Question

Read the following passage written by a teen hero:

I want to be a vocal advocate for nature.
I reject the idea that I am too young to make a difference.
I recently helped a group with a river cleanup.
I was mortified to see the destruction of animals and plants.
When I got home, I composed a letter to my state politicians and asked them to allocate more money to the local river cleanup effort.
I believe my vocation is to help citizens see that we are at a junction.
We can decide to subject nature to abuse, or we can decide to be a benefactor to nature.
I won't let obstacles detract from my mission.


What is the meaning of the word "detract" as it is used in sentence 8?
A. To join together
B. To pull in the opposite direction
C. To make or do the opposite
D. To step back

Answer 1

B.  To pull in the opposite direction.

Answer 2

Answer: B. To pull in the opposite direction.

Explanation: The connotation of a word is the meaning given by the context or even by the readers, based on their emotions or personal experiences, it is the antonym of denotation, which is the literal meaning of a word, the one that we can find in a dictionary. In the given passage written by a teen hero, the connotation of the word "detract" is "to pull in the opposite direction" he is expressing that he won't let obstacles prevent him to complete his mission.