Which statement best describes explicit meaning in a text?

Which statement best describes explicit meaning in a text?

• A. It is the meaning suggested by context.
• B. It is the meaning stated directly.
• C. It is the emotional tone behind the words.
• D. It is the implicit message a reader infers.

Answer: (B)

Explicit meaning is the information in a text that is stated directly in the words themselves. It’s the message the author communicates plainly, without needing to infer or read between the lines. When you recognize explicit meaning, you can point to a sentence or phrase that conveys the idea exactly as written. This is why the best description is meaning stated directly. The other ideas describe things that aren’t written outright: meaning suggested by context or inferred from clues, and the emotional tone behind the words. So explicit meaning focuses on what is plainly written rather than what is implied or felt.

Explicit meaning is the information in a text that is stated directly in the words themselves. It’s the message the author communicates plainly, without needing to infer or read between the lines. When you recognize explicit meaning, you can point to a sentence or phrase that conveys the idea exactly as written. This is why the best description is meaning stated directly. The other ideas describe things that aren’t written outright: meaning suggested by context or inferred from clues, and the emotional tone behind the words. So explicit meaning focuses on what is plainly written rather than what is implied or felt.