Question

read this excerpt from \the kick and the click.\

the next morning, anthony awoke to laughing and applauding, so he threw on some jeans and a t-shirt and headed down the hallway, giving his father a quizzical look when he reached the kitchen doorway.

what is the denotation of the word \quizzical\?

angry
difficult
confused
clever

Explanation:

Analyze the context clues

The passage states that Anthony woke up to the unexpected sounds of "laughing and applauding." Because this was surprising first thing in the morning, he went to investigate and gave his father a "quizzical" look. Using Context Clues, we can infer that Anthony is questioning or puzzled by the unusual morning noise.

Define the target word

The word "quizzical" is derived from "quiz" (to question). Its literal dictionary definition, or denotation, refers to showing mild amusement, confusion, or questioning. Among the choices, "confused" is the closest synonym that represents this questioning state of mind.

Evaluate the options

• "angry": Incorrect, as there is no indication of hostility or irritation.
• "difficult": Incorrect, as this describes a task or situation, not a facial expression or look.
• "confused": Correct, as a quizzical look indicates a puzzled, questioning, or confused state.
• "clever": Incorrect, as it means quick-witted, which does not fit the context of being surprised by morning noises.

Answer:

• angry
• difficult
• confused (Correct answer)
• clever