Now that Michael has become rich, Nancy has begun to make much of him. This means …

Step 1: Analyze the question The question tests your knowledge of idioms and phrasal expressions. The key expression is "make much of".

Step 2: Explain the concept "To make much of someone" means to treat them as very important, to pay them a lot of attention, or to value and fuss over them. It is about attitude and treatment, not about money or marriage.

Examples:

• The teacher made much of the winning student. (She praised and gave attention to him.)
• Don't make too much of the small mistake. (Don't treat it as very important.)

Step 3: Work through the sentence "Now that Michael has become rich, Nancy has begun to make much of him."

• "Now that Michael has become rich" signals a change in circumstances.
• Nancy "has begun to make much of him" means she has started to treat him as important, showering him with attention and regard.

So the sentence means: Nancy now values Michael (or at least gives him special attention).

Step 4: Check each option

• A. now values Michael: matches the meaning of "make much of."
• B. now gets a lot of money from Michael: the sentence implies she may benefit, but the idiom itself does not mean receiving money.
• C. only recently married Michael: nothing in the sentence mentions marriage.
• D. no longer wants to leave Michael: this is about staying or leaving, which the idiom does not express.

Step 5: Answer The correct option is A.

Exam tip: For idiom questions, look for the core attitude or action. "Make much of" = treat as important, and "make little of" = treat as unimportant. Don't pick an option just because it fits the story (like money in B); pick the one that matches the idiom's literal meaning.