Since the opposing parties could not come to an agreement, the peace talks …

Analyze the question The sentence says the opposing parties could not reach an agreement, so the peace talks must have failed or collapsed. We need the phrasal verb that expresses this.

Explain the concept: phrasal verbs with "break"

• break up: to end a relationship or to disperse (e.g., a crowd or a meeting, or a couple splitting up). It does not usually describe negotiations that fail.
• break down: to fail, collapse, or stop working (e.g., "negotiations broke down", "the car broke down").
• break through: to make a sudden advance or achieve success (e.g., "the talks broke through" would mean they succeeded).
• break out: to start suddenly, usually something unpleasant (e.g., war, fire, or disease broke out).

Step-by-step solution

1. The clue is "could not come to an agreement", which signals failure.
2. "Broke through" means success, which is the opposite, so C is out.
3. "Broke out" is used for the sudden start of war or disease, so D is out.
4. "Broke up" is used for meetings or crowds dispersing and for relationships ending. It is less standard for failed negotiations, so A is weaker.
5. "Broke down" is the standard collocation for negotiations or talks that fail: "the peace talks broke down."

Answer: B. broke down

Exam tip: Remember the collocation "talks/negotiations break down" and "war/fire/disease break out." Look for the clue word in the sentence (here, "could not come to an agreement") to decide whether the meaning is positive or negative.