Connotative and Denotative Meaning

1. Which phrase has a positive connotation?

• A strong reek

• A strong aroma

2. Which phrase has a negative connotation?

• Squandered his time

• Invested his time

3. Which phrase has a negative connotation?

• A bold plan

• A reckless plan

4. Which phrase has a positive connotation?

• Energetic dogs

• Rambunctious dogs

5. Connotation is a word's ___________.

• synonym

• anyonym

• emotional meaning

• literal, dictionary definition

6. Referring to someone's house as a "shack" would have a __________ connotation.

• positive

• negative

7. I recognized the familiar smell of my roommate's cooking. If you change the word smell to stench, the word now has a ____________ connotation.

• positive

• negative

8. Why do people use figurative language?

• To make their writing interesting and visual, or to emphasize an idea and make a point.

• To be grammatically correct.

• To structure their writing into paragraphs.

• Because Beyonce uses it in her songs.

9. The word scrawny, as in "Jason appeared scrawny," has a _________ connotation.

• positive

• negative

10. What's the meaning of this simile?

"My mom can be as fiery as a volcano when I don't do my chores on time."

• Her hair is red.

• She talks really loudly.

• She gets really angry.

• She spits when she talks.