In this idiom question, choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the expression “go to rack and ruin”.

Introduction / Context:
The idiom “go to rack and ruin” is often used in English to describe houses, businesses, cities or even moral standards that have been neglected and allowed to decay. It is a favourite in exam questions because its individual words are old-fashioned and do not directly reveal the full meaning to modern learners. The task here is to select the option that most accurately captures the overall sense of the expression.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The idiom is “go to rack and ruin”.
• We need the alternative that best expresses its meaning.
• The options are: a state of utter chaos, a state of despair, a condition of exhilaration, get into a bad condition.

Concept / Approach:
Historically, “rack and ruin” refers to destruction and severe deterioration. When something “goes to rack and ruin”, it is not just experiencing temporary chaos; it has been allowed to decay physically or metaphorically over time. The key idea is progressive neglect leading to a bad, damaged or ruined condition. The correct option must therefore express getting into a poor, ruined state, not simply feeling upset or excited.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Fix the meaning of the idiom as “to become badly damaged, neglected or ruined”. Step 2: Examine option a) “a state of utter chaos”. Chaos means confusion and disorder, which can be part of ruin, but chaos can also be temporary; it is not the full idea of decay and deterioration. Step 3: Examine option b) “a state of despair”. Despair is an emotional state, not a description of a building or system, so it is not suitable. Step 4: Examine option c) “a condition of exhilaration”. Exhilaration means great happiness or excitement, which is clearly the opposite of ruin. Step 5: Examine option d) “get into a bad condition”. This expresses the idea that something becomes damaged, neglected or ruined over time. Step 6: Conclude that option d) most closely matches the idiom's meaning.

Verification / Alternative check:
Consider a sentence: “After the factory closed, the whole neighbourhood went to rack and ruin.” This clearly means that the area deteriorated, buildings broke down and overall conditions became poor. Replacing the phrase with “got into a bad condition” preserves the meaning: “the whole neighbourhood got into a bad condition.” Replacing it with “entered a state of utter chaos” might fit partially, but chaos does not necessarily include physical decay. Using “a state of despair” or “a condition of exhilaration” clearly fails. This confirms option d) as the best choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
“A state of utter chaos” focuses on confusion but not on long-term decay and neglect, so the match is incomplete. “A state of despair” describes human feelings, not the condition of property or systems. “A condition of exhilaration” is positive and entirely opposite to the gloomy idea of ruin. The idiom is usually used for houses, gardens, towns or organisations, emphasising their bad, neglected condition rather than emotional states.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners may be distracted by the dramatic sound of “utter chaos” and select it without thinking about the full nuance of ruin and decay. Others may be unfamiliar with the word “rack” and guess based on only half the phrase. The best defence is to read more examples of idioms in context and note the typical nouns they combine with; for example “house going to rack and ruin” or “farm going to rack and ruin” naturally suggests physical deterioration.

Final Answer:
“Go to rack and ruin” means to get into a bad condition through neglect and decay.