Fill in the blank: ________ is the imprint of the writer; the reader has a sense of a writer behind the words.

• A. Meaning
• B. Voice
• C. Clarity
• D. Design

Answer: (B)

The main concept being tested is voice—the writer's distinct presence that comes through in word choices, rhythm, tone, and perspective. This is what lets a reader feel the writer behind the words. Meaning refers to what the text is about, not who is speaking. Clarity is about how easily the message is understood, not the writer’s personal imprint. Design concerns how the text is arranged or presented, which affects structure rather than the writer’s character. Because the phrase “imprint of the writer” and the sense of a writer behind the words point to the writer’s voice, it best captures that invisible personality and style that emerge through writing.