Question

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

the hemp floormats had been beaten and aired out, the white - washed walls scrubbed inside and out, and mrs. vargas was now spreading her best embroidered tablecloth on the big square table in the sala while admonishing her family not to spill anything on it for the next few days.

a. inviting
b. helping
c. warning
d. allowing

Explanation:

To determine the meaning of "admonishing", we analyze the context. Mrs. Vargas is using her best tablecloth and wants her family to not spill on it. "Inviting" (A) doesn't fit as she's not inviting them to do something. "Helping" (B) is incorrect because she's not assisting them. "Allowing" (D) is wrong as she's restricting, not permitting. "Warning" (C) makes sense because she's cautioning her family to avoid spilling on the tablecloth.

Answer:

C. warning