Question

charger is less expensive than the con art 486, but priced higher than the mao tek 2g. this unit requires at least twenty - four hours to recharge the batteries. the performance was below average for the camera, but the numbers for the cd player were excellent. after charging, we noticed a marked decline in battery power. the recharged numbers were below average in both devices.
6 we believe that the best buy is the mao tek 2g. its efficient and reasonably priced. battery performance continues to be average after being recharged. specialized users may want to purchase the con art 486. we would not recommend the con art 486 for everyday use. the charge! charger is inefficient and overpriced. we would advise that consumers avoid this product.
in paragraph 4 the author comments about the mao tek 2g as \the least expensive\ and he says \its performance was rated as average...\ does the phrase \the least expensive\ have a positive or negative connotation? why?
a it is positive because people want to pay less, regardless of quality.
b it is negative because \the least expensive\ is another way to say \cheap.\
c it is positive because, although it is the least expensive, it has average performance.
d it is negative because most people equate quality with something that is more expensive.

Explanation:

The phrase "the least expensive" is positive here. In the context, the author also mentions that the Mao Tek 2G has average performance. So, it's not just about cost - it's a balance. Option A is wrong because it ignores the quality aspect (average performance). Option B is incorrect as "the least expensive" in this context is not equivalent to "cheap" (negative connotation). Option D is wrong as the text doesn't support the idea that people equate quality with higher cost in this case. Option C is correct as it considers both the cost (least expensive) and the performance (average) in a positive light.

Answer:

C. It is positive because, although it is the least expensive, it has average performance.