*Stimulus: a= afforded context, b= non-afforded context, c= related context.
*Data were generated from LSA website using the tasaAll space on November 6-7, 1997.
*"tasaAll" refers to the LSA data relating the stimulus sentence (a,b,c) to the context sentence using the tasaAll space.
*"Concepts" refers to the LSA data relating the central concept (in italics) to the distinguishing concept (underlined) using the tasaAll space.
*"Sensibility/Envisioning 1st and 2nd" refer to the order that the subjects answered the ratings.
* "Read Time" refers to the results of a reading time study using these materials.
1. Brad was sitting in his office when an intruder threatened him with a knife.
a. Brad grabbed his laptop computer to use to protect himself.
b. Brad grabbed his paper napkin to use to protect himself.
c. Brad grabbed his hunting rifle to use to protect himself.
.12 (tasaALL)
.01 (Concepts)
4.83 (Sensibility 1st)
5.50 (Sensibility 2nd)
6.08 (Envisioning 1st)
5.08 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
.21 (tasaALL)
.06 (Concepts)
1.33 (Sensibility 1st)
1.33 (Sensibility 2nd)
3.08 (Envisioning 1st)
1.75 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
.26 (tasaALL)
.15 (Concepts)
6.50 (Sensibility 1st)
7.00 (Sensibility 2nd)
5.92 (Envisioning 1st)
6.75 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
2. Jenny started her hike in the woods before her friend Adam arrived. She left him a note explaining that she would mark her choice of direction at each intersection of paths and that he should catch up.
a. At the first intersection, Jenny pointed out the direction she turned by using a string that she found in her pocket.
b. At the first intersection, Jenny pointed out the direction she turned by using a nickel that she found in her pocket.
c. At the first intersection, Jenny pointed out the direction she turned by using a pen that she found in her pocket.
.63 (tasaALL)
.03 (Concepts)
4.92 (Sensibility 1st)
4.42 (Sensibility 2nd)
4.33 (Envisioning 1st)
5.67 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
.65 (tasaALL)
.03 (Concepts)
3.50 (Sensibility 1st)
3.00 (Sensibility 2nd)
3.67 (Envisioning 1st)
3.50 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
.65 (tasaALL)
.14 (Concepts)
5.42 (Sensibility 1st)
5.83 (Sensibility 2nd)
5.25 (Envisioning 1st)
5.75 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
3. Art was having guests over for a cocktail party to show off his new furniture. At the last moment he realized that he didnt have enough coasters to protect the table tops from condensation dripping off the glasses.
a. In desperation, he grabbed a bunch of floppy disks that his guests could use as coasters.
b. In desperation, he grabbed a bunch of old pencils that his guests could use as coasters.
c. In desperation, he grabbed a bunch of old magazines that his guests could use as coasters.
.28 (tasaALL)
-.04 (Concepts)
2.58 (Sensibility 1st)
4.00 (Sensibility 2nd)
4.25 (Envisioning 1st)
4.00 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
.24 (tasaALL)
.00 (Concepts)
1.00 (Sensibility 1st)
1.17 (Sensibility 2nd)
1.17 (Envisioning 1st)
1.67 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
.23 (tasaALL)
.07 (Concepts)
6.17 (Sensibility 1st)
6.92 (Sensibility 2nd)
6.67 (Envisioning 1st)
6.75 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
4. Mike was freezing while walking up State Street into a brisk wind. He knew that he had to get his face covered pretty soon or he would get frostbite. Unfortunately, he didnt have enough money to buy a scarf.
a. Being clever, he walked into a store and bought a newspaper to cover his face.
b. Being clever, he walked into a store and bought a matchbook to cover his face.
c. Being clever, he walked into a store and bought a ski-mask to cover his face.
