Improve the bracketed part of the sentence by choosing the correct option. As the financial situation worsened we realized that we were heading (toward) a disaster.

Introduction / Context:

This sentence improvement question tests proper use of prepositions with the phrasal verb head in idiomatic English. The context describes a financial situation becoming worse and the realisation that the outcome will be very bad. The phrase heading for a disaster is a common expression that you must recognise.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Sentence: As the financial situation worsened we realized that we were heading (toward) a disaster.
• The bracketed word is toward.
• Options: along, into, for, no improvement.
• We assume that the sentence is figurative and does not describe physical movement, but rather a trend leading to a bad result.

Concept / Approach:

In English, the idiomatic phrase heading for a disaster is widely used to mean moving towards a disastrous situation in terms of consequences. Although heading toward a disaster is understandable and not completely wrong, heading for a disaster is more natural and accepted in standard usage, especially in exam contexts. Therefore, the improvement should replace toward with for.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Search your memory for typical newspaper headlines or reports: The company is heading for disaster, The team is heading for trouble. These are set expressions. Using toward in those places is grammatically possible but sounds less natural. Exam setters usually expect the most idiomatic and widely accepted form, which is heading for a disaster in this case.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Along is wrong because head along suggests physical movement along a path, not movement towards a bad outcome.

Into is less suitable because head into a disaster is not the standard collocation in formal examination English.

No improvement is not the best answer because it accepts a weaker collocation when a stronger idiomatic choice is available.

Common Pitfalls:

Students may think that toward is fine and choose no improvement, ignoring the difference between acceptable and idiomatic English. Another pitfall is overusing into because it often appears after verbs of movement, but in this specific phrase for is the best match. Always look for common combinations you have seen in authentic reading materials.

Final Answer:

The bracketed preposition should be replaced with for, giving heading for a disaster.