Now complete each blank with the appropriate phrasal verb from the box in the correct form. look forward // look backwards / let down / come back / clear out / look back / pop in / pop out / find out / drop in / drop out
1. when 1they decided at the last minute that they really wanted a girl.
2. My biological mother laterthat my mother had never graduated from college and that my father had never graduated from high school.
3. It was pretty scary at the time, butit was one of the best decisions I ever made.
4. The minute II could stop taking the required classes that didn't interest me, and beginon the ones that looked interesting.
5. But 10 years later, when we were designing the first Macintosh computer, it allto me.

6. Of course, it was impossible to connect the dotswhen I was in college.
7. Again, you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them

8. It the old to make way for the new.
9. I felt that I hadthe previous generation of entrepreneurs that I had dropped the baton as it was being passed to me.

1. when they decided at the last minute that they really wanted a girl.

Answer: let down

Explanation: The phrasal verb "let down" means to disappoint or fail someone. In this context, it suggests that someone was disappointed or betrayed when the decision to have a girl was changed at the last minute.

Step-by-step solution:

- Read the sentence and identify the missing phrasal verb.
- Determine the meaning of the sentence and the context.
- Look at the options provided in the box.
- Choose the appropriate phrasal verb based on the meaning and context.
- In this case, "let down" fits the sentence as it indicates that someone felt disappointed or betrayed.

2. My biological mother later found out that my mother had never graduated from college and that my father had never graduated from high school.

Answer: found out

Explanation: The phrasal verb "found out" means to discover or learn something. In this context, it suggests that someone learned about the academic background of the speaker's parents.

Step-by-step solution:

- Read the sentence and identify the missing phrasal verb.
- Determine the meaning of the sentence and the context.
- Look at the options provided in the box.
- Choose the appropriate phrasal verb based on the meaning and context.
- In this case, "found out" fits the sentence as it indicates that someone learned new information about the speaker's parents.

3. It was pretty scary at the time, but looking back it was one of the best decisions I ever made.

Answer: looking back

Explanation: The phrasal verb "looking back" means to reflect on or think about something in the past. In this context, it suggests that the speaker is reflecting on a decision made in the past.

Step-by-step solution:

- Read the sentence and identify the missing phrasal verb.
- Determine the meaning of the sentence and the context.
- Look at the options provided in the box.
- Choose the appropriate phrasal verb based on the meaning and context.
- In this case, "looking back" fits the sentence as it indicates that the speaker is reflecting on a past decision.

4. The minute I dropped out I could stop taking the required classes that didn't interest me, and begin on the ones that looked interesting.

Answer: dropped out

Explanation: The phrasal verb "dropped out" means to leave or withdraw from something, usually a school or course. In this context, it suggests that the speaker left their studies.

Step-by-step solution:

- Read the sentence and identify the missing phrasal verb.
- Determine the meaning of the sentence and the context.
- Look at the options provided in the box.
- Choose the appropriate phrasal verb based on the meaning and context.
- In this case, "dropped out" fits the sentence as it indicates that the speaker left their studies.

5. But 10 years later, when we were designing the first Macintosh computer, it all popped out to me.

Answer: popped out

Explanation: The phrasal verb "popped out" means to become clear or noticeable suddenly. In this context, it suggests that something became clear or noticeable to the speaker while they were designing the Macintosh computer.

Step-by-step solution:

- Read the sentence and identify the missing phrasal verb.
- Determine the meaning of the sentence and the context.
- Look at the options provided in the box.
- Choose the appropriate phrasal verb based on the meaning and context.
- In this case, "popped out" fits the sentence as it indicates that something became clear or noticeable suddenly.

6. Of course, it was impossible to connect the dots when I was in college.

Answer: look back

Explanation: The phrasal verb "look back" means to reflect on or think about something in the past. In this context, it suggests that the speaker is reflecting on their college years.

Step-by-step solution:

- Read the sentence and identify the missing phrasal verb.
- Determine the meaning of the sentence and the context.
- Look at the options provided in the box.
- Choose the appropriate phrasal verb based on the meaning and context.
- In this case, "look back" fits the sentence as it indicates that the speaker is reflecting on their college years.

7. Again, you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards.

Answer: looking backwards

Explanation: The phrasal verb "looking backwards" means to reflect on or think about something in the past. In this context, it suggests that the speaker is emphasizing the importance of reflecting on the past to make connections.

Step-by-step solution:

- Read the sentence and identify the missing phrasal verb.
- Determine the meaning of the sentence and the context.
- Look at the options provided in the box.
- Choose the appropriate phrasal verb based on the meaning and context.
- In this case, "looking backwards" fits the sentence as it indicates that the speaker is emphasizing the importance of reflecting on the past.

8. It cleared out the old to make way for the new.

Answer: cleared out

Explanation: The phrasal verb "cleared out" means to remove or get rid of something. In this context, it suggests that something was removed or eliminated to make space for something new.

Step-by-step solution:

- Read the sentence and identify the missing phrasal verb.
- Determine the meaning of the sentence and the context.
- Look at the options provided in the box.
- Choose the appropriate phrasal verb based on the meaning and context.
- In this case, "cleared out" fits the sentence as it indicates that something was removed or eliminated to make space for something new.

9. I felt that I had let down the previous generation of entrepreneurs that I had dropped the baton as it was being passed to me.

Answer: let down

Explanation: The phrasal verb "let down" means to disappoint or fail someone. In this context, it suggests that the speaker felt that they disappointed the previous generation of entrepreneurs.

Step-by-step solution:

- Read the sentence and identify the missing phrasal verb.
- Determine the meaning of the sentence and the context.
- Look at the options provided in the box.
- Choose the appropriate phrasal verb based on the meaning and context.
- In this case, "let down" fits the sentence as it indicates that the speaker felt that they disappointed the previous generation of entrepreneurs.