Lesson 5: B2 Phrasal Verbs: People & Societ— Examples & Exercises (with Answers)

Exercise 1 — Precision Cloze (form + meaning)

Choose the correct phrasal verb and form to complete each sentence. Focus on separability, tense, and nuance.

1. When the CEO apologized publicly, the press corps was __________ the sudden change of tone. (A) taken aback by (B) taken aback to (C) took aback by
2. After years of traveling, they finally decided to __________ in Porto. (A) settle down (B) settle down to (C) settle down with
3. The committee didn’t want to __________ the old scandal, but a journalist insisted. (A) bring it up (B) bring up it (C) bring up
4. Several staff members felt the supervisor regularly __________ them in front of clients. (A) put down (B) put them down (C) put down them)
5. He __________ the fake giveaway because the URL looked authentic. (A) fell for (B) fell to (C) fell in for)
6. Our neighbor always __________ your mother when we meet. (A) asks after (B) asks for (C) asks about after)
7. It took months, but the brothers finally __________ and resumed their weekend hikes. (A) made up (B) made up with (C) made it up)
8. Do you __________ your supervisor, or do you think her approach is overrated? (A) look up (B) look up to (C) look down on)
9. Leon __________ in a small town and later moved to a capital city for university. (A) brought up (B) grew up (C) grew)
10. The new student felt the popular kids were __________ him for his accent. (A) picking on (B) picking up on (C) picking at)
11. We __________ surprisingly well despite our different political views. (A) get on (B) get on with (C) get along)
12. It’s unfair to __________ people who choose vocational careers. (A) look up to (B) look down on (C) look down)
13. The author __________ last winter; the literary community mourned her loss. (A) passed away (B) passed out (C) passed off)
14. During the negotiation, Nora __________ her colleague’s proposal so harshly that the client frowned. (A) stood up for (B) fell out with (C) put down)
15. They __________ over budget priorities but reconciled after clarifying responsibilities. (A) fell for (B) fell out (C) looked down)

Exercise 2 — Transformations (formal ↔ phrasal)

Rewrite each sentence with the target phrasal verb, keeping meaning and register appropriate. Watch prepositions and pronoun placement.

1. The panel criticized her in public. (use: put down + pronoun)
2. He finally defended himself during the meeting. (use: stand up for)
3. Our grandparents raised us in Shiraz. (use: bring up)
4. Please don’t mention the failed pilot project again. (use: bring up)
5. The crowd was astonished at the ticket price. (use: be taken aback)
6. We should reconcile before the weekend. (use: make up)
7. Some executives despise junior roles. (use: look down on)
8. Everyone admires that surgeon. (use: look up to)
9. After moving around for years, they want to establish a stable life in Delft. (use: settle down)
10. Several investors believed a false rumor. (use: fall for)

Exercise 3 — Error Diagnosis (what’s wrong & why?)

Each sentence has one error (form or meaning). Identify it and rewrite the sentence correctly.

1. He looked up the new head of department; everyone says she’s inspiring.
2. They made up with yesterday after the debrief.
3. Stop picking up on your cousin for his clothes.
4. Our coach brought us in a small border town.
5. It took me aback when she apologized during the press conference.
6. We fell out him over the schedule.
7. Why do some people look down the service industry?
8. Please bring up them in the minutes.
9. After the ceremony, the founder passed off peacefully.
10. I don’t get on him; he interrupts constantly.

Exercise 4 — Nuance Multiple-Choice (context decides)

Pick the option that best fits the tone/register. Some distractors are grammatically possible but pragmatically weak.

1. In a condolence email to a colleague: “I’m sorry to hear your father has ______.” a) died b) passed away c) passed out
2. Headline style (neutral/factual): “Former minister ______ after long illness.” a) passes away b) dies c) falls for
3. Mentor–mentee chat: “It meant a lot that you ______ me during that meeting.” a) stood up for b) looked up to c) put down
4. Security advice: “Don’t ______ links in unexpected emails.” a) fall for b) look up to c) make up
5. Team dynamics report: “Two departments ______ over ownership of the dataset.” a) fell for b) fell out c) made up
6. Magazine profile: “Young coders ______ the open-source pioneer.” a) get on with b) look up to c) look down on
7. Manager feedback: “Avoid ______ junior staff in public; give private, constructive advice.” a) putting down b) bringing up c) asking after
8. Classroom management: “The room will ______ once we start the timer.” a) settle down b) stand up for c) take aback
9. Family history essay: “My parents ______ me to value curiosity.” a) grew up b) brought up c) fell for
10. Peer culture critique: “Some students ______ people who choose apprenticeships.” a) look down on b) look up to c) get on with

Exercise 5 — Collocation & Syntax Lab

Insert the correct particle(s) and place pronouns where necessary. Avoid literal/physical meanings.

