If you ask him to sing, he will do it at the drop of a hat. This means that he will sing

Step 1: Analyze the question The question tests your knowledge of idioms. The idiom is "at the drop of a hat," and you must choose the option closest in meaning.

Step 2: Explain the concept "At the drop of a hat" means instantly, without hesitation, or at the slightest signal. The image comes from the old practice of dropping a hat to signal the start of a race or fight. As soon as the hat dropped, the action began.

Step 3: Work through the options

• A. joyfully: This describes the mood of the singing, not the speed. The idiom says nothing about happiness.
• B. melodiously: This describes the quality of the singing (sweet-sounding). The idiom is not about voice quality.
• C. immediately: This matches the idiom. He sings at once, with no delay or persuasion.
• D. sluggishly: This means slowly or lazily, which is the opposite of the idiom.

Step 4: Answer The sentence means that if you ask him to sing, he will do it immediately, without needing to be begged.

Tip: For idiom questions, ask yourself whether the idiom is about time/speed, manner, or quality. "At the drop of a hat" is about time. Similar idioms are "in a jiffy," "on the spot," and "without batting an eyelid."