Question

select the passage that has a more menacing tone. his black eyes had the fixed nature of the eyes of a bird of prey. they were framed, like a vulture’s, by a bluish membrane devoid of lashes. all the life of her tiny figure seemed to concentrate itself in the eyes. they turned towards beauty as the sunflower turns towards the sun, opening wider and wider. adapted from honoré de balzac, the girl with the golden eyes, and sarojini naidu, the golden threshold

Explanation:

To determine the passage with a more menacing tone, we analyze the descriptions:

• The first passage describes eyes as having the "fixed nature of the eyes of a bird of prey" and being framed "like a vulture’s" with a "bluish membrane devoid of lashes." Vultures and birds of prey are associated with predation and danger, creating a threatening or menacing tone.
• The second passage compares the figure’s focus to a sunflower turning toward the sun, which is a peaceful, natural, and non - menacing image.

Answer:

The passage with the description "His black eyes had the fixed nature of the eyes of a bird of prey. They were framed, like a vulture’s, by a bluish membrane devoid of lashes." (the first passage) has a more menacing tone.