.35 (tasaALL)
.06 (Concepts)
4.17 (Sensibility 1st)
5.08 (Sensibility 2nd)
5.08 (Envisioning 1st)
4.83 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
.42 (tasaALL)
.03 (Concepts)
1.33 (Sensibility 1st)
1.00 (Sensibility 2nd)
1.83 (Envisioning 1st)
1.50 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
.40 (tasaALL)
.46 (Concepts)
5.67 (Sensibility 1st)
6.42 (Sensibility 2nd)
5.75 (Envisioning 1st)
5.92 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
5. David was playing hide and seek with his son, Duncan.
a. David closed his eyes and counted to ten while Duncan hid in the clothes dryer.
b. David closed his eyes and counted to ten while Duncan hid in the cookie jar.
c. David closed his eyes and counted to ten while Duncan hid in the broom closet.
.36 (tasaALL)
.22 (Concepts)
4.08 (Sensibility 1st)
4.58 (Sensibility 2nd)
4.75 (Envisioning 1st)
5.33 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
.39 (tasaALL)
.18 (Concepts)
1.33 (Sensibility 1st)
1.00 (Sensibility 2nd)
1.25 (Envisioning 1st)
1.50 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
.37 (tasaALL)
.31 (Concepts)
6.92 (Sensibility 1st)
6.92 (Sensibility 2nd)
6.92 (Envisioning 1st)
6.92 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
6. Bill was working on painting his barn. He reached most of it from the ground, but part of the wall was too high to reach without a ladder. Unfortunately, he had lent his ladder to a neighbor.
a. Bill decided to stand on a tractor to finish painting the wall.
b. Bill decided to stand on a hammer to finish painting the wall.
c. Bill decided to stand on a chair to finish painting the wall.
.71 (tasaALL)
.09 (Concepts)
5.92 (Sensibility 1st)
5.58 (Sensibility 2nd)
5.92 (Envisioning 1st)
6.25 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
.69 (tasaALL)
.18 (Concepts)
1.08 (Sensibility 1st)
1.00 (Sensibility 2nd)
1.17 (Envisioning 1st)
1.75 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
.68 (tasaALL)
.31 (Concepts)
5.33 (Sensibility 1st)
6.58 (Sensibility 2nd)
6.33 (Envisioning 1st)
6.33 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
7. Phil was trying to get a barbecue going early in the morning for a tailgater. He got dizzy from blowing on the coals, but they still werent burning well.
a. Phil grabbed a map and used it to fan the fire.
b. Phil grabbed a rock and used it to fan the fire.
c. Phil grabbed a bellows and used it to fan the fire.
.18 (tasaALL)
.05 (Concepts)
6.17 (Sensibility 1st)
6.50 (Sensibility 2nd)
6.17 (Envisioning 1st)
6.50 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
.16 (tasaALL)
.14 (Concepts)
1.33 (Sensibility 1st)
1.08 (Sensibility 2nd)
1.58 (Envisioning 1st)
1.67 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
.23 (tasaALL)
.12 (Concepts)
4.25 (Sensibility 1st)
5.50 (Sensibility 2nd)
4.67 (Envisioning 1st)
4.92 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
8. Peggy was babysitting her infant nephew while she cooked dinner. He was being fussy, but she had few toys to occupy him.
a. She gave him a plastic spoon to play with.
b. She gave him a large refrigerator to play with.
c. She gave him a red beanbag to play with.
.48 (tasaALL)
.01 (Concepts)
5.08 (Sensibility 1st)
6.08 (Sensibility 2nd)
6.33 (Envisioning 1st)
5.67 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
.49 (tasaALL)
.03 (Concepts)
1.08 (Sensibility 1st)
1.08 (Sensibility 2nd)
1.33 (Envisioning 1st)
1.42 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
.39 (tasaALL)
.31 (Concepts)
5.67 (Sensibility 1st)
6.50 (Sensibility 2nd)
6.08 (Envisioning 1st)
6.33 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
9. Joes roommates had taken all of the space in the closet, and there was no place to hang his coat.
a. Joe used the vacuum cleaner as a coat rack.
b. Joe used the electric outlet as a coat rack.
c. Joe used the door knob as a coat rack.
