Question

read these excerpts from selection 2.
paragraph 1
\... we clutched our cups of coffee tensely, nervously checked our cell phones for the hundredth time, and impatiently shuffled toward the folding doors.\
paragraph 2
\as they opened, a single delicate sheet of paper bravely sailed forth and began slowly looping in earnest, elegant circles around the assembled passengers.\
explain how the change in diction between these two excerpts marks a shift in tone.

by moving from words such as clutched, tensely, and nervously to words such as delicate, sailed, and elegant, the writer shifts from a comic to a serious tone.

by moving from words such as cell phones, hundredth, and shuffled to words such as bravely, earnest, and assembled, the writer shifts from an informal to a formal tone.

by moving from words such as clutched, tensely, and nervously to words such as delicate, sailed, and elegant, the writer shifts from an anxious to a wondering tone.

by moving from words such as cell phones, hundredth, and shuffled to words such as bravely, earnest, and assembled, the writer shifts from a playful to a sincere tone.

Explanation:

1. Analyze the diction in each paragraph:

• Paragraph 1 has words like "clutched", "tensely", "nervously" which convey anxiety or impatience.
• Paragraph 2 has words like "delicate", "sailed", "elegant" which create a sense of wonder or a more graceful, curious tone.

1. Evaluate each option:

• Option 1: The first paragraph's tone is not comic, so this is incorrect.
• Option 2: The words in the first paragraph are not informal, and the second's are not formal in a way that matches this shift, so incorrect.
• Option 3: The first set of words (clutched, tensely, nervously) show anxiety, and the second set (delicate, sailed, elegant) show a wondering or graceful tone shift, which matches.
• Option 4: The first paragraph's tone is not playful, so incorrect.

Answer:

C. By moving from words such as clutched, tensely, and nervously to words such as delicate, sailed, and elegant, the writer shifts from an anxious to a wondering tone.