2. Craft and Structure: The author states, "While this country cannot dictate to the government of Singapore, no one should fail to exhort it to behave

mercifully." Both dictate and exhort have to do with telling another person or

group what to do. What shades of meaning distinguish the two words as used

in this sentence? Look the words up in a dictionary if you need to clarify their

meanings.

Answer and Explanation:

The word "dictate" means to impose something with authority, to issue an order with grandeur and to speak out loud. While the word "exhort" means to persuade someone through rhetorical concepts, it also means to encourage someone to do something.

Although these words have similar meanings, the word "dictate" imposes something uncomfortable, which is imposed and that forces people to do something they do not want, while the word "exhort" has a softer and less invasive concept.

a. both connotative and denotative.