.72 (tasaALL)
.13 (Concepts)
4.33 (Sensibility 1st)
4.83 (Sensibility 2nd)
4.92 (Envisioning 1st)
5.42 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
.65 (tasaALL)
.06 (Concepts)
1.25 (Sensibility 1st)
1.00 (Sensibility 2nd)
1.33 (Envisioning 1st)
1.83 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
.65 (tasaALL)
.39 (Concepts)
6.33 (Sensibility 1st)
6.75 (Sensibility 2nd)
7.00 (Envisioning 1st)
6.75 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
10. Adam opened up his cars trunk, but the ice scraper wasnt there.
a. Adam pulled out of his golf bag a seven iron and used that to chisel an inch of ice off his windshield.
b. Adam pulled out of his golf bag a ham sandwich and used that to chisel an inch of ice off his windshield.
c. Adam pulled out of his golf bag a screw driver and used that to chisel an inch of ice off his windshield.
.50 (tasaALL)
.07 (Concepts)
4.25 (Sensibility 1st)
5.00 (Sensibility 2nd)
4.00 (Envisioning 1st)
4.42 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
.56 (tasaALL)
.00 (Concepts)
1.00 (Sensibility 1st)
1.00 (Sensibility 2nd)
1.00 (Envisioning 1st)
1.08 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
.60 (tasaALL)
.21 (Concepts)
4.93 (Sensibility 1st)
5.08 (Sensibility 2nd)
4.67 (Envisioning 1st)
5.42 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
11. After taking a shower at the gym, Sarah discovered that her skirt needed to be pressed free of wrinkles before she returned to work.
a. Sarah used her warm thermos to smooth her skirt.
b. Sarah used her hair pin to smooth skirt.
c. Sarah used her hair dryer to smooth her skirt.
.53 (tasaALL)
.01 (Concepts)
3.50 (Sensibility 1st)
4.58 (Sensibility 2nd)
4.42 (Envisioning 1st)
3.42 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
.43 (tasaALL)
.05 (Concepts)
1.17 (Sensibility 1st)
1.00 (Sensibility 2nd)
1.67 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
.44 (tasaALL)
.06 (Concepts)
5.58 (Sensibility 1st)
6.08 (Sensibility 2nd)
6.08 (Envisioning 1st)
5.75 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
12. When Aaron got to work at McDonalds he realized that he forgot his cap at home. The manager had a strict rule: If your hair isnt covered, you cannot work.
a. Aaron used a sandwich wrapper to cover his hair.
b. Aaron used a hamburger bun to cover his hair.
c. Aaron used a shower cap to cover his hair.
.46 (tasaALL)
.10 (Concepts)
2.83 (Sensibility 1st)
3.17 (Sensibility 2nd)
3.50 (Envisioning 1st)
3.08 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
.47 (tasaALL)
.10 (Concepts)
1.17 (Sensibility 1st)
1.08 (Sensibility 2nd)
1.08 (Envisioning 1st)
1.25 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
.50 (tasaALL)
.25 (Concepts)
6.08 (Sensibility 1st)
6.33 (Sensibility 2nd)
5.33 (Envisioning 1st)
6.33 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
13. Marissa forgot to bring her pillow on her camping trip.
a. As a substitute for her pillow, she filled up an old sweater with leaves.
b. As a substitute for her pillow, she filled up an old sweater with water.
c. As a substitute for her pillow, she filled up an old sweater with clothes.
.79 (tasaALL)
.08 (Concepts)
5.25 (Sensibility 1st)
5.17 (Sensibility 2nd)
5.67 (Envisioning 1st)
5.67 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
.73 (tasaALL)
.06 (Concepts)
1.08 (Sensibility 1st)
1.00 (Sensibility 2nd)
1.00 (Envisioning 1st)
1.08 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
.83 (tasaALL)
.24 (Concepts)
6.83 (Sensibility 1st)
7.00 (Sensibility 2nd)
6.92 (Envisioning 1st)
6.92 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
14. After wading barefoot in the lake, Erik needed something to get dry.
a. He used his shirt to dry his feet.
b. He used his glasses to dry his feet.
c. He used his towel to dry his feet.
