Identifying Tone Practice Test

Read the passage, then answer: Which word best describes the tone of the paragraph?

The trail bends into the woods, and the light seems to thin out with every step. Leaves hang motionless, even though the air feels cold against my neck. Somewhere deeper in the trees, a branch snaps, sharp as a twig breaking under a boot.

I tell myself it is only an animal, but the silence that follows feels too careful. The path narrows, and the tall ferns brush my legs like damp hands. A crow calls once, then stops, as if it has decided not to draw attention.

When I glance back, the entrance to the trail looks smaller than it did a minute ago. The trees stand close together, dark and watchful. I keep walking, but my footsteps sound louder than they should.

Read the passage, then answer: How would you describe the author's tone in this passage?

Our city loves to brag about being “clean and green,” which is interesting, because the park near my apartment looks like a trash can that forgot its lid. On Saturday morning I walk past the playground, and the swings creak over empty snack wrappers. A plastic bottle rolls along the path like it is taking a slow tour.

The sign at the entrance says, “Keep Our Park Beautiful.” It is printed in bright colors, as if cheerfulness can do the work of a trash bag. The city also placed a single recycling bin near the basketball court. It is already overflowing, and the wind kindly spreads the extra pieces across the grass. Thanks, wind.

When neighbors complain, officials respond with the same message: “We encourage residents to take pride in their community.” That sounds nice, but it also sounds like a way to avoid doing anything. Pride does not replace broken garbage cans or missing pickup days. Pride does not pick up soggy paper plates after a weekend game.

If the city truly wants a cleaner park, it should add more bins, empty them regularly, and enforce rules for dumping. Until then, the “clean and green” slogan feels more like a poster than a plan. And posters, as we all know, are excellent at catching rain and holding down litter.