Introduction / Context:
In administrative and workplace English, “to take someone to task” is a common idiom meaning to scold, criticize, or reprimand a person for an error or lapse. The sentence explicitly links the action to “his negligence,” which confirms that the response from authorities is disciplinary speech, not necessarily a structural penalty like suspension or termination.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Trigger: a person’s negligence.
- Actor: authorities or superiors with oversight power.
- Outcome: verbal or formal reprimand, not automatically job loss.
Concept / Approach:
Idioms often compress both meaning and tone. Here, the phrase signals censure. It does not inherently include demotion, suspension, or dismissal; those are possible consequences but would be stated separately. Therefore, the most accurate single-phrase paraphrase is “reprimanded him,” which matches both the tone and typical HR/administrative usage.
Step-by-Step Solution:
1) Identify the cause: negligence demands corrective feedback.2) Decode the idiom: take to task = scold/criticize formally.3) Assess options for fidelity to meaning and scope.4) Choose “reprimanded him” as the precise, non-exaggerated match.5) Validate with common HR phrasing (“issued a reprimand”).
Verification / Alternative check:
Replace the idiom: “The authorities reprimanded him for his negligence.” Meaning and register remain consistent, confirming correctness.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
gave him additional work: Not punishment; unrelated to negligence.suspended his assignment: A specific sanction, not implied by the idiom.forced him to resign: Far stronger outcome; would need explicit mention.
Common Pitfalls:
Confusing a reprimand with punitive employment actions. The idiom highlights censure; penalties may follow, but they are not built into the phrase itself.
Final Answer:
reprimanded him
Discussion & Comments