Which option correctly describes amelioration and pejoration?

• A. Amelioration: a word loses meaning; Pejoration: a word gains meaning
• B. Amelioration: a word gains a more positive meaning; Pejoration: a word gains a more negative meaning
• C. Amelioration: a word becomes more formal; Pejoration: becomes more informal
• D. Amelioration: a word broadens in scope; Pejoration: narrows in scope

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is how the positive or negative value attached to a word shifts over time. Amelioration is when a word takes on a more positive or favorable sense, sometimes extending to new contexts. Pejoration is the opposite: the word develops a more negative or disapproving sense. Classic examples help make this clear: "nice" once meant foolish, but now means pleasant; "awful" once meant full of awe, but now means terrible. A word like "sick" also shows amelioration when used in slang to mean excellent.

So the statement that exactly captures this is that amelioration involves gaining a more positive meaning, while pejoration involves gaining a more negative meaning. Descriptions that talk about losing meaning, or about becoming more formal or about broader/narrower scope, describe different kinds of semantic change and don’t capture the specific positive/negative shift these terms describe.