Question

the tragedy of hamlet, prince of denmark
act i. scene iii.
a room in polonius house.
enter laertes and ophelia.
laertes: my necessaries are embarkd; farewell:
and, sister, as the winds give benefit
and convoy is assistant, do not sleep, (5)
but let me hear from you.
ophelia: do you doubt that?
laertes: for hamlet, and the trifling of his favour,
hold it a fashion and a toy in blood,
a violet in the youth of primy nature, (10)
forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting,
the perfume and suppliance of a minute;
no more.
ophelia: no more but so?
laertes: think it no more: (15)
for nature, crescent, does not grow alone
in thews and bulk; but, as this temple waxes,
read the passage from hamlet, act i, scene iii.
polonius: beware
of entrance to a quarrel, but, being in,
bear t that th opposed may beware of thee.
give every man thine ear, but few thy voice;
take each mans censure, but reserve thy judgment.
costly thy habit as thy purse can buy,
but not expressd in fancy; rich, not gaudy ...
shakespeares word choice in the passage creates a tone that is
nervous.
cautious.
argumentative.
conceited.

Explanation:

In the passage, Polonius' advice like "Beware of entrance to a quarrel...", "Give every man thine ear, but few thy voice" and "Take each man’s censure, but reserve thy judgment" shows a tone of being careful and prudent, which matches "cautious". "Nervous" implies anxiety, "argumentative" implies a desire to argue, and "conceited" implies arrogance, none of which fit as well as "cautious".

Answer:

cautious.