t="" want="" to="" be="" categorized="" among="" the="" "weird".="" on="" other="" hand,="" if="" something="" is="" labeled="" as="" "strange",="" it="" not="" necessarily="" bad.="" rather,="" "strange"="" simply="" abnormal,="" or="" unusual="" ―="" a="" deviation="" from="" what="" expected.="" this="" distinction="" between="" "weird"="" and="" so="" pronounced="" that="" latter="" can="" used="" euphemism="" for="" former="" in="" certain="" situations.="" example,="" notice="" how="" simple="" substitution="" able="" make="" following="" sentence="" less="" offensive:="" "your="" mother's="" cookies="" taste="" weird"="" compared="" “your="" strange".="" sentence,="" speaker="" sounds="" though="" he="" she="" insulting="" your="" cookies,="" stating="" they="" however,="" different,="" unusual,="" —="" difference="" owing="" innocuous="" addition="" of="" too="" much="" flour,="" perhaps. Finally, let's look at the synonyms, "happy" and "glad". As in the aforementioned cases, these words seem to have little or no discernible difference between them. Take for example the following sentences: 1) Tommy is happy because he got a new bike. 2) Tommy is glad because he got a new bike. Most understand these sentences to have the same meaning. And again, upon consulting a dictionary, one will find highly similar, if not the same, definitions. But these definitions lack the feeling, the unique emotional charge that these words convey. The word “happy” conveys a sense of levity, or a carefree attitude. The thought of someone who is “happy” conjures the image of a bright-eyed, ruddy, smiling face. One is “happy” on the morning of his birthday, discovering a new puppy bounding into his bedroom. On the other hand, the word “glad” conjures the image of a man standing crossed-armed, nodding gently. A stoic grin crossing his face. One is “glad” when he sees that the child’s lost puppy has been found, and was merely frolicking too far from home. Granted, the notion that close synonyms can be used interchangeably is prevalent among English speakers. And alas, the dictionary — the text purported to be responsible for clarifying such issues — is of little assistance. In the end, it is left to us, the speakers of the language, those actively responsible for maintaining its sustenance and generation, to understand how these words make us feel and what mood we are inclined to attach to them. Using the examples and insights described above, one may come to recognize these subtle, yet crucial, differences. 1.What is the thesis statement in this passage? 2.As used in paragraph 1, what is most likely meant by “scrupulous pedanticalness”? 3.As used in paragraph 2, which of the following best describes something that is superfluous? 4.In paragraph 3, the author writes: "To begin, 'hard' is pragmatic and realistic, firmly grounded in reality. It is a utilitarian word that gets the job done and doesn't apologize for its brusque, uncouth nature. On the other hand, "'difficult is eloquent and refined. It is civilized, willing to expend the effort necessary to appear urbane." Which of the following literary devices is used in this quotation? 5.With respect to the way in which close synonyms are commonly understood, the author's tone can best be described as ( ).'>
It is not uncommon for close synonyms to be understood to share the same meaning. The difference between words like “hard” and "difficult", for example, goes tragically unnoticed. One may employ one or the other with complete indifference, postulating no discrepancy between them. In general this is well and good; most people lack the scrupulous pedanticalness to quibble over such trifles. Nevertheless, for those of us with ample compulsiveness (and time), it is of significant value to comprehend such nuances.Take for example the following sentences: 1) The test was hard. 2) The test was difficult. Is the difference between these synonyms readily apparent? I