In this sentence improvement item, choose the correct phrasal verb to replace the bracketed expression "(drop in)" in the sentence "It is revealing that the gender divide in cognition levels worsens with rise in age, as girls are often compelled to drop in of school for a variety of reasons."

Introduction / Context:
This sentence improvement question tests your understanding of English phrasal verbs in a social context related to girls leaving school. The original sentence describes how the gender divide in cognition levels worsens as girls are forced to leave education early. The bracketed expression "drop in" is not the correct phrasal verb for leaving school permanently, so you must select the most appropriate alternative that fits both grammar and meaning.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The base sentence talks about girls being compelled to leave school for various reasons.
• The bracketed phrase is "drop in of school".
• We need a phrasal verb that means stop attending school or leave education.
• The options are "drop at", "drop out", "drop of", and "No improvement".

Concept / Approach:
In standard English, the phrasal verb "drop out" is used when someone leaves a course, college, or school before completion. The fixed expression is "drop out of school", not "drop in of school". The phrase "drop in" means to visit briefly or informally, which is the opposite of what the sentence wants to say. Therefore, you must choose the option that gives the correct phrasal verb and fits smoothly into the sentence about girls leaving school.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the intended meaning: girls are forced to leave school before completing their education. Step 2: Recall the idiomatic expression "drop out of school" used in education contexts. Step 3: Replace the bracketed "drop in" with "drop out" to form "compelled to drop out of school". Step 4: Check that the full sentence now reads clearly and naturally. Step 5: Confirm that no other option expresses the correct meaning.

Verification / Alternative check:
Read the corrected sentence: "It is revealing that the gender divide in cognition levels worsens with rise in age, as girls are often compelled to drop out of school for a variety of reasons." This sounds natural and is a common way to talk about educational discontinuation. If you try "drop at", "drop of", or keep "drop in", the sentence either becomes ungrammatical or changes meaning to something unnatural. Only "drop out" gives the standard expression used in education and social discussions.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
"Drop at" does not exist as a phrasal verb in this sense and cannot mean leaving school.

"Drop of" is grammatically incorrect here and does not form a recognised phrasal verb related to education.

"No improvement" would keep "drop in", which actually means to visit briefly and is the opposite of leaving school.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to focus only on the preposition "of" and ignore the verb itself. In phrasal verbs, both the verb and the particle together create meaning, so "drop out" must be learned as a single unit. Another trap is to think "drop in" sounds nice and short, but it is used for informal visits, not permanent withdrawal from education. Remember the fixed pattern "drop out of school" for exam questions and real life usage.

Final Answer:
The correct improvement is "drop out", giving the sentence: girls are often compelled to drop out of school for a variety of reasons.