Correct Answer:
C. to heart
This question tests your knowledge of English idioms. The phrase "to heart" is part of a common idiom that perfectly fits the context of someone being upset by criticism.
- Correct Answer: C) to heart
The idiom is "take something to heart," which means to consider something seriously and be deeply affected or hurt by it. When someone takes criticism to heart, they internalize it, often leading to feelings of sadness or upset, which aligns with the initial statement, "He looks upset."
- Incorrect Answers:
- A) of, B) about, D) in are prepositions. While criticism can be "of" someone, "about" something, or found "in" a report, none of these prepositions form an idiom with "took the criticism" that conveys the meaning of being deeply affected or upset. They do not complete a recognized idiomatic expression in this context, making them grammatically plausible but semantically incorrect for the intended meaning of deep emotional impact.