Which term describes a roundabout, indirect, or lengthy way of expressing something; the use of more words than necessary?

• A. Circumlocution
• B. Jigsaw reading
• C. Scanning
• D. Ellipsis

Answer: (A)

The concept here is circumlocution, which is talking around something or describing it in a long, roundabout way instead of saying it directly. This exactly matches the idea of using more words than necessary to express a thought, often to be indirect or verbose. For example, instead of saying “He’s tired,” circumlocution might be “He is currently experiencing a condition that reduces his level of energy and motivation.” The other options describe different ideas: jigsaw reading is a collaborative reading activity, scanning is rapidly looking for specific information, and ellipsis is the omission of words or sentences. So circumlocution best fits the description of a roundabout, indirect, or lengthy way of expressing something.