Virginia Reading 8th Grade SOL Practice Test

Connotation is the feeling a word carries beyond its dictionary definition. This is what lets words evoke positive, negative, or neutral reactions based on context and experience. It’s the best fit because it names that emotional charge attached to a word, not its literal meaning or the overall mood of the writing. For example, “frugal” can feel positive, suggesting wise budgeting, while “cheap” can feel negative, implying stinginess, even though both touch on spending. Imagery focuses on sensory details the text creates, not on the word’s emotional load. Denotation is the literal dictionary meaning of the word. Tone is the author’s attitude toward the subject, shown through language, not the feeling a single word itself conveys.