2.1.3 Explaining word choice (out) Lesson Content Q&A 2.1.3 Explaining word choice (out) 1 / 10 In a magazine review, a chef describes a soup as "bold" with sharp spices dark colour and a smell that fills the room. The reviewer says the flavour is "assertive" rather than gentle. Which analysis best explains bold in this food context? It suggests the soup was weak and bland It implies the soup was strong, noticeable and confident in flavour It means the soup was cold and unappetising It shows the soup was unhealthy and dirty Bold suggests something strong, confident and noticeable. In this context it gives the food a powerful identity and creates an impression of richness and intensity. 2 / 10 In a war memoir, a soldier writes that the village was "desolate" after the shelling with "desolate" fields smashed windows and no movement in the streets. Which explanation best explores the word "desolate?" It means the village was cheerful and busy It suggests the village was empty, ruined and deeply sad It implies the village was rich and prosperous It shows the village was noisy but safe Desolate suggests complete emptiness, sadness and ruin. It creates a bleak atmosphere and shows the devastation caused by the conflict. 3 / 10 A feature about an online learning platform says students are "trapped" by endless notifications and "pulled" from one task to another. The writer warns that attention is "fragmented" by constant alerts. Which explanation best captures the verb "pulled"? It suggests the students freely chose to work It implies the notifications gently encouraged attention It creates the idea of being forced away from focus It means the platform was broken Pulled suggests an outside force dragging students away from their own choice, which creates a sense of pressure and lack of control. It helps present the technology as intrusive. 4 / 10 In a crime article, the suspect is described as moving with a "sluggish" pace through the station while police watched from across the platform. The article says his face looked "dull" and "empty". Which analysis best explains "sluggish?" It means the suspect was very fast and alert It suggests the suspect moved slowly and without energy It implies the station was crowded and noisy It shows the suspect was confident and successful Sluggish suggests slow, heavy and lacking energy. It can also make the suspect seem guilty, unprepared or emotionally detached, adding to the writer's suspicious tone. 5 / 10 In a biography of a young athlete, the coach describes her as "unyielding" after she continued training despite injury and rain. The writer adds that her "unyielding" focus inspired the whole team. Which explanation best explores the adjective unyielding? It suggests she was weak and uncertain It implies she changed her mind often It creates the idea that she was determined and resilient It means she was rude to her coach Unyielding suggests firmness, determination and refusal to give up. It gives the athlete a powerful, disciplined image and creates admiration in the reader. 6 / 10 A ghost story set in an old school says the corridors were "hollow" - what implied meaning does this word represent? It suggests the corridors were full of people It implies the corridors were empty and unsettling It means the school was newly built and modern It shows the building was warm and welcoming Hollow suggests emptiness and a lack of life. In this context it creates a chilling atmosphere, making the school seem abandoned and eerie rather than simply quiet. 7 / 10 In a radio report about a drought, the writer describes the riverbed as "cracked" and the farms as "parched". The report adds that villagers were carrying "meagre" supplies of water to their homes. Which explanation best analyses the adjective "parched?" It suggests the farms were wet and muddy It means the farms were warm and comfortable It implies the land was extremely dry and suffering It shows the villages were busy and productive Parched suggests extreme dryness and hardship. It creates a harsh atmosphere and links the landscape to human suffering, making the drought feel severe. 8 / 10 A travel blog describes a mountain road at dusk. The driver says the route was "snaking" through the cliffs while the path ahead seemed to "disappear" into shadow. Which analysis best explains the verb snaking?" It means the road was straight and easy to follow It suggests the road curved in a twisting, unpredictable way It shows the road was broken into pieces It implies the road was wide, open and peaceful Snaking suggests the road bends and twists unpredictably, which makes the journey feel uncertain and difficult. The verb creates a sense of movement that is almost alive and slightly threatening. 