Introduction / Context:
“Go back on (a promise/word)” is a standard English phrasal construction meaning to break one’s promise or to withdraw a previously stated commitment. The sentence concerns a vote pledge, a setting where reliability and trust are crucial. Recognizing this fixed expression helps you interpret many news and workplace statements correctly.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Action: “went back on his promise.”
- Context: voting commitment made earlier.
- We must choose the closest single-word paraphrase that reflects breach/withdrawal.
Concept / Approach:
The heart of the expression is reversal or retraction. “Withdrew” precisely captures this—he withdrew the previously given promise. “Forgot” signals memory failure, not breach. “Reinforced” and “supported” imply strengthening or upholding, which contradict the phrasing “went back on.”
Step-by-Step Solution:
1) Identify the construction: go back on + promise.2) Map to meaning: retract/renege/withdraw.3) Choose “withdrew” as the nearest concise synonym.4) Validate against the voting context; withdrawal leads to broken support.
Verification / Alternative check:
Rephrase: “He withdrew his promise to vote for me.” This keeps the semantics unchanged and natural.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
forgot: Not necessarily a breach; could be inadvertent.reinforced / supported: Opposite of withdrawing; imply continued commitment.
Common Pitfalls:
Equating “go back on” with “go back to.” The latter can mean “return,” whereas “go back on” means “renege/break.”
Final Answer:
withdrew
Discussion & Comments