Question

read this sentence.

\that man is a snake,\ said ted. \first he lied to me, and then he stole my car.\

what is the connotative meaning of the word snake as it is used in the sentence?

a slow movement
a deceitful person
a scaly reptile
a plumbing tool

Explanation:

Analyze context clues

The sentence states: "First he lied to me, and then he stole my car." Lying and stealing are actions associated with dishonesty, betrayal, and deceit.

Determine connotative meaning

Calling someone a "snake" in this context refers to their untrustworthy and dishonest behavior, rather than the literal reptile or a physical tool.

Evaluate options

• "a slow movement" does not fit the context of betrayal.
• "a deceitful person" directly matches the actions of lying and stealing.
• "a scaly reptile" is the denotative (literal) meaning, not the connotative meaning.
• "a plumbing tool" is an alternative literal definition unrelated to the context.

Answer:

• a slow movement
• a deceitful person (Correct answer)
• a scaly reptile
• a plumbing tool