Question

read the excerpt from a short story.
i descended the steps to the cellar, reminding myself that the smell of dirt was not to be feared. the earthen walls shone with moisture, and the rows of jarred fruit gleamed. i loathed these errands and doubted my ability to discern a peach from a pear in the dim light. i held a jar inches from my eyes and concluded it was some undesirable green - beans or peas - to be retrieved at a later date. as i mused, something crept stealthily from the shadows, and pounced unexpectedly from the summers stash.
which best describes the tone of the excerpt?
somber
disinterested
angry
uncertain

Explanation:

The narrator's actions like "reminding myself that the smell of dirt was not to be feared", "loathed these errands", "doubted my ability to discern", and the description of the cellar with its "earthen walls shone with moisture" and something "crept stealthily from the shadows" create a dark, gloomy, and somewhat foreboding atmosphere. The word "somber" means dark or dull in color, or having a gloomy or melancholy mood. The other options: "disinterested" (impartial, not showing interest) doesn't fit as the narrator has feelings (loathing, doubt); "angry" isn't indicated by the text; "uncertain" is part of the mood but "somber" encompasses the overall dark and gloomy tone better.

Answer:

somber