Question

first read: selection vocabulary
identify the choice that best answers the question
what is most likely the meaning of overtaking in the following lines from \mrs. vargas and the dead naturalist\?

the next morning, dr. ellis set out early to find the rockbird. overtaking some farmers on the way to their fields, he asked if they had seen the small, yellow bird.

a. thinking about

b. catching up to

c. moving away from

d. seeing from a distance

Explanation:

To determine the meaning of "overtaking" in the context, we analyze the situation: Dr. Ellis is on his way to find the rockbird and encounters farmers on their way to fields. "Overtaking" here implies he catches up to them (to ask a question), as "thinking about" (A) doesn't fit an action of approaching, "moving away from" (C) contradicts the action of asking, and "seeing from a distance" (D) doesn't allow interaction. So "catching up to" (B) is correct.

Answer:

B. catching up to