need help (sat preparation)

Question

In the following passage from "The Perils of Indifference," Elie Wiesel describes the memory of being liberated from the Buchenwald concentration camp by American soldiers. How would the meaning of this passage change if he had used the word “anger” instead of the word “rage”?

"Liberated a day earlier by American soldiers, he remembers their rage at what they saw. And even if he lives to be a very old man, he will always be grateful to them for that rage, and also for their compassion."

a. The word “rage” emphasizes the intensity of their feelings. “Anger” does not.

b. The word “rage” lessens the intensity of their feelings. “Anger” does not.

c. The word “rage” would imply the soldiers were more energetic.

d. The word “anger” is a more formal choice for a speech.

Answer 1

Hello Karim,

The word anger implies a much lesser extent of emotion them rage. For instance, if a person were angry, he or she might raise her/his voice. But if a person is feeling rage, or is "enraged", get out of the way. He or she may pick up a chair and throw it.

Rage implies a sort of out-of-control aspect to one's anger. I imagine this person- who had been held captive and probably abused & tortured- felt a lot more understood and protected when his liberators displayed rage, instead of just anger.

In conclusion, I would definitely pick A.

Many well-wishes,

Lorelei

Answer 2

Try to imagine what the word means in this specific situation. It helps a lot:

a. The word “rage” emphasizes the intensity of their feelings. “Anger” does not.

Correct. Rage means a higher, almost uncontrollable level of anger, and it's appropriate for this context since concentration camp survivors went through hell. Of course, the American soldiers would be terrified at the sights they saw, and feel rage concerning the atrocities they had witnessed during that event.

b. The word “rage” lessens the intensity of their feelings. “Anger” does not.

Incorrect. Rage doesn't lessen the intensity of their feelings. It's supposed to elevate those feelings. Opposite answer.

c. The word “rage” would imply the soldiers were more energetic.

Incorrect. The word energetic has no relationship with the word anger.

d. The word “anger” is a more formal choice for a speech.

Incorrect. The word "anger" is not a type of register. Completely off.

Answer 3

B is definitely the best answer--anger is often a measured but rational response to a set of circumstances, but "rage" implies a visceral and instinctive outrage that is beyond anger,

Answer 4

A. The correct answer because 'rage' is far more intense than 'anger'. You get angry when your train is late, you feel rage at the systematic extermination of an entire group of people. Wiesel appreciates that the soldiers are responding with the correct level of emotion to the Holocaust.

B. Literally the opposite of the correct answer.

C. 'Energetic' makes no sense here as it's a neutral term that conveys no actual emotion.

D. Formality has nothing to do with the word choice here and even if it did "anger" is a fairly neutral word when it comes to language register. 'Register' is the word we use to describe different levels of formality in language.