Question

read the passage from \the tell - tale heart.\ how, then, am i mad? hearken! and observe how healthily - how calmly i can tell you the whole story. what is the connotative meaning of the word mad? foolish weak unreliable sick

Explanation:

In the context of the passage from "The Tell - Tale Heart," the narrator is trying to convince the reader of his sanity. The connotative meaning of "mad" here is related to being mentally ill or "sick" (in a mental sense), as opposed to the other options. "Foolish" is more about lack of wisdom, "weak" about lack of physical or mental strength in a general sense, and "unreliable" about not being trustworthy. The narrator's emphasis on telling the story "healthily" and "calmly" is a defense against the perception of being mentally unwell (sick).

Answer:

sick