Question

select the passage that has a more captivated tone.
the elliptical golden object darted into swift and eccentric motion. its maneuvers suggested the heedless tumblings and scurrying of falling foliage. it fluttered in swift turns and somersaults and spinnings, with indescribably graceful swoops and loops like some preposterous dance.
it was now quite dark, and as we droned our isolated way eastward and upward, nothing could be seen outside the cockpit except the inner struts, the engines, and the red - glowing vapor ejected through the exhaust pipes.
adapted from murray leinster, the aliens and arthur whitten brown, flying the atlantic in sixteen hours

Explanation:

The first passage uses vivid and imaginative language like "darted into swift and eccentric motion", "heedless tumblings", "indescribably graceful swoops" which creates a more engaging and captivated tone. The second passage is more matter - of - fact, just stating what could be seen outside the cockpit in a rather neutral way.

Answer:

The first passage (The elliptical golden object...like some preposterous dance.)