Question

directions: choose the words or phrases that you think most effectively describe the following setting. choose the words with the strongest connotation to effectively create atmosphere and mood.

the road up to the castle was □ stone that were so □ that they caught the traveler off guard and □ through his shoes or threw him off balance so that his ankles were □ with pain.

around the castle there ran a deep river whose surface was covered with green □. a few wild birds floated □ in it, their feathers dull and drooping.

overhead □ skies □ over the castle. it seemed that the thick clouds would perpetually stop any sun from □ the castle with its rays.

the walls of the castle were □ with tangled creepers which seemed to be trying to choke the life out of it. the creepers had □ stones from the wall so that the whole building □ fall on anyone who entered and □ him.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze the context of a gloomy, ominous castle setting. For the road: "paved with" (describes road material), "jagged" (sharp stones), "cut" (stones harming shoes), "seared" (pain in ankles). River: "slime" (green, murky), "lazily" (sluggish birds). Skies: "grey" (dull), "hung" (oppressive clouds), "touching" (sun blocked). Castle walls: "covered" (creepers), "loosened" (stones), "might" (threat of fall), "crush" (harm intruder). These words have strong connotations for mood.

Answer:

1. paved with (road material)
2. jagged (stone description)
3. cut (effect on shoes)
4. seared (ankle pain)
5. slime (river surface)
6. lazily (bird movement)
7. grey (sky color)
8. hung (sky over castle)
9. touching (sun rays)
10. covered (castle walls)
11. loosened (stones by creepers)
12. might (castle fall threat)
13. crush (harm to intruder)