Author's Word Choice

Read this sentence from the article.

There are few migrations as dramatic and frightening as when the desert locust are moving across Africa.

What does the author mean by the word dramatic in the sentence above?

• easy

• entertaining

• exciting

• exhausting

Read this sentence from the article.

And in the sudden darkness there is a terrible thunderous noise.

Why did the author use the word thunderous in the sentence above?

• to show how soft the noise was

• to show how loud the noise was

• to show how scary the noise was

• to show how scratchy the noise was

Read this sentence from the article.

Within minutes they will fly off again, leaving behind them a totally devastated landscape.

What does the word devastated mean in the sentence above?

• beautiful

• different

• interesting

• ruined

Read this sentence from the article.

The whales eat and eat and eat, straining the tiny food through strips of baleen in their mouths.

What does the author mean by the word straining in the sentence above?

• to swallow

• to push violently

• to stretch beyond the limit

• to remove by passing through

The music vibrated the floor and shook the walls.

This gives an example of imagery that relates to which sense?

• touch

• taste

• sound

• sight

• smell

"‘You are lazy,’ said the Eldest Magician. ‘So your children shall be lazy. They shall be the laziest people in the world. They shall be called the Malazy—the lazy people;’ and he held up his finger to the Moon and said, ‘O Fisherman, here is the Man too lazy to row home. Pull his canoe home with your line, Fisherman."

What word is repeated?

• people

• Fisherman

• lazy

• children

"‘You are lazy,’ said the Eldest Magician. ‘So your children shall be lazy. They shall be the laziest people in the world. They shall be called the Malazy—the lazy people;’ and he held up his finger to the Moon and said, ‘O Fisherman, here is the Man too lazy to row home. Pull his canoe home with your line, Fisherman."

Based on word choice what is the feeling of this passage?

• anger

• humorous

• serious

• excited

"So it is, so it is," said the Mole with great heartiness.

"No, it isn't!" cried the Rat indignantly.

"Well then, it isn't, it isn't," replied the Mole soothingly.

What is the feeling of this passage based on the repeated words?

• disgust

• humorous

• disgruntled

• exhausted

Read the following passage.

This house isn't perfect, but it's where my babies grew up. I know it all by heart. I know every stain on the carpet, every creaking floorboard and every paint chip on the windowsills. Each corner of this small space is filled with memories that I relive when I walk through the narrow hallways.

What words best describe the author's word choice in the passage above?

• hopeless and afraid

• angry and violent

• sentimental and tender

• The author doesn't have a tone.

Answer explanation

sentimental and tender

The author's word choice can be seen in the phrases "...where my babies grew up." and "...filled with memories." She has a sentimental and tender attitude toward the subject, her home.

Word choice often gives you clues you can use to infer the author's perspective. Words have denotations. That's their definition in the dictionary. They also have a connotation. That's their emotional meaning. For example, a person who is interested in others can be described as "curious" or "nosy." "Curious" has a positive connotation. "Nosy" has a negative connotation. In the same way, a person who likes to take charge could be described as "bossy" or "a leader."

She is a busy body.

Does this phrase have a positive or negative connotation?

• positive connotation

• negative connotation

Answer explanation

Negative Connotation

A "busy body" is known as a person who is nosy and into everybody's business. It is a negative name.