4 The second battery-charger combination tested was the Mao Tek 2G. It was the least expensive and its performance was rated as average for both devices. The recharge time was only about twelve hours. The recharged batteries performed as well as they did on the first tests. In paragraph 4 the author comments about the Mao Tek 2G as "the least expensive" and he says "its performance was rated as average ... " Does the phrase "the least expensive" have a positive or negative connotation? Why?

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Isaac Walter

7 October, 21:08

4 The second battery-charger combination tested was the Mao Tek 2G. It was the least expensive and its performance was rated as average for both devices. The recharge time was only about twelve hours. The recharged batteries performed as well as they did on the first tests. In paragraph 4 the author comments about the Mao Tek 2G as "the least expensive" and he says "its performance was rated as average ... " Does the phrase "the least expensive" have a positive or negative connotation? Why?

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Angelique Burton · Answer 1

'Least expensive' has a negative connotation.

Explanation:

The paragraph calls the product's performance as average and then says that the product is least expensive, by association itself it conveys a negative connotation.

However, the phrase can be taken to mean that it is expensive, it is just just the least expensive out of other options available which is a back handed complement.

Finally still, it can mean that the quality of the product is suspect and hence it is priced lower than the other ones. All of these give away a negative connotation.