The strategy that would most improve Laurel’s statement to make it more conventional is option D) “Change the phrase "shooting the breeze" because it is too informal and cannot be understood literally.” When speaking to her new neighbors about babysitting their daughter, Laurel needs to adapt her language to her audience, in this case adults, in order to express her ideas in a way that everybody understands. The rest of the options are incorrect since the language used is not informal and does not interfere with the understanding of her message.
You did not include options in your question, but based on the meaning of the word cryptic, your answer will be 'A HIDDEN MEANING'.
When you say that something is cryptic, it means that, that thing has a meaning that is mysterious or obscure.
From the way the word was used in the given sentence, it means that the message the teacher was passing across about the test is hidden, it was not understood by any of the students.
Answer:
A B C B D E F E G H I H J K L K M N O N P A Q A
Explanation:
3) They resulted in the passage of new laws or regulations.
Let this be so.
His means of death, his obscure burial—
No trophy, sword, nor hatchment o'er his bones,
No noble rite nor formal ostentation,
Cry to be heard, as 'twere from heaven to earth,
That I must call't in question.