Question

grade 8 unit 1 in the dark
read the passage and answer the questions.
in the dark

1. barlo—not mr. barlo, just barlo—owned a house down the street from ours, and the whispers about him in town hissed that no one was meaner, that he complained about everyone in the neighborhood for no apparent reason. my friends and i typically steered clear of the place, assuming that barlo would chase us off his lawn if we ventured near. he remained shrouded in mystery, probably because he rarely left his house. his curtains slapped shut when we dared to walk past the house, barlos elusive figure disappearing in the shadows.
2. one november morning, mom glanced out of the window over the kitchen sink and noticed the shed door swinging wide open in the breeze. we didnt think much of it, accusing dad of having left the door improperly latched. he grumbled something about old doorknobs as he shuffled outside, but when he came back in, he wore a puzzled expression.

in paragraph 1, what tone is established by using the words whispers, shrouded, and shadows?
○ a humorous tone
○ a suspicious tone
○ a suspenseful tone
○ a hopeful tone

Explanation:

The words "whispers", "shrouded", and the mention of an elusive figure and a mysterious - seeming house create a sense of anticipation and unease, which are characteristics of a suspenseful tone.

Answer:

B. a suspenseful tone