Question

read the passage.
excerpt from “the masque of the red death” by
edgar allan poe
there was a sharp cry — and the dagger dropped
gleaming upon the sable carpet, upon which, instantly
afterwards, fell prostrate in death the prince prospero.
then, summoning the wild courage of despair, a throng of
the revellers at once threw themselves into the black
apartment, and, seizing the mummer, whose tall figure
stood erect and motionless within the shadow of the
ebony clock, gasped in unutterable horror at finding the
grave - cerements and corpse - like mask which they
handled with so violent a rudeness, untenanted by any
tangible form.
refer to explorations in literature for a complete version of
this story.
which statement best explains how word choice affects
the tone of this passage?
words like wild courage create a bold tone that
reflects the attitude of the prince.
phrases like “sharp cry” and “throw
themselves” create an energized tone.
by describing a wild chase, the passage
creates an exciting and thrilling tone.
by describing the tall figure, the passage
creates a sense of terror and despair.

Explanation:

The passage focuses on the revelers' horrified reaction to the Red Death figure. Phrases like "sharp cry", "unutterable horror", and "corpse-like mask" emphasize terror. The other options are incorrect: there is no "wild courage" tied to the Prince, "sharp cry" and "threw themselves" convey panic not energized feeling, and there is no wild chase to create excitement. The focus on the tall, corpse-like figure and the characters' horror creates a tone of terror and despair.

Answer:

By describing the tall figure, the passage creates a sense of terror and despair.