Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank.
After working tirelessly on the project for weeks, Mark finally decided to burn the midnight _________.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
The correct answer is option 4 i.e. oil.
Context: The idiom “burn the midnight oil” means to stay up late at night working or studying. The sentence is about Mark working tirelessly, which implies continuing late into the night.
Meaning of the words:
Water: A liquid essential for life, not associated with the idiom.
Food: Something we eat for nourishment, not suitable for the idiom.
Paper: Thin sheets used for writing or printing, not fitting the idiom.
Oil: A fuel source traditionally used in lamps, connected to the idiom “burning oil at night.”
Correct word: Oil
Reason: Only “oil” makes sense because the phrase “burn the midnight oil” is an established idiom for working late at night.
Final Sentence: After working tirelessly on the project for weeks, Mark finally decided to burn the midnight oil.
Hence, the chosen option is correct.