Question

read the excerpt from paragraph 13. there is always, for some reason, an element of sadness mingled with my thoughts of human happiness, and, on this occasion, at the sight of a happy man i was overcome by an oppressive feeling that was close upon despair. it was particularly oppressive at night. a bed was made up for me in the room next to my brother’s bedroom, and i could hear that he was awake, and that he kept getting up and going to the plate of gooseberries and taking one. i reflected how many satisfied, happy people there really are! what a suffocating force it is! how does the author’s use of the words oppressive, despair, and suffocating affect the tone of the passage? it creates a disappointed tone. it creates a fearful tone. it creates a dishonest tone. it creates a cynical tone.

Explanation:

The words "oppressive", "despair", and "suffocating" convey a sense of bitterness and a negative - view of others' happiness. Cynicism involves a distrustful and negative attitude, which these words help create in the passage's tone.

Answer:

It creates a cynical tone.