Diction and Syntax: Impact on Mood, Voice, and Tone
Question 12 • TX-English I B-CR
Read the excerpt from "Surrendering” by Ocean Vuong.Between his sentences, a crowd—I imagined thousands—roared and applauded. I imagined their heads shifting in an endless flow. His voice must possess the power of a moon, I thought, something beyond my grasp, my little life.
Answer
A
The denotation is continuous, and the connotation is positive.
B
The denotation is unrelenting, and the connotation is positive.
C
The denotation is continuous, and the connotation is negative.
D
The denotation is unrelenting, and the connotation is negative.
Explanation
“Endless” denotes something that continues without stopping, so its denotation is continuous. In this passage, the endless flow of shifting heads emphasizes the crowd’s immense, powerful presence and the speaker’s awe, giving the word a positive connotation. Therefore, the correct choice is “The denotation is continuous, and the connotation is positive.”
AI-written and checked against the verified answer.