Tone & Mood - excerpt from Hoot

What is the definition of tone?

• how the author feels towards the topic

• how the author wants the reader to feel about the topic

• how the character feels during the action

• how the reader reacts to the action

Which tone best fits the second paragraph of the excerpt?

("But on this day, a Monday (Roy would never forget), Dana Matherson grabbed Roy’s head from behind and pressed his thumbs into Roy’s temple, as if he were squeezing a soccer ball. The older kids were supposed to stay in the back of the bus, but Dana had snuck up behind Roy’s seat and ambushed him. When Roy tried to wriggle free, Dana mushed his face against the window.")

• heart-broken

• confident

• comical

• distressed

Which most closely describes the tone of the entire passage?

• judgmental and scornful

• inquisitive and peculiar

• bitter and suspicious

• conventional and informal

Which line from the passage best conveys the tone?

• "Roy was sure that the barefoot boy would catch all kinds of grief from Dana and the other big kids"

• "Roy ordinarily didn’t look out the window of the school bus."

• "No shoes, no backpack, no books – strange, indeed"

• "The boy was straw-blond and wiry, and his skin was nut-brown from the sun."

What is the definition of mood?

• how the author feels towards the topic

• how the reader feels about the topic

• how the character feels during the action

• how the reader reacts to the action

Which best describes the mood of the passage?

• suspenseful

• lighthearted

• pessimistic

• indifferent

Which phrase best conveys the mood of the passage?

• "He preferred to read comics and mystery books"

• "Here was the odd part: no shoes"

• "The expression on his face was intent and serious"

• "Trace Middle School didn’t have the world’s strictest dress code"

How does the setting convey the mood?

• The fact that it's a Monday creates a feeling of dread and anxiety.

• The normalcy of the bus ride highlights the strangeness of the running boy.

• The smudged glass of the bus window creates a feeling of gloom.

• The lax dress code of Trace Middle School highlights the normalcy of the running boy's lack of shoes.