1. Don’t ________ (put / me) in front of clients.
2. Who ________ (bring) you ________ in the countryside?
3. He has always ________ (look / to) his elder sister.
4. The class will ________ after the bell.
5. People shouldn’t ________ (look / on) others for their accent.
6. They ________ (fall) over the timeline but apologized later.
7. When she apologized, I ________ (take / by) the sincerity.
8. Scammers hope you’ll ________ their urgent tone.

Exercise 6 — Discourse Repair (paragraph editing)

Each paragraph contains 6 errors (form/meaning/register) with our target verbs. Rewrite it correctly.

6A. When I joined the lab, the seniors kept picking up on me during meetings. I tried to stand up to my supervisor, but nobody asked about after my health when I got sick. I nearly fell to a phishing link. Later, I made up with and moved on. Now I look up our head of department and want to be like her.

6B. The cousins fell out him over inheritances after their grandmother passed off. Years later, they finally made up with in the café where they had brought up together. The barista asked after the project and seemed took aback by their laughter.

Exercise 7 — Dialogue Completions (register-sensitive)

Complete each dialogue with a natural line using the target verb. Include pronouns correctly and keep tone realistic.

1. A: “Did anyone mention your dad at the reunion?” B: “Yes, a few classmates ______.” (ask after)
2. A: “I can’t believe the influencer giveaway.” B: “Check the URL—don’t ______ it.” (fall for)
3. A: “Your manager mocked you again.” B: “Next time I’ll ______ myself.” (stand up for)
4. A: “Who raised you while your parents worked abroad?” B: “My aunt ______.” (bring up)
5. A: “You seemed shocked by the announcement.” B: “I ______ the sudden resignation.” (be taken aback by)
6. A: “Why are the team chats so tense?” B: “Two developers ______ over code reviews.” (fall out)
7. A: “Do you get along with your new neighbor?” B: “Surprisingly, we ______ really well.” (get on)
8. A: “Stop humiliating your brother.” B: “You’re right—I shouldn’t ______ him.” (put down)
9. A: “Are you two still angry?” B: “No, we ______ yesterday.” (make up)
10. A: “Which teacher inspired you most?” B: “Ms. Yoon—I still ______ her.” (look up to)

Exercise 8 — Guided Paraphrase (express the idea with the target verb)

Rewrite each sentence using the phrasal verb in brackets without changing meaning or tone.

1. He publicly belittles junior designers. (put down)
2. After months of tension, the two editors became friendly again. (make up)
3. My cousin thinks he’s superior to people without degrees. (look down on)
4. Our neighbors always want news about your mother. (ask after)
5. I almost believed the fake “tax refund” email. (fall for)
6. Who was your primary caregiver during childhood? (bring up)
7. The class calmed down after the fire drill. (settle down)
8. Do you admire any public-interest lawyers? (look up to)
9. We argued over deadlines and stopped speaking for a week. (fall out)
10. After many short contracts, she wants a quieter life in Ghent. (settle down)

Exercise 9 — Register Switch (formal writing makeover)

Replace the bolded phrasal verb with a more formal alternative suitable for a scholarship application or news article. Keep meaning.

1. The volunteers stood up for local refugees during the council meeting.
2. The spokesperson said the founder passed away last night.
3. Two board members fell out over the audit timeline.
4. The influencer put down critics in a livestream.
5. We aim to settle down in Leuven after graduation.
6. Our professor is someone first-year students look up to.
7. I nearly fell for a message that claimed to be from HR.
8. Neighbors always ask after the new baby.
9. Hiring managers sometimes look down on gaps in a CV.
10. The parties eventually made up after the dispute.

Exercise 10 — Integrated Writing Challenge

Write a 180–220-word email to a community manager. Include at least eight of the target verbs naturally. Purpose: report bullying in a local forum, ask about an elderly neighbor’s health, and suggest a calmer tone for future discussions.