Check each option

• A. hold-up: This means a delay or a robbery. We say "held up", but not "came to a hold-up".
• B. blockade: This is the act of sealing off a place. It doesn't fit production stopping because of a power cut.
• C. stand still: This is the closest match to the idiom "came to a standstill". It fits both the meaning and the structure.
• D. suspense: This means anxious uncertainty, as in a thriller. It doesn't fit.

Answer The best choice is C. The spelling "stand still" is a variant of "standstill", but it is still clearly the best option.

Tip For "came to a ___" questions, think of fixed idioms such as "came to a standstill", "came to an end" and "came to a halt". Always look for the option that matches the idiom, even if the spelling in the options is slightly off.