由于持续的干旱，该地区的粮食危机迅速恶化。

The food crisis in the region continued to ___escalate due to the prolonged drought.

他们将投诉升级到了部门经理那里。

They ___escalated the complaint to the department manager.

他们的争论很快升级为肢体冲突。

Their argument quickly ___escalated into a physical fight.