Question

Don’t tell him the news that his household has been broken ________ by his sons, which will break him ________.

1. A.
   up; down
2. B.
   down; up
3. C.
   up; up
4. D.
   down; down

Answer 1

C
解析：
句意为“别告诉他他的儿子们已经把他的家产分了，这会让他崩溃的”。break down和break up都有“分解；垮掉”的含义。break down表示“分解”时，多指化学变化，如“水分解成氢和氧Water is broken down into hydrogen and oxygen.” break up则指将一个实体分成部分，如“分散人群、解散集会、与人绝交”等。break down表示“垮掉”时多作为不及物短语，sb. break down，还有自己控制不住的含义；而用break up时可以说break sb. up，也可以说sb. break up，表示极其痛苦，不能承受的结果。综上所述，答案为C项。