ShmoopTube

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Here's an unshmoopy question to pass the time...

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Hopefully you've read this passage already... but if you haven't, all is not lost. Hit

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pause and take a sec to refresh your brain:

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What is the BEST way to describe the TONE in this passage?

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And here are your potential answers:

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So... what is this question asking? What IS tone?

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Laaaaaaa.

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Well, yeah, sorta. Except... maybe slightly less tone deaf.

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Lousy singing voice aside, the musical arena is not a bad place to start.

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Here's a tone:

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And here's another:

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And another:

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Each of these is vastly different. And each has a different feel. Which is what this question

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is asking... what is the feel of this passage?

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With questions about tone, there's often no perfect answer -- so it's all about

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just finding the Best.

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Let's go through 'em. D pops out as a total no way -- the writer is anything BUT

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bored.

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Nervous and fearful are decent answers actually -- they're just not Best.

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So the answer is anticipatory...

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...or C.

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As in, "Close your ears."

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