Examkin

Question

Difficulty: EasyConnotation and Tone of Words in Context

Although the mayor spoke with an easy smile and waved warmly to the crowd, her choice of words was calculated. Every phrase had been vetted by her team to ensure it would appease the voters. She did not want to leave anything to chance during this final week of the campaign.

As it is used in the passage, the word "calculated" most nearly means which of the following?

  1. A
    computed
  2. B
    scheming
  3. deliberateAnswer
  4. D
    estimated

Answer

deliberate
The passage highlights that the mayor's words were vetted by her team and that she did not want to leave anything to chance. In this context, 'calculated' indicates that her choices were intentional and planned. The word 'deliberate' correctly matches this connotation of conscious planning.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Locate the target word in the passage and identify immediate context clues.
The word is 'calculated'. The passage mentions that her choice of words was 'vetted' to 'appease the voters' and that she 'did not want to leave anything to chance.'
Analyzing surrounding context is necessary to determine the tone and connotation of the word in this specific usage.
2
Determine the contextual meaning and tone of the target word.
The word refers to an action that is intentional, strategic, and carefully planned beforehand rather than done randomly or mathematically.
This establishes the target connotation to match against the definitions of the options.
3
Compare the options to identify the correct synonym.
'Deliberate' means done consciously and intentionally, which fits the context perfectly.
Comparing options helps eliminate distractors that rely on literal definitions or incorrect tones.

Key Concept

Determining word meaning in context by analyzing surrounding details and tone.
Estimated Time:45s
Rate this question

Topics

Connotation and Tone of Words in Context

More questions from this topic