The neighbor was __ by a burglar in the middle of the night.

The neighbor was __ by a burglar in the middle of the night.

• A. threatened
• B. intimidated
• C. attacked
• D. frightened

Answer: (A)

This question tests choosing a verb that describes the burglar’s action toward the neighbor in a passive construction. The phrase The neighbor was ____ by a burglar requires a past-tense verb that fits as something done to the neighbor. Threatened is the direct action the burglar performs—making threats or signaling harm—so the sentence reads naturally as The neighbor was threatened by a burglar in the middle of the night. Intimidated could work in other contexts, since it describes causing fear, but it emphasizes the effect on the neighbor rather than the burglar’s explicit action. Attacked implies physical harm, which is stronger than what’s stated. Frightened describes the neighbor’s reaction, not the burglar’s action.

This question tests choosing a verb that describes the burglar’s action toward the neighbor in a passive construction. The phrase The neighbor was ____ by a burglar requires a past-tense verb that fits as something done to the neighbor. Threatened is the direct action the burglar performs—making threats or signaling harm—so the sentence reads naturally as The neighbor was threatened by a burglar in the middle of the night.

Intimidated could work in other contexts, since it describes causing fear, but it emphasizes the effect on the neighbor rather than the burglar’s explicit action. Attacked implies physical harm, which is stronger than what’s stated. Frightened describes the neighbor’s reaction, not the burglar’s action.