Which statement best describes explicit meaning?

• A. The author directly states the meaning
• B. The meaning must be inferred by the reader
• C. The meaning is implied by tone
• D. The meaning is always stated in the closing paragraph

Answer: (A)

Explicit meaning is when the author states something directly and plainly; it’s the meaning the text conveys on the surface without needing to read between the lines. When you spot explicit meaning, you can point to a sentence or definition in the text that shows exactly what the author intends to say.

For example, if a narrator says, “The rain ruined our picnic,” the explicit meaning is that the picnic was spoiled by rain—the statement itself communicates that fact directly. In contrast, other ways of understanding come from reading clues, tone, and context to infer what the author implies or feels.

So, describing explicit meaning as what the author directly states is the best-fitting idea here.