Choose the verb that correctly fills all three gaps.
1) A funny story helped to ___ the ice at the start of the meeting.
2) She is determined to ___ the world record in swimming.
3) Anyone who decides to ___ the law must expect to be punished.
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Верный ответ
- Cbreak
Разбор
Each gap needs a verb that forms a stable collocation with its object. 1) The set expression is 'break the ice' (to ease tension at the start of a meeting); 'beat', 'bend' and 'set' do not form an expression with 'ice'. 2) 'Break a record' means to surpass the previous best result; 'beat' and 'set' could also suit this gap, but they fail in the other sentences. 3) 'Break the law' means to violate it; 'bend the law' means to interpret it loosely, which does not fit the idea of punishment, and 'set the law' has a different meaning. Only 'break' fits all three contexts, which shows the polysemy of the verb (to ease, to surpass, to violate).