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.
Not a single member of the board put in a good word for him. This means that
- all the members criticized him
-
none of the members said anything favourable about him
- some of the members disliked him
- none of the members spoke kindly to him
The correct answer is: B
Explanation
The sentence "Not a single member of the board put in a good word for him" suggests that no member of the board spoke favourably or positively about him. Let's break down the options:
A. all the members criticized him - This is not necessarily implied by the sentence. The absence of putting in a good word doesn't necessarily mean all members criticized him.
B. none of the members said anything favourable about him - This option is correct. It indicates that there was no positive endorsement or support from any board member.
C. some of the members disliked him - The sentence doesn't specify that some members disliked him; it simply states that no one spoke positively about him.
D. none of the members spoke kindly to him - While the sentence doesn't explicitly mention speaking kindly, the focus is on the absence of positive remarks or endorsements.
Option B, "none of the members said anything favourable about him," is the most appropriate interpretation because it shows that there was a lack of positive comments or support from any board member.