WAEC 2014 English Language · Question 67

Children often try to live up … their parents' expectations.

Question

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes the sentence. Children often try to live up ........ their parents' expectations.

A.in
B.by
C.to
D.on

Answer: C. to

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Analyze the question: This tests prepositions that go with a phrasal verb. The phrase is "live up ___ expectations," so we need the preposition that completes it.

Explain the concept: "Live up to" is a fixed phrasal verb. It means to meet or match a standard, hope, or expectation. It is always followed by "to" and never by "in," "by," or "on."

Examples:

She worked hard to live up to her teacher's praise.
The new phone did not live up to its advertisement.

Solution:

A. live up in is not a correct phrasal verb.
B. live up by is not used in English.
C. live up to is correct and means to meet expectations.
D. live up on is not correct.

Completed sentence: "Children often try to live up to their parents' expectations."

Tip: Some expressions always take "to" as their partner: live up to, look forward to, be used to, get down to. Learn these phrasal verbs as whole units rather than word by word, and you will pick the right preposition quickly in the exam.

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