Question

select the passage that has a more dramatic tone.
the wind soon increased to a brisk gale accompanied by thunder, lightning, and rain. we were driven through the narrow channel between the bar and the shore, while the rollers broke over our heads.
i have never seen such a sea! we were beset by stiff and throttling winds. we expected the lamppost to be snapped like a green stalk, the tree to be whirled away like a straw.
adapted from joseph corry, observations upon the windward coast of africa and g. k. chesterton, tremendous trifles

Explanation:

To determine which passage has a more dramatic tone, we analyze both:

• First passage: Describes wind, thunder, lightning, rain, and waves, but in a relatively matter - of - fact way about the storm's elements.
• Second passage: Uses vivid, intense language like “beset by stiff and throttling winds”, “snapped like a green stalk”, and “whirled away like a straw”. These phrases create a sense of urgency and danger, making the tone more dramatic as it emphasizes the severity of the situation and the vulnerability of the subjects (the tree, the speaker's experience).

The passage with the more dramatic tone is: "I have never seen such a sea! We were beset by stiff and throttling winds. We expected the lamppost to be snapped like a green stalk, the tree to be whirled away like a straw."

Answer:

To determine which passage has a more dramatic tone, we analyze both:

• First passage: Describes wind, thunder, lightning, rain, and waves, but in a relatively matter - of - fact way about the storm's elements.
• Second passage: Uses vivid, intense language like “beset by stiff and throttling winds”, “snapped like a green stalk”, and “whirled away like a straw”. These phrases create a sense of urgency and danger, making the tone more dramatic as it emphasizes the severity of the situation and the vulnerability of the subjects (the tree, the speaker's experience).

The passage with the more dramatic tone is: "I have never seen such a sea! We were beset by stiff and throttling winds. We expected the lamppost to be snapped like a green stalk, the tree to be whirled away like a straw."