[点拨]take up sth.填满，占据（空间或时间）。
take sth. up①拿起，举起，抬起，提起；②以某事作为爱好或消遣；③开始从事某事（尤指职业）。
[例句]
1.She has taken up a job as a teacher.她当上教师了。
2．The carpets had to be taken up when the house was rewired.这房子重新安装电线时，把地毯都掀了起来。
[高考链接]
1．（2009年安徽，33）We tried to find a table for seven, but they were all .
A. given away B. kept away
C. taken up D. used up
[解析]C。句意：我们想找一张七个人坐的桌子，但桌子全都被占了。give away 泄露，赠送；keep away 远离；take up 占据；use up 用光。
2.（2008年海南/宁夏，全国Ⅰ，34）After studying in a medical college for five years, Jane her job as a doctor in the countryside.
A. set out B. took over
C. took up D. set up
[解析]C。句意：在一所医科大学上了五年学之后，Jane开始在乡下做一名医生。take up，to start or begin sth.开始做某事；set out 出发、动身、着手做，做 着手做 时，后接不定式，即set out to do；take over 接管，接收；set up 设立、建立、创办。
3.（2006年山东，34）After he retired from office, Rogers painting for a while, but soon lost interest.
A. took up B. saved up
C. kept up D. drew up
[解析]A。句意：Rogers退休后，从事绘画一段时间，但不久就失去了兴趣。take up，to learn or start to do something, esp. for pleasure（尤指为消遣）学着做，从事，开始做；save up 储蓄，攒钱；keep up 保持；draw up 拟订，制订，起草。
