Question

unit review: literature - the writing proce
\the boys were all eaten up with envy. they watched tom sawyer’s swagger as he strutted about, showing off the bright red ribbon he’d won for memorizing bible verses. their hearts burned with a longing to have such glory for themselves, and they muttered to each other about how they’d outdo him next time.\
how do the highlighted words in the excerpt contribute to the overall mood?
the mood is jealous, evoking rivalry and desire.
the mood is tranquil, creating a calm atmosphere.
the mood is cheerful, suggesting happiness and unity.

Explanation:

The highlighted phrases "eaten up with envy", "burned", and "longing" show the boys' jealousy of Tom's glory, their competitive desire to outdo him, so the mood is jealous with rivalry and desire. The other options (tranquil, cheerful) don't match the envious and competitive tone.

Answer:

A. The mood is jealous, evoking rivalry and desire.