Complete the sentence by choosing the correct phrasal verb: "The young woman broke _____ on hearing the news of her husband's death."

Introduction / Context:
This question checks your knowledge of English phrasal verbs, particularly those describing emotional reactions. The sentence refers to a young woman's response to devastating news about her husband's death. You must identify which particle combines with broke to form a natural and meaningful phrasal verb in this emotional context.

Given Data / Assumptions:
The sentence is:

• The young woman broke _____ on hearing the news of her husband's death.

The options are:

• up
• down
• off
• in

We assume that the sentence describes an intense emotional reaction, such as crying uncontrollably or losing self control.

Concept / Approach:
In English, to break down, when used about a person, means to lose control emotionally and often to start crying, usually because of shock, grief, or stress. This fits the context of hearing about a death. Other combinations like break up, break off, and break in have different meanings: ending a relationship, stopping something, or entering a conversation or place. Therefore, broke down is the correct phrasal verb here.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on the emotional situation. The news is extremely tragic, so a strong emotional reaction is expected. Step 2: Recall the phrasal verb break down, which means to collapse emotionally and often cry. Step 3: Insert down into the blank: The young woman broke down on hearing the news of her husband's death. This expresses emotional collapse naturally. Step 4: Test broke up. Break up is used for ending relationships or breaking something into pieces, not for emotional collapse in this context. Step 5: Test broke off. This usually means stopped something suddenly, like broke off the conversation, which does not fit the sentence. Step 6: Test broke in. Break in often involves entering a place forcibly or interrupting, which again does not match the situation. Step 7: Therefore, down is the only suitable choice.

Verification / Alternative check:
Consider typical usage: On hearing the bad news, she broke down and cried. This pattern is very common and appears in both fiction and news reports. In contrast, broke up is usually used in sentences like They broke up after years of marriage, which is entirely different. This comparison confirms that broke down is the intended phrasal verb where intense grief leads to emotional collapse.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Up is wrong because break up describes separation or a relationship ending, not the emotional reaction of crying from grief. Off is wrong because break off describes suddenly stopping an activity or relation, not emotional breakdown. In is wrong because break in means forcibly enter or interrupt and carries a completely different physical or conversational meaning. None of these reflect the idea of grief induced breakdown.

Common Pitfalls:
Phrasal verbs are confusing because the meaning often cannot be guessed from the individual words. Break up, break down, and break in all involve break, but their meanings are quite different. Learners sometimes mix them up when under exam pressure. The best prevention is to study phrasal verbs in groups with example sentences and pay special attention to emotional verbs like break down, choke up, and burst into tears.

Final Answer:
The correct phrasal verb is broke down, so the sentence should read: The young woman broke down on hearing the news of her husband's death.