Final answer:
The more descriptively written phrase is 'he leads me beside the quiet waters' because it provides sensory details that engage the reader's imagination, creating a vivid and peaceful mental image. It exemplifies the use of descriptive language to make writing more engaging and memorable.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase 'he leads me beside the quiet waters' uses more descriptive language than the phrase 'he shows me where to get a drink'. The latter is direct and functional, while the first phrase incorporates sensory details, invoking a serene image and conveying a sense of peace and tranquility. The word 'leads' suggests gentle guidance, and 'quiet waters' provides a visual and auditory element that enhances the descriptive quality of the sentence. Such language engages the reader's senses more directly, creating a vivid and memorable picture.
Descriptive language enriches writing by utilizing concrete details, appealing to the senses, and providing unique characteristics to the subjects described. Engaging the senses through well-chosen words allows readers to see, feel, smell, hear, and sometimes even taste the scene or object being described. This creates a stronger connection between the reader and the text, making the experience more immersive and memorable.
As exemplified in the literature passage, using descriptive language brings a scene to life: 'Coffee was served on the veranda, and while I smoked my cigar and sipped my brandy-Harrison had an excellent wine cellar-I watched the full moon shining like a yellow lantern through the diaphanous mist on the river.' This example vividly appeals to multiple senses and sets a specific atmosphere for the reader to experience.