take up

[diamondrg]

It didn’t happen all at once, but before long the business really began to ----, and they started to
make a profit.

A) look back B) take up C) point out D) keep on E) try out

Well, it has been quoted from a nationwide exam in Turkey. The official answer is B, but I don't think "take up" means "to be successful, begin to improve". What do you think?

[MrPedantic]

Hello Diamond, welcome to Using English!

"To take off" is the natural answer; but my dictionary does give "to take up" as "to improve", in the context of weather.

However, this isn't something I knew, before I looked in the dictionary; so it seems a little extreme to expect such knowledge in an ESL student.

(You have my sympathy.)

MrP

[diamondrg]

Thank you, MrP. It was really illuminating.

[Tdol]

Take off or Pick up sound better to me.