Read the following research paper excerpt and answer the question.

according to mario pei, slang is common to english as well as to foreign languages (80). many words that were once considered slang are now words of full, legitimate standing in our language. some of these words are strenuous, spurious, clumsy, and bogus. even shakespeare introduced into current usage such slang terms of his day as hubbub, fireworks, fretful, (to) bump, and (to) dwindle. pei estimates that about 90 per cent of all slang words eventually become permanent (johns 12).

in the fourth sentence, the writer uses the word "even." this is an example of careful word choice because

it emphasizes the influence of slang
it contrasts shakespeare's reputation for beautiful words with his use of slang
it demonstrates that shakespeare's influence on language is lessening
it adds length to an otherwise short sentence

I would contend that the right answer is the A) It emphasizes the influence of slang.

Explanation: Just to elaborate a little on the answer, it can be added that by writing that even the great Shakespeare used slang words the author is emphasizing the influence of this way of speaking, since not only more contemporary and less influential individuals, but also Shakespeare employed it. Option C can be discarded, since the sentence actually confirms Shakespeare's influence on language, and option D can also be discarded, since it is irrelevant—the short word "even" does not lengthen the sentence. One could think that using "even" might suggest that the author wants to contrast Shakespare's reputation for more formal words with his use of slang, but the use of the adjective "beautiful" is not accurate (the author is not describing slang in negative terms), so this option should be eliminated as well.    

explanation:

the intellectual community is a place like a university where people with high marks, or original thought or an outstanding interest in something gather. they take classes together. they discuss things. they argue sometimes, and not always in a friendly way. but if they argue, it is because they are passionate about something, and there is nothing the matter with that.

lately i've been hearing rumors that it is not the way it was when i went to school. the one thing all schools used to have was free speech. the 1st amendment rights were sacred. now i'm hearing they are not. students can be reported and disciplined for giving an off the wall opinion.

that is shameful.

intellectual ideas are meant to be discussed. they are meant to be chewed up and worked on. that is the primary responsibility of every intellectual community. if that is not the way it is, then that is not a school to go to.

social media, in my opinion, and this is just an opinion. i wouldn't take it too seriously, complicates everything to do with human communication. you can want to share things and others feel they have the right to be very critical or sarcastic or mean about what you share. lack of respect is an immeasurable intolerable condition and social media abounds with that sort of thing.

one of the things i really like about is how careful people are because they must have some idea that the mods are exactly what the word says they are. they police this board very well, and what is so remarkable about them is that they are no older than the average grade 12 student.

my hat goes off to them (which means i respect them quite a bit).

sugar had three primary uses in ancient india. it was used in religious rituals, consumed as a snack, and considered a type of medicine.