Why do we use roar because the girl might cry?

[Simpson]

Synonyms Lesson, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #124 "Synonyms for speak and shout", question 10

The little girl ......... out in pain when the dentist pulled out her tooth.

(a) roared
(b) hollered
(c) exclaimed
(d) cried

Synonyms Lesson, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #124 "Synonyms for speak and shout", answer 10

The little girl cried out in pain when the dentist pulled out her tooth.

Correct answer: (d) cried

Your answer was: incorrect
The little girl roared out in pain when the dentist pulled out her tooth.
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why do we use roar because the girl might cry?

Simpson

[Yankee]

Hi Simpson

Personally, I think I also would have chosen cried as the correct answer for this sentence (since "cry out" is a much more common collocation than "roar out").

Roaring would be much more extreme/loud than crying. And if you've ever experienced severe tooth pain at the hands of a dentist, I guess you can well imagine that a roar might result. So, the idea of "roaring" is very appropriate. However, if I were to use the verb roar in this sentence, I'd probably omit the word out. i.e., roar in pain.

It is also possible to say roar out in pain, but that is much more unusual.

Amy
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English