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Difficulty: MediumFigurative Use of Language and Connotations

Read the passage below.

'When interrogated about the unaccounted revenue, the manager offered a calculated response that left the auditors even more perplexed.'

What is the connotative meaning of the word 'calculated' as used in the sentence?

  1. Deliberately planned to conceal the truthAnswer
  2. B
    Arithmetically measured using precise numbers
  3. C
    Delivered hastily without prior thought
  4. D
    Highly encouraging and supportive in tone

Answer

Deliberately planned to conceal the truth
In the sentence, 'calculated' carries a negative connotation referring to an action that is shrewdly premeditated and designed to achieve a specific, often deceptive, effect rather than an innocent mathematical computation.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context of the sentence
The manager is being questioned about 'unaccounted revenue' and leaves auditors 'perplexed'.
Context determines whether a word has a neutral, literal, or figurative/connotative meaning.
2
Determine the connotative meaning of 'calculated'
Rather than performing mathematical operations, the manager prepared a deliberate, cunning statement to avoid giving clear answers.
Figuratively, 'calculated' describes actions performed with shrewd premeditation.

Key Concept

Connotative Word Meaning in Context
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Topics

Figurative Use of Language and Connotations

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