Complete the sentence with the most appropriate word: "When I broke my leg, it was the __________ of a nightmare week."

Introduction / Context:
This vocabulary question focuses on choosing the most suitable word for a figurative expression. The sentence is "When I broke my leg, it was the __________ of a nightmare week." The speaker is describing an event that represents the highest point of a series of bad experiences. You must choose the word that correctly conveys the idea of a final, most intense point in a sequence of negative events.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The week has already been described as a "nightmare", suggesting many bad events.
• Breaking the leg comes at the end of this sequence.
• The blank needs a word that represents the highest or most extreme point of that bad sequence.
• Options: top, maximum, summit, climax, peak.
• We assume standard figurative usage in English.

Concept / Approach:
In narrative and literary contexts, "climax" refers to the most intense, exciting, or important point of a story, sequence of events, or experience. Although words like "peak" and "summit" also represent a highest point in a physical or metaphorical sense, "climax" is the usual word for the turning point or central highlight in a sequence, especially when we talk about stories or series of events. Here, the nightmare week is like a narrative, and breaking the leg is the final and worst event that crowns all the others.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Understand the context. A "nightmare week" implies several bad incidents happening over several days. Step 2: Focus on the phrase "it was the __________ of a nightmare week." This implies that this event stood out as the most intense part of the sequence. Step 3: Consider "climax". In everyday English, we often say "the climax of the story", "the climax of the match", or "the climax of an ordeal". It is the moment of highest tension or significance. Step 4: Consider "top", "maximum", "summit", and "peak". These words can represent a highest point, but they are less idiomatic in this specific expression. For example, "It was the peak of a nightmare week" is understandable but less standard than "climax". Step 5: Check which word collocates naturally with "of a nightmare week". "Climax of a nightmare week" sounds like fixed natural usage. Step 6: Conclude that "climax" is the best and most idiomatic choice for the blank.

Verification / Alternative check:
Test the sentence with each option. "It was the top of a nightmare week" sounds awkward. "It was the maximum of a nightmare week" is incorrect because "maximum" is usually used with measurable quantities, not with weeks in this way. "It was the summit of a nightmare week" feels too literal and is typically used for mountains or achievements. "It was the peak of a nightmare week" is possible but still less natural than "climax" in standard exam English. "It was the climax of a nightmare week" is a familiar and idiomatic expression, confirming that "climax" is most suitable.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
"Top" is too general and does not carry the idea of emotional high point or turning point, especially in negative narratives. "Maximum" is used for quantities like speed, temperature, or number, and sounds unnatural here. "Summit" is usually reserved for mountain tops or meetings of leaders, and its figurative use is normally positive rather than describing a nightmare. "Peak" can be used metaphorically, but exam style questions typically prefer "climax" when a sequence of events is compared to a story. Therefore, these options are less accurate or idiomatic.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes select "peak" because they know expressions like "peak performance". However, it is important to consider collocations specifically used with sequences of events, such as "climax of a story" or "climax of a crisis". Always ask whether the chosen word is the one most often used in that phrase, not only whether it is vaguely similar in meaning. This helps in scoring well in vocabulary and sentence completion questions.

Final Answer:
The correct word is "climax", giving the sentence "When I broke my leg, it was the climax of a nightmare week."