Question

my cat has never had kittens of her own, but she is always trying to take care of other animals, even children. she has a significant maternal instinct that seems to be always available to those who need her. she meows in an attempt to comfort my crying baby sister. she even adopted a family of baby squirrels one spring. what does the word maternal mean in the paragraph? planning for motherhood leading to motherhood common to mothers support for mothers

Explanation:

To determine the meaning of "maternal" in the paragraph, we analyze the context. The cat, despite not having her own kittens, cares for other animals and children, and even adopted baby squirrels. This shows a nurturing, motherly behavior. Among the options, "common to mothers" fits as the cat exhibits traits typical of a mother (caring for young, nurturing), which aligns with the maternal instinct shown. "Leading to motherhood" implies a path to becoming a mother, which isn't the case here. "Planning for motherhood" is about preparation, not the instinct shown. "Support for mothers" is about helping mothers, not the motherly behavior of the cat.

Answer:

common to mothers