Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question tests knowledge of phrasal verbs with 'break' and the correct tense to use in the sentence.
Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
First, let's understand the meaning of the phrasal verbs in the options:
- break down: (of a machine or vehicle) to stop working; to fail.
- break in: to enter a building by force; to interrupt.
- break out: (of something undesirable) to start suddenly (e.g., a fire, a war); to escape.
Next, consider the tense. The second clause "while we were going to Vizag" is in the past continuous tense, describing an ongoing action in the past. The first clause describes a specific event that happened during that time, so the simple past tense is appropriate.
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
The context is about a car failing during a journey. The phrasal verb that means "to stop working" for a machine is "break down".
Now, we choose the correct tense. The event happened in the past ("were going"), so we need the past tense of "break down", which is "broke down".
Let's check the options:
- (A) broke down: Simple past tense. This fits the context perfectly. "The car broke down (a single event in the past) while we were going to Vizag (an ongoing action in the past)."
- (B) has broken down: Present perfect tense. This tense is used for actions in the past with a result in the present, which doesn't fit the narrative context of a past event.
- (C) broke in: Incorrect meaning.
- (D) broke out: Incorrect meaning.
The correct choice is "broke down".
Step 4: Final Answer:
The correct phrasal verb is 'broke down'. This corresponds to option (A).