In the example focusing on emphasis, which word is emphasized?

• A. particular
• B. trial
• C. error
• D. claim

Answer: (A)

Emphasis tells you which word to notice, signaling the speaker’s focus. It’s shown in speech by stronger stress and in writing by cues like italics or capitalization. In a example that centers on emphasis, the goal is to pick out the word the speaker wants you to zero in on as the defining element. That word narrows the reference to a specific item rather than a general one. The emphasized term here is particular, because stressing it communicates that a definite, specific item is being discussed, not any item in the category. The other words describe a process or a broader concept and don’t carry the same narrowing force, so they wouldn’t be the focal point of emphasis in this context.