My research career is taking ____ because my professor asked me to write a paper for an international journal.

My research career is taking ____ because my professor asked me to write a paper for an international journal.

• A. Up
• B. On
• C. Over
• D. Off

Answer: (D)

This item tests knowledge of a phrasal verb that shows rapid growth or rising success. Take off is used when something like a career, project, or business begins to develop quickly and gain momentum. Here, my research career is taking off because my professor asked me to write a paper for an international journal. The sense is that this opportunity could boost your reputation and advance your career, so it fits the idea of progress taking place quickly. The other options don’t fit the sense of rapid growth. Take up would mean to begin a new activity or to occupy space/time, not the idea of rapid progress. Take on means to accept responsibilities or tasks, which changes the meaning to something like assuming duties, not the career taking off. Take over would imply assuming control of something, which again isn’t the intended sense here. Off is the natural choice to complete the idiom take off.

This item tests knowledge of a phrasal verb that shows rapid growth or rising success. Take off is used when something like a career, project, or business begins to develop quickly and gain momentum.

Here, my research career is taking off because my professor asked me to write a paper for an international journal. The sense is that this opportunity could boost your reputation and advance your career, so it fits the idea of progress taking place quickly.

The other options don’t fit the sense of rapid growth. Take up would mean to begin a new activity or to occupy space/time, not the idea of rapid progress. Take on means to accept responsibilities or tasks, which changes the meaning to something like assuming duties, not the career taking off. Take over would imply assuming control of something, which again isn’t the intended sense here. Off is the natural choice to complete the idiom take off.