Read the passage and answer the question that follows.
A smirk on her face, Charlotte slowed to a strut as she grew closer to the finish line. By changing her pace, however, she accidentally allowed another runner to sprint past her. Charlotte ended up losing the race by less than a second. This crushing loss washed the prideful expression right off her face. The winner looked to the crowd with a big smile, satisfied with her hard work and perseverance.
The words smile and smirk have similar denotations. How do they differ in connotation based on the context of the passage?
A. The word smile suggests a pleased expression, which reflects a positive connotation. The word smirk suggests a conceited expression, which reflects a negative connotation.
B. The word smile suggests contentment, which reflects a neutral connotation. The word smirk suggests dissatisfaction, which shows a negative connotation.
C. The word smile suggests a look of superiority, which reflects a negative connotation. The word smirk suggests a look of jealousy; which reflects a more strongly negative connotation.
D. The word smile suggests a good person, which reflects a positive connotation. The word smirk suggests a bored person, which reflects a neutral connotation.
