dimming vs fading

[Nessie]

1/ The air-sea search operation is continuing although hopes of finding survivors are ....
A. dimming
B. fading
C. dissolving
D. reducing
=> I think both A and B are acceptable here, so which is the best choice and why?

2/ She down with with a bad cold just before Christmas
=> the above sentence lacks "is", doesn't it? (I mean: is "down with" an adjective phrase?)
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... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know..

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...

[Alan]

Hi Nessie,

'Fading' seems the only possible answer. 'Dim' is more closely associated with light that is becoming weaker. You need to say 'went down' with the second sentence.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Party Conferences

[Nessie]

Many thanks for your idea, Alan

About the second question, I think may be "go down with" is more commonly used, but I also found some results for "be went down" on the BNC, so I think perhaps it is also used sometimes

One of Bertha Hobbs's kids is down with a fever again.';
By the time I jumped back inside he looked like he was down with flu
_________________
... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know..

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...

[Yankee]

Hi Nessie

There is something missing in your second sentence. I'd say 'was' would be more likely than 'is'. The missing word could also be 'came'.

(The word 'went' would sound a little odd to me. That may just be a BE vs AmE difference, however.)
.

[Lost_Soul]

[Nessie]

It seems the phrase "go down with" has lots of meanings, and after I've checked on the BNC, I agree with Amy about the better use of "came down with" here...
_________________
... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know..

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...