A sentence has been given with a blank to be filled with an appropriate word. Choose the correct alternative.

She rubbed her hands over her arms, and then _________ her purse, headed inside the convenience store.

grabbing

The correct word to fill in the blank is grabbing.

The sentence is about someone who is feeling nervous or anxious. The word "grabbing" means to take hold of something suddenly and forcefully. It is the most appropriate option because it conveys the idea that the person is feeling so nervous that they are grabbing their purse tightly.

The other options are incorrect.

• Snapping means to break suddenly and loudly. It does not make sense to say that the person is snapping their purse.
• Slaying means to kill someone in a violent way. It does not make sense to say that the person is slaying their purse.
• Pinching means to squeeze something between your fingers. It does not make sense to say that the person is pinching their purse.