Keep a Secret, Break a Promise

by Vocafy Verified

English (US) B1 15 questions Words & expressions

Explore expressions with “keep” and “break” through short messages about friendship, trust, and doing what you promised.

1. 1. Fill in the blank.

   Please ___ this a secret. I'm not ready for anyone else to know.

   • keep
   • break
   • tell

   The speaker wants the information to stay private.

   Show solution

   Please keep this a secret. I'm not ready for anyone else to know.

   To “keep a secret” means not to share private information with others.

2. 2. Choose the correct answer.

   What happened?

   Maya: I promised to call you last night, but I didn't. I'm sorry I broke my promise.

   • Maya did what she promised.
   • Maya did not do what she promised.
   • Maya refused to make a promise.

   Compare what Maya said she would do with what she actually did.

   Show solution

   • Maya did not do what she promised.

   “Break a promise” is about failing to do something you said you would do, not physically breaking anything.

3. 3. Fill in the blank.

   You're moving away, but I don't want us to lose contact. Let's ___ in touch.

   • leave
   • break
   • keep

   The friends want to continue communicating.

   Show solution

   You're moving away, but I don't want us to lose contact. Let's keep in touch.

   “Keep in touch” means continue communicating, even when you do not see each other often.

4. 4. Choose the correct answer.

   What does “my word” mean here?

   Ben: I said I'd pay you back on Friday. Here's your money—I keep my word.

   • My password
   • My favorite expression
   • My promise

   Ben is referring to something he said he would do.

   Show solution

   • My promise

   In “keep my word,” “word” means a promise. It does not mean a single vocabulary word.

5. 5. Fill in the blank.

   You promised to help me move yesterday, and you came right on time. You ___ your promise.

   • kept
   • keeped
   • broke

   The friend did what they promised, and it happened yesterday.

   Show solution

   You promised to help me move yesterday, and you came right on time. You kept your promise.

   The past form of “keep” is “kept,” not “keeped.”

6. 6. Fill in the blank.

   Our group has one rule: ask before sharing a screenshot. You shared one without asking, so you ___ the rule.

   • followed
   • broke
   • kept

   The action went against the group's rule.

   Show solution

   Our group has one rule: ask before sharing a screenshot. You shared one without asking, so you broke the rule.

   “Break a rule” means act against it. The rule can belong to a small group, not just a school or workplace.

7. 7. Fill in the blank.

   I'll keep you ___ about our travel plans. I'll message you whenever anything changes.

   • told
   • sent
   • posted

   The speaker promises to send updates.

   Show solution

   I'll keep you posted about our travel plans. I'll message you whenever anything changes.

   “Keep someone posted” means give them the latest information. It is common in friendly messages.

8. 8. Fill in the blank.

   Nora: I've been outside your building for twenty minutes.
   Eli: Sorry to keep you ___. I'm coming down now.

   • waiting
   • waited
   • wait

   After “keep someone,” this action needs an -ing form.

   Show solution

   Nora: I've been outside your building for twenty minutes.
   Eli: Sorry to keep you waiting. I'm coming down now.

   “Keep someone waiting” means to make someone wait, usually because you are late. It is useful when apologizing for a delay.

9. 9. Choose the correct answer.

   According to Lena, who can the friend tell about the surprise?

   Lena: I'm planning a surprise for Max. Please keep this to yourself—even your sister shouldn't know.

   • Only the friend's sister
   • No one else
   • Everyone except Max

   Lena says that not even the friend's sister should hear about it.

   Show solution

   • No one else

   “Keep this to yourself” asks the listener not to pass the information on, even to someone close.

10. 10. Fill in the blank.

    Our group chat was silent all day. Then you ___ the silence with a message asking how everyone was.

    • kept
    • held
    • broke

    The message ended the period when nobody was communicating.

    Show solution

    Our group chat was silent all day. Then you broke the silence with a message asking how everyone was.

    “Break the silence” means start communicating after a quiet period. Here, “break” does not describe a failure.

11. 11. Choose the correct answer.

    What does the writer want to change?

    I'm sorry, I can't keep our appointment tomorrow. Can we meet on Friday instead?

    • The day they agreed to meet
    • The place they agreed to meet
    • The reason they agreed to meet

    Notice “tomorrow” and “Friday.”

    Show solution

    • The day they agreed to meet

    “Keep an appointment” means to go to a meeting at the agreed time. It is common with doctors, teachers, and other formal meetings. Here, the writer is asking to meet on another day.

12. 12. Choose the correct answer.

    What does the writer need to do?

    I need to break the news to Alex that our trip is canceled. He was really looking forward to it.

    • Ask Alex to keep a secret
    • Tell Alex something disappointing
    • Promise Alex another trip

    Alex does not know about the cancellation yet.

    Show solution

    • Tell Alex something disappointing

    We often use “break the news” when telling someone information that may upset or surprise them.

13. 13. Choose the correct answer.

    Why does the writer say, “You've broken our agreement”?

    We agreed not to post photos of each other without permission. You posted my photo without asking. You've broken our agreement.

    • They never agreed on a rule about photos.
    • They both agreed to post this photo.
    • A rule they both accepted was not followed.

    Posting was allowed only after getting permission.

    Show solution

    • A rule they both accepted was not followed.

    An agreement can include a condition, such as asking first. Ignoring that condition can break the agreement.

14. 14. Choose the correct answer.

    What is Jo asking Sam to do?

    Sam: I'll lend you my bike if you help me fix this shelf.
    Jo: The shelf is fixed. Please keep your end of the bargain.

    • Lend Jo the bike as agreed
    • Help Jo fix the shelf
    • Suggest a different deal

    Jo has already done one part of their deal.

    Show solution

    • Lend Jo the bike as agreed

    “Keep your end of the bargain” means do your part of a deal after agreeing to it.

15. 15. Choose the correct answer.

    What is the writer complaining about?

    You knew the plan had changed, but you kept me in the dark. I turned up at the wrong cafe.

    • A friend shared information that should have stayed private.
    • A friend did not share information the writer needed.
    • A friend asked for information the writer did not have.

    The writer did not know where to go.

    Show solution

    • A friend did not share information the writer needed.

    “Keep someone in the dark” means leave them without information. It often suggests they should have been told.