After each of the following sentences, a list of possible interpretations of the sentence is given. Choose the interpretation that you consider most appropr...

After each of the following sentences, a list of possible interpretations of the sentence is given. Choose the interpretation that you consider most appropriate for each sentence.
The proscription of the students' union was to nip the planned demonstration in the bud. This means that the proscription was meant to

Answer Details

The most appropriate interpretation of the sentence is "prevent the proposed demonstration." The sentence describes an action taken (proscription of the students' union) to prevent something (a planned demonstration) from happening. The phrase "nip in the bud" means to stop something from happening before it can develop into something larger or more serious. Therefore, the purpose of the proscription was to prevent the planned demonstration from taking place. Option A, "keep the students on the alert," does not fit the context of the sentence. Option C, "disorganize the students," is not supported by any information in the sentence. Option D, "punish the students," is not necessarily the purpose of the proscription based on the sentence given. Therefore, the most appropriate interpretation of the sentence is that the proscription of the students' union was meant to prevent the proposed demonstration.