What is the best tool to use when distinguishing between two words that have similar denotative meanings? connotation denotation root word synonym

Read the following excerpt and answer the question. "i can think of no one objection, that will possibly be raised against this proposal, unless it should be urged, that the number of people will be thereby much lessened in the kingdom." (a modest proposal) the implicit meaning of the text is a. there are no reasonable objections to the author's proposal. b. the overpopulation problem is so dire that selecting some humans to be a food source is a just solution. c. a disadvantage of the proposal is that there will be fewer people under the monarchy. d.the situation in ireland is so bad that it calls for radical change.