In the first sentence of the passage, the word 'debt' is quoted because
A
it has been used for a special effect
B
it has been used in the first sentence
C
of the seriousness of the matter it addresses
D
it is capable of destroying people
Verified Correct Answer: A.
Grammar & Contextual Explanation
In the first sentence, the word ‘debt’ is placed in quotation marks:
“Millions of people today are in serious ‘debt’.”
Here, the author is not using “debt” in its normal financial sense, but in a figurative sense (sleep debt). The quotation marks signal that the word is being used in an unusual or extended meaning, creating emphasis and stylistic effect.
Source: Myschool Past Questions Archive (Record #15424)