.24 (tasaALL)
.08 (Concepts)
5.75 (Sensibility 1st)
6.00 (Sensibility 2nd)
6.08 (Envisioning 1st)
6.25 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
.25 (tasaALL)
.06 (Concepts)
1.08 (Sensibility 1st)
1.00 (Sensibility 2nd)
1.08 (Envisioning 1st)
1.33 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
.28 (tasaALL)
.47 (Concepts)
6.92 (Sensibility 1st)
7.00 (Sensibility 2nd)
7.00 (Envisioning 1st)
6.92 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
15. While taking a walk, Colleen ran into an old friend that she hadn't seen in over a year. They exchanged phone numbers, but Colleen couldnt find anything in her purse to write the number on.
a. She looked around and found a popsicle stick to write the number on.
b. She looked around and found a bent earring to write the number on.
c. She looked around and found a note pad to write the number on.
.56 (tasaALL)
.05 (Concepts)
4.75 (Sensibility 1st)
5.83 (Sensibility 2nd)
5.42 (Envisioning 1st)
5.33 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
.56 (tasaALL)
.06 (Concepts)
1.17 (Sensibility 1st)
1.00 (Sensibility 2nd)
1.00 (Envisioning 1st)
1.17 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
.53 (tasaALL)
.28 (Concepts)
7.00 (Sensibility 1st)
6.83 (Sensibility 2nd)
6.75 (Envisioning 1st)
6.83 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
16. Harry accidentally dropped his book behind his bed. He couldnt reach it with his hand.
a. He tried to push it out by using a rolled paper
b. He tried to push it out by using a smelly sock.
c. He tried to push it out by using a mop handle.
.15 (tasaALL)
.09 (Concepts)
4.83 (Sensibility 1st)
5.00 (Sensibility 2nd)
5.00 (Envisioning 1st)
5.50 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
.24 (tasaALL)
.01 (Concepts)
1.42 (Sensibility 1st)
1.00 (Sensibility 2nd)
1.08 (Envisioning 1st)
1.58 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
.22 (tasaALL)
.19 (Concepts)
6.92 (Sensibility 1st)
7.00 (Sensibility 2nd)
6.17 (Envisioning 1st)
7.00 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
17. Janet was teaching her class and desperately needed to draw on the blackboard, but as usual, the janitorial staff had forgotten to put fresh supplies in the classroom.
a. She looked around and found a brush and some water in a cup to use on the blackboard.
b. She looked around and found an eraser and some rice in a cup to use on the blackboard.
c. She looked around and found an eraser and some chalk in a cup to use on the blackboard.
.17 (tasaALL)
.05 (Concepts)
1.75 (Sensibility 1st)
2.50 (Sensibility 2nd)
2.33 (Envisioning 1st)
3.00 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
.18 (tasaALL)
.04 (Concepts)
1.17 (Sensibility 1st)
1.17 (Sensibility 2nd)
1.25 (Envisioning 1st)
1.92 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
.20 (tasaALL)
.30 (Concepts)
6.92 (Sensibility 1st)
7.00 (Sensibility 2nd)
6.75 (Envisioning 1st)
7.00 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
18. Judy was trying to complete the Xeroxing using the machine in the hallway, but people kept asking her if they could cut in to make a few copies.
a. She became so frustrated that she moved the Xerox machine into the lavatory to get some privacy.
b. She became so frustrated that she moved the Xerox machine into her mailbox to get some privacy.
c. She became so frustrated that she moved the Xerox machine into her office to get some privacy.
.57 (tasaALL)
.05 (Concepts)
2.83 (Sensibility 1st)
3.25 (Sensibility 2nd)
3.58 (Envisioning 1st)
3.42 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
.57 (tasaALL)
.06 (Concepts)
1.08 (Sensibility 1st)
1.00 (Sensibility 2nd)
1.00 (Envisioning 1st)
1.00 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)
.54 (tasaALL)
.15 (Concepts)
6.42 (Sensibility 1st)
6.58 (Sensibility 2nd)
6.75 (Envisioning 1st)
6.67 (Envisioning 2nd)
(Read Time)