The old man rebuked the thug and his children … him for doing so.

Analyze the question

The sentence is: "The old man rebuked the thug and his children ____ him for doing so."

The underlined word is rebuked, which means to scold or criticize someone sharply. We need a word that:

1. Is opposite in meaning to rebuked, and
2. Fits the gap grammatically and logically.

Explain the concept

This question tests two things at once: antonyms and contextual fit. A word may be an antonym and still not fit the sentence, so you must check both.

Step-by-step solution

• Meaning of "rebuked": to reprimand or express strong disapproval.
• Opposite meaning: to praise or approve of.

Now test each option:

• A. commended means praised or applauded. It is a direct opposite of rebuked (criticize vs. praise). It fits: "his children commended him for doing so." ✔
• B. embraced means hugged or accepted. It is not a true antonym of rebuke, and "embraced him for doing so" is awkward in this context. ✘
• C. thanked is positive, but it is not the direct opposite of rebuke. Rebuke is about judging someone's behavior, and the natural opposite is praise or commendation. "Thanked" is weaker, and the sentence's idea is approval of the act. ✘
• D. supported is positive, but it means to back someone up, not to express approval or disapproval in words. It is a weaker opposite. ✘

Answer

The best choice is A. commended. It is the closest opposite of rebuked (scolded vs. praised) and makes the sentence meaningful: the old man scolded the thug, but his children praised him for doing so.

Tip

In antonym-with-gap questions, first pin down the exact type of meaning (here, verbal criticism), then pick the option that is the opposite on that same dimension (verbal praise). Other pairs worth memorizing: rebuke ↔ commend/praise, condemn ↔ approve, reprimand ↔ applaud.