Question

according to the dictionary, the ____ of blue is that it is a primary color; however, the ____ to me is the color of our children’s eyes. what goes in the blanks? connotation / denotation malevolent / benevolent denotation / connotation meaning / meaning

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze the concepts of denotation and connotation. Denotation is the literal, dictionary - defined meaning of a word. Connotation refers to the emotional or personal associations a word carries. In the sentence, the first blank relates to the dictionary - given meaning of “blue” (denotation), and the second blank relates to a personal association (connotation). Let's check the options:

• Option 1 (connotation/denotation) swaps the two concepts, so it's incorrect.
• Option 2 (malevolent/benevolent) are about moral qualities, not word meanings, so it's incorrect.
• Option 3 (denotation/connotation) fits the definitions: “denotation” for the dictionary meaning and “connotation” for the personal association.
• Option 4 (meaning/meaning) is too vague and doesn't distinguish between the two types of word meanings.

Answer:

C. denotation / connotation