The boot of my new car was … in the accident.

Step 1: Analyze the question We need the word that best collocates with "the boot of a car" after an accident. Note that in British/Nigerian English, "boot" means the trunk (the storage compartment at the back) of a car.

Step 2: Explain the concept (collocation) This question tests word choice, or how words naturally go together. Each option describes a different type of damage:

• Cracked: a line or split appears (glass, plates, screens, bones).
• Dented: pushed inward, leaving a hollow. This is typical of metal body panels hit in a collision.
• Chipped: a small piece breaks off the edge or surface (paint, china, teeth).
• Marked: a vague word for a surface stain or scratch. It is too mild for accident damage.

Step 3: Apply to the sentence A car boot is a metal panel. In an accident, such a panel is most naturally pushed in by impact, so it gets dented. "Cracked" suits glass or plastic, and "chipped" suits paint or small edges. "Marked" is too weak and vague to describe the damage from an accident.

Step 4: Answer The correct option is B. dented.

Tip: For "word that best completes" questions, ask what the object is made of and how it typically gets damaged. Metal → dented. Glass → cracked or shattered. Paint or china → chipped. Memorizing these pairings helps you eliminate options quickly.