PHRASAL VERB — Choose the option that best expresses the meaning of the underlined verb in context. Sentence: 'My car BROKE DOWN on the way to the railway station.'

Introduction / Context:
“Break down” is a common phrasal verb for machines and vehicles, indicating that they stop functioning due to a mechanical fault. The sentence situates the failure en route to a station, highlighting inconvenience rather than collision or fuel shortage.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Subject: “car.”
• Event: “broke down” while traveling.
• We must pick the closest general paraphrase for a mechanical failure.

Concept / Approach:
“Broke down” is not a synonym for every kind of stoppage. It excludes accidents and empty fuel tanks unless specifically caused by mechanical issues. The most accurate summary is “failed to work.” “Stopped” is too broad (cars can stop at signals). “Met with an accident” introduces a crash; “ran out of petrol” is a different cause.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1) Identify verb-object domain: machines/vehicles.2) Recall fixed meaning: cease to function properly.3) Choose “failed to work.”4) Eliminate distractors that specify unrelated causes.

Verification / Alternative check:
Paraphrase: “My car failed to work on the way to the station.” The sense of mechanical trouble is retained without overspecifying cause.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
A) “stopped” could be voluntary or routine.B) Accident is a separate event entirely.C) Fuel depletion is not implied.

Common Pitfalls:
Assuming any halt is a breakdown. In phrasal verb usage, breakdowns are specifically functional failures.

Final Answer:
failed to work