にぎった: This is the past tense of the verb 握る (にぎる), which means to grasp, clasp, grip, or take hold. It is the appropriate verb to describe the action of the child firmly holding the mother’s hand.
もった: This is the past tense of the verb 持つ (もつ), which means to hold or possess. It does not convey the sense of grasping firmly.
つかんだ: This is the past tense of the verb 掴む (つかむ), which means to grab or seize. While it can be used to describe holding something, it is not as specific as 握る for the action of grasping a hand.
ぎゅっとした: This phrase means to do something tightly or firmly, but it is not a verb and does not fit grammatically in this context.
Therefore, にぎった is the correct choice as it accurately describes the action of the child firmly holding the mother’s hand.
JLPT Vocabularies and Grammars:
子供 (こども) – Child (N5)
母親 (ははおや) – Mother (N4)
手 (て) – Hand (N5)
しっかり – Firmly (N3)
握る (にぎる) – To grasp, clasp, grip, take hold (N4)
握り返す (にぎりかえす) – To grasp back, to hold back (N1)
安心させる (あんしんさせる) – To reassure, to make someone feel at ease (N1)