Question

first read: selection vocabulary
identify the choice that best answers the question.
the following question has two parts. answer part a first, and then part b.
part a what does the context suggest is the most likely meaning of suffocate as it is used in this excerpt from \sleep paralysis: a waking nightmare\?
sleep paralysis is also sometimes called \old hag syndrome,\ for an evil creature thought to suffocate people in their sleep by sitting on their chests.
a. prevent sleeping
b. prevent breathing
c. prevent dreaming
d. prevent awakening
part b
which group of words from the excerpt is a context clue that most clearly supports the answer to part a?
a. called \old hag syndrome\
b. sitting on their chests
c. an evil creature
d. in their sleep

Explanation:

For Part A, the context mentions an evil creature sitting on people's chests. Sitting on the chest can restrict breathing. So "suffocate" likely means prevent breathing. For Part B, "sitting on their chests" gives a physical action that would lead to preventing breathing (as in Part A's answer).

Answer:

Part A: B. prevent breathing
Part B: B. sitting on their chests