Read the passage below and answer the question.
A vague chill had descended on him and his head had seemed to swell, like a solitary walker at night who passes an evil spirit on the way. (p. 62)
Which of the following words could you replace the words “descended on” to best preserve the full meaning of the sentence?
emerged from
arisen in
come over
pressed down upon
To answer this question, it is important to understand the meaning of the phrase "descended on him" in the given passage. To do so, you can break it down into its component parts:
1. "Descended": This implies that something is coming down or moving from a higher position to a lower position.
2. "On him": This means that the action or sensation is directly affecting him.
Considering these meanings, we can look for the option that best matches the idea of something coming down or moving from a higher position to directly affect him.
The phrase "arisen in" does not capture the idea of something coming down or moving from a higher position. So, it can be eliminated.
The phrase "come over" is a valid option. It implies that a sensation or feeling is moving from one place (or person) to another, which matches the idea of something descending and affecting him. However, it does not explicitly convey the sense of something coming from a higher position.
The phrase "pressed down upon" is the best option among the given choices. It accurately captures the idea of something coming down and directly affecting him. The use of "pressed" emphasizes the forceful nature of the action. This phrase aligns closely with the meaning of "descended on him" in the original passage.
Therefore, the best word choice to replace "descended on" in the given passage would be "pressed down upon."