Determine Connotative Meanings

1. Which phrase has a positive connotation?

• A strong reek

• A strong aroma

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

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.

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 tone in the passage above?

• hopeless and afraid

• angry and violent

• sentimental and tender

Depending on what you're writing or reading, you'll want to have a specific tone. If you were describing your favorite book to a friend, you might have an sentimental tone. That means gushing and heartfelt. If you're writing a research paper, you'll want to keep your tone more objective. Textbooks tend to have a neutral tone, sticking to just the facts without showing the author's attitude toward the subject. Tone can be related to purpose. If you want to inform your reader, and not persuade her, an objective tone might be best.

Based on the passage, which of the following most likely has an objective tone?

• a wikipedia entry

• a letter to a friend

• an argumentative essay