9 / 10 In a memoir about moving to a new city, the narrator says the apartment felt "stale" with closed curtains a silent corridor and air that seemed not to move. The writer also describes the rooms as "lifeless" after the family left. Which explanation best explores the connotations of stale? It creates a feeling of freshness and excitement It implies the apartment is fashionable and modern It suggests the room is old, airless and unpleasant It means the apartment is dangerous and damaged Stale suggests something old, airless and unpleasant, so the setting feels dull and trapped. The word builds a sad and stagnant tone, hinting at loneliness and lack of comfort. 10 / 10 In a newspaper feature, a coastal town is described after a storm. The writer says that the harbour was a "mad" place of shouting splashing and broken ropes and that fishermen moved in a "frantic" rush to save their boats before nightfall. Which explanation best analyses the word mad in this context?" It shows the harbour was enjoyable and lively in a positive way It suggests the harbour was uncontrolled, chaotic and full of panic It means the harbour was quiet but emotionally tense It shows the fishermen were calm and carefully organised The word mad suggests uncontrolled chaos and creates an atmosphere of panic. It does not simply mean busy. The writer uses it to make the harbour seem overwhelming and unsafe. Your score isThe average score is 0% Show more Please login to ask a question Previous Lesson Next Lesson 1 Foundation retrieval skills ***** 1.1 Precise retrieval for short-answer questions ***** 1.1 Precise retrieval for short-answer questions 1.1.1 Locating the exact answer 1.1.1 Locating the exact answer 1.1.1 Locating the exact answer (Out) 1.1.1 Locating the exact answer (Out) 1.1.2 Lifting carefully 1.1.2 Lifting carefully 1.1.2 Lifting carefully (Out) 1.1.2 Lifting carefully (Out) 1.1.3 Avoiding weak retrieval habits 1.1.3 Avoiding weak retrieval habits 1.1.3 Avoiding weak retrieval habits (out) 1.1.3 Avoiding weak retrieval habits (out) 2. Single-text analysis skills ***** 2.1 Building an analytical paragraph ***** 2.1 Building an analytical paragraph 2.1.1 Paragraph argument 2.1.1 Paragraph argument 2.1.1 Paragraph argument (out) 2.1.1 Paragraph argument (out) 2.1.2 Selecting evidence 2.1.2 Selecting evidence 2.1.2 Selecting evidence (out) 2.1.2 Selecting evidence (out) 2.1.3 Explaining word choice 2.1.3 Explaining word choice 2.1.3 Explaining word choice (out) 2.1.3 Explaining word choice (out) 2.1.4 Developing deeper interpretation 2.1.4 Developing deeper interpretation 2.1.4 Developing deeper interpretation (out) 2.1.4 Developing deeper interpretation (out) ***** 2.2 Language methods ***** 2.2 Language methods 2.2.1 Vocabulary and connotation 2.2.1 Vocabulary and connotation 2.2.1 Vocabulary and connotation (out) 2.2.1 Vocabulary and connotation (out) 2.2.2 Imagery and figurative language 2.2.2 Imagery and figurative language 2.2.2 Imagery and figurative language (done) 2.2.2 Imagery and figurative language (done) 2.2.3 Tone and voice 2.2.3 Tone and voice 2.2.3 Tone and voice (out) 2.2.3 Tone and voice (out) ***** 2.3 Structure methods ***** 2.3 Structure methods 2.3.1 Openings and introductions 2.3.1 Openings and introductions 2.3.1 Openings and introductions (out) 2.3.1 Openings and introductions (out) 2.3.2 Shifts and development 2.3.2 Shifts and development 2.3.2 Shifts and development (out) 2.3.2 Shifts and development (out) 2.3.3 Sentence structure and repetition 2.3.3 Sentence structure and repetition 2.3.3 Sentence structure and repetition (out) 2.3.3 Sentence structure and repetition (out) ***** 2.4 Overall effect and zoom-out sentences ***** 2.4 Overall effect and zoom-out sentences 2.4.1 Connecting to theme and message 2.4.1 Connecting to theme and message 2.4.1 Connecting to theme and message (out) 2.4.1 Connecting to theme and message (out) 2.4.2 Avoiding capped analysis 2.4.2 Avoiding capped analysis 2.4.2 Avoiding capped analysis (out) 2.4.2 Avoiding capped analysis (out) 3 Comparison skills ***** 3.1 Understanding comparison ***** 3.1 Understanding comparison 3.1.1 Comparison mindset 3.1.1 Comparison mindset 3.1.1 Comparison mindset (out) 3.1.1 Comparison mindset (out) 3.1.2 Comparison openings 3.1.2 Comparison openings 3.1.2 Comparison openings (out) 3.1.2 Comparison openings (out) 3.1.3 Balanced coverage 3.1.3 Balanced coverage 3.1.3 Balanced coverage (out) 3.1.3 Balanced coverage (out) ***** 3.2 Comparative