Meaning: 'Consume' means to eat or drink something, in this case, referring to the intake of nutrients.

Wrong options:

• thrive: The verb 'thrive' does not fit here as it refers to flourishing or prospering, which does not relate to the act of eating or taking in nutrients.
• loose: The word 'loose' is an adjective meaning not tight or free, which does not fit grammatically or contextually in this sentence.
• tend: The verb 'tend' implies a tendency or inclination, which does not relate to the act of eating or consuming nutrients.
• prefer: The verb 'prefer' indicates a choice or liking for something, which does not fit the context of nutrient intake.
• absorb: The verb 'absorb' means to take in or soak up, which could relate to nutrients but does not fit the grammatical structure as well as 'consume.'

Correct answer: thrive

Explanation: The verb 'thrive' fits grammatically as it is in the present tense and aligns with the subject 'they,' referring to children. Contextually, it indicates that children who eat breakfast regularly are more likely to flourish in their physical and mental health.

Meaning: 'Thrive' means to grow or develop well, especially in a healthy or vigorous way.

Wrong options:

• consume: The verb 'consume' does not fit here as it relates to eating or drinking, not to flourishing or developing.
• loose: The word 'loose' is an adjective that does not fit the context of growth or development.
• tend: The verb 'tend' implies a tendency but does not convey the idea of flourishing or thriving.
• prefer: The verb 'prefer' indicates a choice, which does not relate to the concept of thriving or developing well.
• absorb: The verb 'absorb' means to take in, which does not fit the context of flourishing or thriving.

Correct answer: tend

Explanation: The verb 'tend' fits grammatically as it is in the present tense and matches the subject 'children.' Contextually, it suggests that children who eat breakfast regularly are more likely to exhibit certain behaviors, such as behaving better in school.

Meaning: 'Tend' means to have a tendency to do something, indicating a likelihood of behavior.

Wrong options:

• thrive: The verb 'thrive' does not fit here as it refers to flourishing, which does not relate to behavior in school.
• loose: The word 'loose' is an adjective that does not fit the context of behavior or tendencies.
• consume: The verb 'consume' relates to eating or drinking, which does not fit the context of behavior in school.
• prefer: The verb 'prefer' indicates a choice, which does not relate to the likelihood of behavior.
• absorb: The verb 'absorb' means to take in, which does not fit the context of behavioral tendencies.