Keep a Secret, Break a Promise
Explore expressions with “keep” and “break” through short messages about friendship, trust, and doing what you promised.
Preview
Questions with solutions-
1. Jaza pengo.
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.
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2. Chagua jibu sahihi.
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.
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3. Jaza pengo.
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.
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4. Chagua jibu sahihi.
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.
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5. Jaza pengo.
You promised to help me move yesterday, and you came right on time. You ___ your promise.
- kept
- keeped
- broke
The friend did the promised action. 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.”
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6. Jaza pengo.
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.
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7. Jaza pengo.
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.
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8. Jaza pengo.
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 make their wait continue. It is useful when apologizing for a delay.
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9. Chagua jibu sahihi.
Who may receive the information, according to this request?
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 includes the friend's sister in the people who should not 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.
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10. Jaza pengo.
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.
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11. Chagua jibu sahihi.
What does the friend 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 attend at the agreed time. Here, the friend is asking to arrange another day.
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12. Chagua jibu sahihi.
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.
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13. Chagua jibu sahihi.
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.
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14. Chagua jibu sahihi.
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.
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15. Chagua jibu sahihi.
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.