Mary () to work today, or she could lose her job.

• A. Had better go
• B. Should go
• C. Must go
• D. Will go

Answer: (A)

This sentence tests how to give urgent advice with a warning about a possible negative outcome. Mary had better go to work today, or she could lose her job. The phrase had better + base verb is used when there’s a strong recommendation because not doing it risks something undesirable. It’s not as absolute as must, but it carries more urgency than should. Here, going to work is presented as essential to avoid losing the job, so had better go best conveys that sense of immediate, higher-stakes advice. Saying should go would be milder, simply suggesting that it’s a good idea; must go sounds like a strict obligation, which doesn’t fit the conditional warning implied by “or she could lose her job.” Will go is just future tense and doesn’t express the advisory nuance at all.