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Question

Difficulty: MediumTone and Connotation Matching

While the literary critic conceded that the late poet’s final collection was undeniably mournful, she vehemently rejected the reviewer’s claim that the verses were _______, maintaining that their dark tone reflected a dignified grief rather than an exaggerated, self-indulgent gloom. Which word best completes the sentence to maintain the intended contextual tone and connotative meaning?

  1. A
    elegiac
  2. lugubriousAnswer
  3. C
    plaintive
  4. D
    sanguine
  5. E
    laudatory

Answer

lugubrious
The correct word 'lugubrious' fits both the denotative requirement of sorrow/mournfulness and the precise negative connotative valence of 'exaggerated, self-indulgent gloom' that the critic rejects in favor of 'dignified grief'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze context clues and structural transitions in the stem.
The word 'conceded' establishes that the poems are mournful, but the contrast phrase 'rather than an exaggerated, self-indulgent gloom' indicates that the blank requires a word with a distinctly negative, overly dramatic connotation of sadness.
The sentence presents a contrast between acceptable 'dignified grief' and an objectionable, excessive type of gloom.
2
Evaluate candidate choices for semantic definition and connotative valence.
'Lugubrious' specifically means mournful in an exaggerated, dismal, or excessive manner, perfectly matching the negative connotation the critic rejects.
Options like 'elegiac' match the denotation of mournfulness but carry a positive/dignified connotation, failing to fit the specific critique being disputed.

Key Concept

Tone and Connotation Matching
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Topics

Tone and Connotation Matching

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