Question

Provide the connotation for the words cower, retreat, recoil. Tell whether each word is positive, negative, or neutral.

a) Cower, retreat, recoil are all positive words.
b) Cower is positive, retreat is negative, and recoil is neutral.
c) Cower is negative, retreat is positive, and recoil is neutral.
d) Cower, retreat, recoil are all negative words.

Answer 1

All the words 'cower,' 'retreat,' and 'recoil' have negative connotations in an academic context, suggesting fear, defeat, and a sudden negative reaction, respectively.

Step-by-step explanation:

In an academic context, the words cower, retreat, and recoil all typically carry a negative connotation. Cower suggests fear and submission, implying weakness or lack of courage. Retreat can connote defeat or withdrawal in the face of adversity, suggesting a failure to confront. Recoil implies a sudden and instinctive reaction to shock, disgust, or fear, which can also be perceived negatively. Therefore, the correct answer to the question would be option (d): Cower, retreat, recoil are all negative words.

Answer 2

Cower carries a negative connotation, retreat is neutral, denoting a withdrawal or movement away, recoil is also neutral. Co the correct answer is Option C: Cower is negative, retreat is positive, and recoil is neutral.

Step-by-step explanation:

Cower carries a negative connotation, suggesting fear or submission. Retreat is neutral, denoting a withdrawal or movement away from a situation, neither inherently positive nor negative. Recoil is also neutral, describing a sudden movement backward, often in response to something unexpected or unpleasant, without carrying a positive or negative judgment inherently.

"Cower" implies fear or timidity, often linked with a negative perception due to its association with weakness or cowardice. "Retreat" is a neutral term; it can connote strategic withdrawal, neither inherently positive nor negative, as it might signify a wise decision in certain contexts. "Recoil" typically describes a sudden backward movement, neither inherently positive nor negative, often triggered by surprise or aversion without carrying a specific moral or emotional judgment.

So, the correct answer is c) Cower is negative, retreat is neutral, and recoil is neutral.