Which English verb means 'to cause an action that leads to a larger reaction'?

• A. to strike
• B. to undersize
• C. to trigger
• D. to wear down

Answer: (C)

Think about verbs that start a sequence of events. To trigger is to cause something to begin, setting off a chain of effects or a larger reaction. It captures the idea of a single action sparking a cascade of consequences, whether in a mechanical system or in a figurative sense. For example, a small lever can trigger a machine, or one event can trigger a series of responses. The other options don’t convey starting a chain reaction: to strike means to hit or set in motion in a more immediate sense without implying a cascaded outcome; to undersize simply means being too small; to wear down describes gradual erosion, not initiating a subsequent sequence.