The Perils of Crossing the Great Plains in a Covered Wagon

Memories of an Emigrant Crossing the Great Plains

(1) Your grandkids asked me to write down what I recall about being an emigrant crossing the Great Plains in a covered wagon. (2) It all seems so long ago now. (3) And some things are still too sad or too scary to want to remember. (4) I've heard people say about the overland trails, "The cowards never started, and the weak died along the way." (5) Well, I don't feel right about calling anyone a coward. (6) I've learned the folly of sitting in judgment on other folks. (7) But I will say something about the weak dying along the way. (8) The strong died as well, because smallpox and cholera are no respecters of persons. (9) I saw so many grave markers by the side of the trail.(10) It was in the spring that we started out. (11) Coming from back East, most of us were used to a landscape with plowed fields and woods. (12) The uncultivated, treeless plains stretching to the horizon frightened many emigrants. (13) I guess I was different because, when we left the Missouri River and climbed the bluffs, the view pleased me. (14) There were green hills as far as I could see.(15) We brought the best oxen and horses we had on the farm to pull our wagons, but even so we often traveled only about ten miles a day. (16) This was partly the result of the need of frequent halts to rest both the animals and the emigrants. (17) But bad weather-such as heavy rains-also often slowed us down.(18) One day after traveling some distance we found that our three-year-old Amy was missing, and I still can't recall this without a sick feeling here in the pit of my stomach. (19) She had been left behind when we started moving again after a halt. (20) Mercifully, another wagon train found Amy and soon returned her to us. (21) But the memory of those few hours still haunts me.(22) A good memory is how we celebrated the Fourth of July on the trail. (23) We ate roasted antelope with gooseberry sauce, sang patriotic songs, and recited what we could remember of the Declaration of Independence. (24) This is uplifting to think about. (25) Perhaps that's enough for now. (26) Later I'll tell you about crossing the Columbia River. (27) Now that was an experience!

Question:
Which is the BEST way to revise sentence 17 using connotative words to create a more unpleasant mood?
Select one:
a. But brutal weather-such as blinding rains-also often slowed us down.
b. But extreme weather-such as pouring rains-also often slowed us down.
c. But adverse weather-such as drenching rains-also often slowed us down.
d. But poor weather-such as soaking rains-also often slowed us down.

Final answer:

Option a, with the words 'brutal' and 'blinding,' best revises sentence 17 to create a more unpleasant mood.

Explanation:

The best way to revise sentence 17 using connotative words to create a more unpleasant mood is option a: But brutal weather-such as blinding rains-also often slowed us down.

This revision uses the word 'brutal' which conveys a harsh and unforgiving connotation, and 'blinding' which suggests that the rains were so heavy that they impaired vision, both adding to the unpleasant mood of the narrative.

Connotation refers to the emotional, cultural, or suggested implications and associations that a word carries beyond its literal meaning. It's the extra layer of meaning that a word may evoke, beyond its dictionary definition.

For example:

The word "home" has positive connotations, often associated with warmth, comfort, and security.

"Snake" might carry negative connotations related to deceit or danger.