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Question

Difficulty: MediumConnotation and Tone

During an annual resource audit, the maintenance supervisor praised the technical crew for their frugal management of replacement parts. Which word best matches the meaning and positive tone of the underlined word in this context?

  1. A
    stingy
  2. B
    wasteful
  3. economicalAnswer
  4. D
    hasty

Answer

economical
The word 'economical' conveys the exact meaning of managing resources prudently and carries a positive, commendable connotation that fits the context of praise during an audit.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Examine the context and evaluative tone of the sentence.
The sentence describes supervisory commendation ('praised the technical crew') regarding the handling of replacement parts, establishing an approving, positive tone.
Identifying whether context conveys praise, neutrality, or criticism determines the necessary connotation of the synonym.
2
Analyze the denotation and connotation of the target word 'frugal'.
'Frugal' denotes avoiding waste and practicing careful economy, carrying a positive connotation of prudence and good stewardship.
A precise synonym must align with both the literal definition and the evaluative nuance of the source word.
3
Evaluate the answer choices against both meaning and tone.
'Economical' matches the literal definition of prudent resource usage and maintains the positive tone, whereas 'stingy' has a negative tone, 'wasteful' is an antonym, and 'hasty' is irrelevant.
Eliminating options with conflicting connotations or definitions isolates the single correct synonym.

Key Concept

Distinguishing between words with similar literal meanings (denotations) based on their positive, neutral, or negative emotional associations (connotations) in context.
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Connotation and Tone

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