Malik, the Royal Wizard of Henry Estate, waved his wand through the stifling air. He loosened the collar on his robe to get relief from the heat and then gazed up at the sky. Another flourish of his wand and he commanded the sky, “Disrupt the current weather pattern and make it cool at once!”

Within seconds, Malik was shivering down to his toes. The snowflakes accumulated on his tongue as he strolled through his own personal North Pole.

Questions
What meaning is connoted by the word “stifling” in the first sentence?

The air is so cold that Malik is shivering.

The air is so hot that Malik is uncomfortable.

The air is so dense that Malik is unable to breathe.

The air is so thin that Malik needs an oxygen tank.

1 answer

The meaning connoted by the word “stifling” in the first sentence is:

The air is so hot that Malik is uncomfortable.

"Stifling" typically describes an oppressive heat that makes one feel uncomfortable and suffocated.