Review the following definition of the word urge.

Question

urge ask, persuade, or appeal to in a serious or energetic manner
In which sentence does the underlined word have the same denotation as urge but a negative connotation? Choose all that apply.
A.
I won’t cooperate if he continues to nag me in a whiny voice.
B.
Miguel felt sorry, so he decided to plead for Mari’s forgiveness.
C.
To goad me into making a bad decision, he starting calling me names.
D.
To prevent Mai from buying the toy, Ha hid her purse
E.
Speaking passionately, the lawyer began to exhort the jury to acquit her client.

Answer 1

The word "urge" has a denotation of asking, persuading, or appealing to someone in a serious or energetic manner, which can carry a positive or neutral connotation. To find sentences where the underlined word has the same denotation but a negative connotation, we should look for words that imply pressure, manipulation, or a sense of annoyance.

Here are the sentences and their assessment:

A. I won’t cooperate if he continues to nag me in a whiny voice. - The word "nag" has a negative connotation similar to "urge" in the sense of persistent and annoying persuasion. (Selected)

B. Miguel felt sorry, so he decided to plead for Mari’s forgiveness. - The word "plead" carries a more earnest and positive connotation rather than negative. (Not selected)

C. To goad me into making a bad decision, he started calling me names. - The word "goad" implies manipulation and pressure, which aligns with a negative connotation. (Selected)

D. To prevent Mai from buying the toy, Ha hid her purse. - This sentence does not involve urging; rather, it describes an action taken to deny something, lacking the same denotative context. (Not selected)

E. Speaking passionately, the lawyer began to exhort the jury to acquit her client. - The word "exhort" suggests a strong encouragement and is typically more positive or neutral. (Not selected)

Therefore, the sentences that apply are A and C.