Mom: The kids are fighting too much; if they start again, __ them and give them each something to do. And when the pizza comes, be sure to __ it up evenly for them, so they don't complain.
Baby Sitter: Okay. Don't worry.
a. break up
b. break down
c. separate
d. divide
e. punish
Answers:
1. c., separate
2. d., divide
Explanation:
Generally, separate is used with 2or more nouns and means putting them in different places or categories:
~the summer clothes from the winter ones.
~the projects into finished and unfinished.
Generally, divide is used in reference to one noun, or a group of single things; we break it (or them) into distinct parts:
~the class into two groups.
~the pie into 8 slices.