Question

“It’s certainly strategic to say that you are the victim of a conspiracy, that there is a witch hunt out to get you. Because it sort of throws those accusations into a negative light,” Uscinski said. “It turns the attention away from you trying to defend yourself, to finding the truth. Now the accuser has to defend themselves.”

Use the passage from the “How to Keep Conspiracy Theories from Ruining Your Time with Family” article to answer the question.

Which choice explains the connotation of the phrase “witch hunt” as used in the text?

A. positive because it contrasts the accusers with the accused
B. negative because it suggests the truth is impossible to find
C. negative because it alludes to an irrational period of American history
D. positive because it questions the impact of conspiracies in the United States

Answer 1

are you sure

Answer 2

C. negative because it alludes to an irrational period of American history

Answer 3

Yes, I am confident in my response. The term "witch hunt" typically carries a negative connotation as it evokes the historical context of irrational persecution and hysteria, particularly during events like the Salem witch trials. In the context of the passage, using "witch hunt" suggests that the accusations are unfounded and driven by irrational motives, thus indicating a negative implication about the situation. Therefore, the best choice is:

C. negative because it alludes to an irrational period of American history.