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Difficulty: MediumConnotation and Tone of Words in Context

When the telegraph lines first spanned the American continent in the mid-nineteenth century, local newspapers hailed the feat as a total conquest of space and time. Yet behind this celebratory rhetoric lay a more *sober* reality. The copper wires were fragile, often snapping under the weight of winter gales, and the operators themselves worked in isolated outposts, enduring long stretches of monotony. Far from a seamless web of instant communication, the early telegraph was a precarious network dependent on constant repair and human endurance.

As it is used in the passage, what does the word *sober* most nearly suggest about the reality of early telegraphy?

  1. A
    It was free from any physical or mental impairment.
  2. B
    It was completely solemn and sorrowful.
  3. It was realistic and unembellished by exaggeration.Answer
  4. D
    It was quiet and entirely peaceful.

Answer

realistic and unembellished by exaggeration
The author contrasts the newspapers' 'celebratory rhetoric' of total conquest with a 'sober reality' marked by fragile wires, isolated shacks, and weather damage. In this context, 'sober' carries the connotation of being serious, realistic, and free from the exaggeration found in the promotional news stories.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Locate the target word and identify its immediate context.
The word 'sober' is positioned in contrast to 'celebratory rhetoric.'
Establishing the contrast helps determine that the tone shifts from high praise and exaggeration to direct facts.
2
Evaluate the details that define the 'sober reality' in the passage.
The reality involves fragile copper wires, winter gales, isolated operators, monotony, and constant repair.
These details indicate that the reality is grounded, serious, and practical, lacking the smooth perfection claimed by the newspapers.
3
Match the contextual tone and meaning of 'sober' to the correct option.
The connotation of being realistic and unembellished by exaggeration is the only meaning that fits the context.
This correctly resolves the contrast between empty hype and practical challenges.

Key Concept

Connotation and Tone of Words in Context
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Topics

Connotation and Tone of Words in Context

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