Question

Difficulty: Very hardConnotation and Tone of Words in Context

Read the passage below. Fill in the blank with a single adjective that fits the context and carries a connotation of subtle, deliberate bias or calculated promotion of a specific viewpoint.

Answer:In her analysis of nineteenth-century realism, the critic argues that novelists did not merely document daily life; they actively edited it, transforming mundane realities into structured narratives. To describe this process as objective representation is to miss the authors' 【tendentious】 intent—their subtle, deliberate shaping of reader perception under the guise of neutrality.

Answer

The correct answer is a word such as 'tendentious' or 'partisan' that denotes a deliberate, underlying bias or calculated promotion of a specific viewpoint.
The correct answer must be a word like 'tendentious' or 'partisan' because the passage describes authors who 'actively edited' reality and engaged in the 'deliberate shaping of reader perception under the guise of neutrality.' This indicates an underlying bias or specific purpose behind their work, which matches the connotation of these words.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the passage context to determine the tone and meaning required for the blank.
Clues such as 'actively edited,' 'transforming mundane realities,' and 'subtle, deliberate shaping of reader perception under the guise of neutrality' indicate that the authors' work is not objective, but rather carries an underlying, hidden agenda.
This establishes the semantic boundary and tone requirement for the missing word.
2
Identify a word that specifically connotes a calculated, non-neutral stance or purposeful bias.
Words like 'tendentious' (meaning expressing a strong bias or controversial point of view) or 'partisan' fit this precise connotation.
This matches the target vocabulary-in-context skill of aligning contextual clues with specific word connotations.

Key Concept

Determining the connotation and tone of words in context, specifically identifying words that convey a subtle, non-neutral bias under the appearance of objectivity.
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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