The statement, which is supported by the paragraph and reinforces the argument for online learning is this: ONLINE LEARNING IS GAINING POPULARITY AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM SETTINGS.
In the passage given above, the speaker is talking about online learning and how some situations has made it to be considered as an alternative mean of learning. The speaker talks about some benefits, which online learning offers and support his claim with the educational circumstance of Detroit area, where the negative educational situation on ground was been remedied by the introduction of online education.
The word with a negative connotation is discouraging.
When someone is discouraged, they are dispirited, disheartened, and with a lack of enthusiasm; this has a negative implication.
All other options have positive connotations, except maybe bulb, which is pretty neutral.
I hope this helps you!
It is message. That is the whole point of the theme, what message the story is trying to get across.
