To succeed in any business, one must be prepared to shake … one's lazy habits.

Analyze the question The sentence needs a particle that completes the phrasal verb with "shake" and fits the object "one's lazy habits."

Explain the concept The phrasal verb "shake off" means to get rid of something unwanted, such as a habit, a cold, or a bad feeling. Compare the other options:

• shake over: not a standard phrasal verb in English.
• shake down: means to search someone, extort money from them, or settle in (as in "shake down into a new job"). It doesn't fit habits.
• shake of: "of" is not a particle used with "shake." It is also a spelling error for "off."

Step-by-step solution

1. The sentence says one must be prepared to "get rid of" lazy habits in order to succeed.
2. The phrasal verb meaning "get rid of" is shake off.
3. Substitute it back: "To succeed in any business, one must be prepared to shake off one's lazy habits." The sentence is natural and its meaning is clear.

Answer: A. off

Tip: In WASSCE and JAMB lexis questions, learn common phrasal verbs by their meanings. "Shake off" means get rid of, as in "shake off a cold," "shake off fear," or "shake off bad habits." Also watch out for "of" versus "off," because examiners often use it as a distractor.