Unit 5 Lesson 4: Literacy Word Choice

Question 1

word choices

Answer 1

the writer’s careful selection of words to best achieve a desired meaning and tone

Question 2

Why do different words paint different pictures

Answer 2

Different words paint different pictures. This is because words with the same denotation can have very different connotations.

Question 2

What is tone

Answer 2

the attitude the writer expresses toward the subject

Question 3

What is denoation

Answer 3

the dictionary meaning of a word

Question 4

connotation

Answer 4

the feelings or emotions a word evokes

Question 4

How can choosing the correct synonym impact tone and meaning?

Answer 4

Synonyms often have different connotations. Choosing one that precisely matches the writer’s intent is important in establishing the correct tone and meaning.

Question 5

Why can two words have the same or similar denotations but still evoke different feelings or emotions in readers? Give an example.

Answer 5

Words with the same or similar denotations, such as leap and lunge, have different connotations. Leap is a neutral word. It simply implies movement. Lunge, on the other hand, implies an aggressive move. The latter can be threatening, the former is no

Question 6

If the writer wants to cast a tone of doubt concerning what Ana is seeing, which synonym should they choose to fill in the blank?

As the fog settled in, Ana could only catch glimpses of a misty figure that seemed to weave in and out of the rocks that lined the trail. Was it human or animal, or simply a product of her imagination?

frenzied
hectic
overactive
overwrought

Answer 6

Overactive implies that Ana is not sure whether she has seen a figure on the trail. When people have overactive imaginations, the often imagine things that are not real. Frenzied, hectic, or overwrought would imply that Ana is frightened or confused.

Question 7

figurative language

Answer 7

a way of expressing information in nonliteral ways using figures of speech

Question 8

metaphor

Answer 8

a figure of speech that compares two unlike things by saying something is something else

Question 9

personification

Answer 9

giving human characteristics to animals, inanimate objects, ideas, or forces of nature

Question 10

simile

Answer 10

a figure of speech that compares two unlike things by saying something is like something else

Question 11

carpe diem

Answer 11

It is a Latin phrase meaning “pluck or seize the day. Today, carpe diem is used to express the idea of living in the present, rather than placing all your hope in the future.

Question 12

literal meaning

Answer 12

the most basic meaning of a word without any metaphorical or other figurative meanings

Question 13

figurative meaning –

Answer 13

a meaning that goes beyond the literal meaning of a word

Question 14

Which definition describes the literal meaning of carte blanche?

great work
face-to-face
complete freedom
blank document

Answer 14

d

Question 15

Read the following sentence. What is the English meaning of the term alter ego in this context? What is the etymology of the word and its literal meaning in its language of origin?

Jamal and I are always together. We shared so many thoughts and points of view that he is my alter ego.

Answer 15

In this context, alter ego means “a close trusted friend.” The word is of Latin origin and its literal meaning is “other I.”

Question 16

What is the etymology of magnum opus? How does its literal meaning in its language of origin compare to its definition in English? Use the word in a sentence.

Answer 16

Magnum opus is a Latin word that literally means “great work.” It has the same meaning in English. Following is an example sentence: After years of writing and rewriting, the author finally published her magnum opus.

Question 17

In a paragraph, describe the etymology of vis-à-vis, its literal meaning in its language of origin, and how the word’s meaning in English has changed over time. Then, use the word in a sentence.

Answer 17

Vis-à-vis is a French word with the literal meaning of “face-to-face.” The word entered English with its literal meaning of “face-to-face” in the 1700s. It was used as an adjective, an adverb, and a preposition with this meaning. It also was used as a noun to refer to a person who was face-to-face with another person, or to a carriage that had two facing seats. Today, the word is more often used to compare things or to draw attention to the relationship between things. In this prepositional form, it has the meaning of “compared with,” “in relation to,” or “in regard to.” Following is an example of the word used in this context: A German Shorthaired Pointer has much shorter fur vis-à-vis an Irish Setter.