The headmaster managed to talk his way out of having to give a speech.

Step 1: Analyze the question The sentence is: "The headmaster managed to talk his way out of having to give a speech." We need the option that best explains its meaning.

Step 2: Explain the concept "Talk one's way out of (something)" is an idiom. It means to use clever or persuasive words to avoid an unpleasant duty or escape a difficult situation. Here, the headmaster used talking (persuasion, excuses) to avoid giving the speech.

Step 3: Evaluate each option

• A. He delivered a speech despite the difficulty. Wrong. The sentence says he got out of giving a speech, so he did not deliver one.
• B. He managed to give a speech out of a difficult situation. Wrong. It still suggests a speech was given, which contradicts "out of having to give a speech".
• C. He managed to get himself out of a difficult situation. Correct. The unwanted duty of giving a speech was the "difficult situation", and he escaped it by persuasion.
• D. He managed to talk on his way. Wrong. This is a literal, nonsensical reading of the words and misses the idiom.

Step 4: Answer The best answer is C. It captures the idea of escaping an obligation through clever talk.

Tip: For idiom questions, don't read the words literally. Ask, "What is the overall result?" Here the result is that he avoided the speech. Phrases like "talk your way out of" and "get out of" signal escape from a situation. Eliminate options that say the action was actually carried out.