Question

question 8 of 10
read this excerpt from the grapes of wrath.

no man had touched the seed, or lusted for the growth.
men ate what they had not raised, had no connection with
the bread. the land bore under iron, and under iron
gradually died; for it was not loved or hated, it had no
prayers or curses.

which word best describes the tone of this excerpt?

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze the excerpt's tone:

1. Understand Tone Elements: Tone is the author’s attitude. The excerpt describes land dying under “iron” (industrial/mechanical control), men disconnected from food, and the land “not loved or hated.”
2. Evaluate Word Choices: Words like “died,” “no connection,” “not loved or hated” create a detached, unemotional, and somber view of the land’s degradation and human disconnection.
3. Identify the Tone: The tone is detached (impartial, unemotional) or somber (gloomy, serious). Among common tone words (e.g., nostalgic, angry, detached, hopeful), “detached” or “somber” fit. The excerpt’s neutral yet bleak description of land and human disconnection suggests a detached (or “somber,” “melancholic”) tone.

(Note: Common answer choices for this question often include “detached,” “somber,” “melancholic,” or “impartial.” For example, if options were A. Joyful, B. Detached, C. Angry, D. Hopeful, the correct answer would be B. Detached.)

Answer:

To solve this, we analyze the excerpt's tone:

1. Understand Tone Elements: Tone is the author’s attitude. The excerpt describes land dying under “iron” (industrial/mechanical control), men disconnected from food, and the land “not loved or hated.”
2. Evaluate Word Choices: Words like “died,” “no connection,” “not loved or hated” create a detached, unemotional, and somber view of the land’s degradation and human disconnection.
3. Identify the Tone: The tone is detached (impartial, unemotional) or somber (gloomy, serious). Among common tone words (e.g., nostalgic, angry, detached, hopeful), “detached” or “somber” fit. The excerpt’s neutral yet bleak description of land and human disconnection suggests a detached (or “somber,” “melancholic”) tone.

(Note: Common answer choices for this question often include “detached,” “somber,” “melancholic,” or “impartial.” For example, if options were A. Joyful, B. Detached, C. Angry, D. Hopeful, the correct answer would be B. Detached.)