Directions: Read the passage carefully and indicate the meaning of the word underlined by choosing one of the four alternatives as given.
Some profit by verbal obfuscation, or indeed strive to bring it about. Advertisers are not displeased if the public thinks of vacuum cleaners as Hoovers or paper tissues as Kleenex. And demagogues frequently believe in the premise of Newspeak, namely, that to control language is to control thought, and they dream of limiting speech and thinking to a rude little lexicon of politically correct grunts, just enough for efficient exploitation of those they rule. But when left to itself the evolution of word meanings is an occult, unpredictable, and unfathomable process.
To obfuscate means to confuse.
Directions: Read the passage carefully and indicate the meaning of the word underlined by choosing one of the four alternatives as given.
Some profit by verbal obfuscation, or indeed strive to bring it about. Advertisers are not displeased if the public thinks of vacuum cleaners as Hoovers or paper tissues as Kleenex. And demagogues frequently believe in the premise of Newspeak, namely, that to control language is to control thought, and they dream of limiting speech and thinking to a rude little lexicon of politically correct grunts, just enough for efficient exploitation of those they rule. But when left to itself the evolution of word meanings is an occult, unpredictable, and unfathomable process.
A demagogue is a person who wins people’s support by manipulating them by appealing to their emotions or baser instincts rather than their reason.
Directions: Read the passage carefully and indicate the meaning of the word underlined by choosing one of the four alternatives as given.
Some profit by verbal obfuscation, or indeed strive to bring it about. Advertisers are not displeased if the public thinks of vacuum cleaners as Hoovers or paper tissues as Kleenex. And demagogues frequently believe in the premise of Newspeak, namely, that to control language is to control thought, and they dream of limiting speech and thinking to a rude little lexicon of politically correct grunts, just enough for efficient exploitation of those they rule. But when left to itself the evolution of word meanings is an occult, unpredictable, and unfathomable process.
A premise here means an assumption.
Directions: Read the passage carefully and indicate the meaning of the word underlined by choosing one of the four alternatives as given.
Some profit by verbal obfuscation, or indeed strive to bring it about. Advertisers are not displeased if the public thinks of vacuum cleaners as Hoovers or paper tissues as Kleenex. And demagogues frequently believe in the premise of Newspeak, namely, that to control language is to control thought, and they dream of limiting speech and thinking to a rude little lexicon of politically correct grunts, just enough for efficient exploitation of those they rule. But when left to itself the evolution of word meanings is an occult, unpredictable, and unfathomable process.
A lexicon is the politician’s glossary of terms or dictionary.
Directions: Read the passage carefully and indicate the meaning of the word underlined by choosing one of the four alternatives as given.
Some profit by verbal obfuscation, or indeed strive to bring it about. Advertisers are not displeased if the public thinks of vacuum cleaners as Hoovers or paper tissues as Kleenex. And demagogues frequently believe in the premise of Newspeak, namely, that to control language is to control thought, and they dream of limiting speech and thinking to a rude little lexicon of politically correct grunts, just enough for efficient exploitation of those they rule. But when left to itself the evolution of word meanings is an occult, unpredictable, and unfathomable process.
Occult here means mysterious, beyond the range of ordinary knowledge and hence concealed.