paragraph structure ***** 3.2 Comparative paragraph structure 3.2.1 Text One evidence and analysis 3.2.1 Text One evidence and analysis 3.2.1 Text One evidence and analysis (out) 3.2.1 Text One evidence and analysis (out) 3.2.2 Transition to Text Two 3.2.2 Transition to Text Two 3.2.2 Transition to Text Two (out) 3.2.2 Transition to Text Two (out) 3.2.3 Text Two analysis 3.2.3 Text Two analysis 3.2.3 Text Two analysis (out) 3.2.3 Text Two analysis (out) 3.2.4 Comparative zoom-out 3.2.4 Comparative zoom-out 3.2.4 Comparative zoom-out (out) 3.2.4 Comparative zoom-out (out) ***** 3.3 Common comparison mistakes ***** 3.3 Common comparison mistakes 3.3.1 Avoiding separate essays 3.3.1 Avoiding separate essays 3.3.1 Avoiding separate essays (out) 3.3.1 Avoiding separate essays (out) 3.3.2 Avoiding vague comparison 3.3.2 Avoiding vague comparison 3.3.2 Avoiding vague comparison (out) 3.3.2 Avoiding vague comparison (out) 4 Transactional writing skills ***** 4.1 Purpose, audience and form ***** 4.1 Purpose, audience and form 4.1.1 Understanding the task 4.1.1 Understanding the task 4.1.1 Understanding the task (out) 4.1.1 Understanding the task (out) 4.1.2 Controlling tone and register 4.1.2 Controlling tone and register 4.1.2 Controlling tone and register (out) 4.1.2 Controlling tone and register (out) 4.1.3 Using source ideas 4.1.3 Using source ideas 4.1.3 Using source ideas (out) 4.1.3 Using source ideas (out) ***** 4.2 Transactional paragraph development ***** 4.2 Transactional paragraph development 4.2.1 Strong openings 4.2.1 Strong openings 4.2.1 Strong openings (out) 4.2.1 Strong openings (out) 4.2.2 Main benefit paragraph 4.2.2 Main benefit paragraph 4.2.2 Main benefit paragraph (out) 4.2.2 Main benefit paragraph (out) 4.2.3 Second benefit paragraph 4.2.3 Second benefit paragraph 4.2.3 Second benefit paragraph (out) 4.2.3 Second benefit paragraph (out) 4.2.4 Challenges and counterarguments 4.2.4 Challenges and counterarguments 4.2.4 Challenges and counterarguments (out) 4.2.4 Challenges and counterarguments (out) 4.2.5 Conclusions 4.2.5 Conclusions 4.2.5 Conclusions (out) 4.2.5 Conclusions (out) ***** 4.3 Rhetorical and stylistic control ***** 4.3 Rhetorical and stylistic control 4.3.1 Persuasive phrases 4.3.1 Persuasive phrases 4.3.1 Persuasive phrases (out) 4.3.1 Persuasive phrases (out) 4.3.2 Sentence variety 4.3.2 Sentence variety 4.3.2 Sentence variety (out) 4.3.2 Sentence variety (out) 4.3.3 Connectives and cohesion 4.3.3 Connectives and cohesion 4.3.3 Connectives and cohesion (out) 4.3.3 Connectives and cohesion (out) 5 Creative, narrative and descriptive writing skills ***** 5.1 Narrative writing ***** 5.1 Narrative writing 5.1.1 Narrative planning 5.1.1 Narrative planning 5.1.1 Narrative planning (out) 5.1.1 Narrative planning (out) 5.1.2 Openings and hooks 5.1.2 Openings and hooks 5.1.2 Openings and hooks (out) 5.1.2 Openings and hooks (out) 5.1.3 Building tension 5.1.3 Building tension 5.1.3 Building tension (out) 5.1.3 Building tension (out) 5.1.4 Endings 5.1.4 Endings 5.1.4 Endings (out) 5.1.4 Endings (out) ***** 5.2 Descriptive writing ***** 5.2 Descriptive writing 5.2.1 Choosing a focus 5.2.1 Choosing a focus 5.2.1 Choosing a focus (out) 5.2.1 Choosing a focus (out) 5.2.2 Sensory detail 5.2.2 Sensory detail 5.2.2 Sensory detail (out) 5.2.2 Sensory detail (out) 5.2.3 Structural movement in description 5.2.3 Structural movement in description 5.2.3 Structural movement in description (out) 5.2.3 Structural movement in description (out) ***** 5.3 Discursive writing ***** 5.3 Discursive writing 5.3.1 Building a balanced discussion 5.3.1 Building a balanced discussion 5.3.1 Building a balanced discussion (out) 5.3.1 Building a balanced discussion (out) 5.3.2 Argument development 5.3.2 Argument development 5.3.2 Argument development (out) 5.3.2 Argument development (out) 6 Exam performance and answer improvement ***** 6.1 Planning and timing ***** 6.1 Planning and timing 6.1.1 Reading questions carefully 6.1.1 Reading questions carefully 6.1.1 Reading questions carefully (out) 6.1.1 Reading questions carefully (out) 6.1.2 Planning longer answers 6.1.2 Planning longer answers 6.1.2 Planning longer answers (out) 6.1.2 Planning longer answers (out) ***** 6.2 Upgrading responses ***** 6.2 Upgrading responses 6.2.1 Upgrading analysis 6.2.1 Upgrading analysis 6.2.1 Upgrading analysis (out) 6.2.1 Upgrading analysis (out) 6.2.2 Upgrading comparison 6.2.2 Upgrading comparison 6.2.2 Upgrading comparison (out) 6.2.2 Upgrading comparison (out) 6.2.3 Upgrading writing 6.2.3 Upgrading writing 6.2.3 Upgrading writing (out) 6.2.3 Upgrading writing (out)