Examkin

Question

Difficulty: HardWords in Context: Connotation and Tone

In his 1915 essay on urban architecture, Arthur Symons describes the newly constructed steel skyscrapers not as triumphs of engineering, but as ______ intrusions upon the city's historical skyline. Symons laments the loss of the 'intimate scale' of older brick edifices, characterizing the modern structures as cold, sterile, and indifferent to human proportions.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word?

  1. A
    lofty
  2. forbiddingAnswer
  3. C
    sublime
  4. D
    delicate

Answer

forbidding
The correct answer is the option containing 'forbidding'. In the context of the passage, the author is critical of the skyscrapers, describing them as 'cold, sterile, and indifferent to human proportions.' The word 'forbidding,' which means grim, unfriendly, or threatening in appearance, aligns with this negative connotation and tone.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the passage to determine the author's attitude toward the steel skyscrapers.
The author has a critical and negative attitude, as shown by phrases like 'laments the loss' and describing the structures as 'cold, sterile, and indifferent to human proportions.'
Identifying the overall tone and connotation of the context is necessary to select a word that matches these clues.
2
Evaluate the word that fits the blank based on the established negative connotation.
The blank must be filled by a word that conveys an unfriendly, cold, or imposing quality.
The correct choice must logically connect the physical nature of skyscrapers with the negative aesthetic judgment of the author.
3
Assess the options to find the word that matches this connotation and tone.
'forbidding' fits the context perfectly, while 'lofty' has the wrong connotation, 'sublime' is too positive, and 'delicate' contradicts the physical scale.
Eliminating options that mismatch either in definition or connotation ensures the selection of the most precise word.

Key Concept

Words in Context: Connotation and Tone
Rate this question

Topics

Words in Context: Connotation and Tone

More questions from this topic