A block of mass 5 kg is sliding on a smooth floor with a velocity of 20 m/s. The amount of work required to stop it is
negative
equal to the kinetic energy of the block.
The work done to stop the block would be negative as the force applied would be opposite to the direction of motion so as to stop the moving block. Since the body possesses only kinetic energy (due to its motion) and no potential energy (as there is no mention of its position, so we assume it to be at ground level), the work required to stop the block will be equal to its kinetic energy.