Connotative Meaning Practice

Which sentence has the connotation that the house is most developed?

• They worked together to build the house.

• They worked together to expand the house.

• They worked together to make the house.

• They worked together to destroy the house.

What is the connotation of the word 'home'?

• Unfamiliarity, insecurity, and alienation

• Comfort, security, and belonging

• Loneliness, isolation, and fear

• Discomfort, danger, and exclusion

Which word would be the best choice for a formal essay: a) big b) large c) enormous d) massive

• b) large

• c) enormous

• a) big

• d) massive

Choose the word with a positive connotation: a) slim b) skinny c) slender d) gaunt

• c) slender

• d) gaunt

• b) skinny

• a) slim

Select the word with a negative connotation: a) frugal b) thrifty c) stingy d) economical

• d) spendthrift

• a) generous

• c) stingy

• b) lavish

Which word has a more formal connotation: a) help b) assist c) aid d) support

• d) support

• b) assist

• a) help

• c) aid

Read the following sentence:

The hedgehog was ecstatic-- She had found a hole to burrow into, and she was happily settled beneath the ground, excited to sleep the day away.

Based on the context clues, what is the denotation of the word "ecstatic" in the passage?

• overly intelligent

• greatly impressed

• extremely happy

• often late

Read the following sentence:

The man stretched slowly, then continued his sluggish walk down the street.

How would the meaning of the sentence change if the author used the word "unhurried" instead of the word "sluggish"?

• The man would seem less lazy

• the man would seem funnier

• the man wold seem more talented

• the man would seem animal-like

Read the following passage:

My grandmother is thrifty. She never throws out old clothes and saves all her jars to reuse as glasses.

How would the meaning of the sentence change if the author used "cheap" instead of the word "thrifty"?

• The writer would seem unafraid

• the grandmother would seem unknown

• the writer would seem uncertain

• the grandmother would seem ungenerous

Read the following passage:

"How could you do this?" the painter screeched. "How could you paint that wall blue? It should clearly be orange!"

How would the meaning of the sentence change if the author used the word "whimpered" instead of the word "screeched"?

• The painter would seem more pathetic

• The painter would seem more powerful

• The painter would seem more joyful

• The painter would seem more intelligent