Hold in abeyance means to suspend or postpone something temporarily. The correct answer is this meaning because the expression is used figuratively, not only by its literal words.

Examples:

• The decision was held in abeyance until the report arrived.
• In an HSC essay, Hold in abeyance can express this meaning: to suspend or postpone something temporarily.
• When this expression appears in a passage, connect Hold in abeyance with the idea of to suspend or postpone something temporarily.