Question

It was very cold outside, and the fire we lit was dimming down; hence I decided to ______ it a bit.

• A. soak
• B. strike
• C. stoke
• D. increase

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

To determine the correct word to complete the sentence, consider the given context: "It was very cold outside, and the fire we lit was dimming down; hence I decided to ______ it a bit."

Analyzing the options: 

• Soak: This verb means to immerse something in a liquid. It doesn't make sense here as it doesn't relate to enhancing a fire.
• Strike: This can mean to hit or ignite a match, but does not fit the continuous action needed to revive a fire.
• Stoke: This verb means to add fuel to a fire, or to poke, stir, or tend to it in order to increase its intensity. This fits perfectly as it describes making a fire burn brighter or stronger.
• Increase: While it means to make larger or more, it is too general and doesn't specifically apply to tending a fire.

Therefore, the best word to complete the sentence is stoke, as it precisely conveys the action of reviving or enhancing the fire's intensity. The correct choice is directly tied to the specific context of managing a dimming fire, where one needs to add fuel or adjust the embers to make it burn more brightly.