Tone and Purpose Quiz

Tony’s Place is crammed into a tiny building next to the Fine Arts Theater. The owners offer a menu of Italian food. They’ve got the checkered table clothes, dim lights, and crusty bread. They also know how to make a hearty red sauce. Too bad they use it to drown delicate fish. They also seem to lace everything with truckloads of garlic.

The service needs some work, too. Our waiter didn’t know what the specials were. Nor did he think to refill our water glasses before we asked. With a combination of fake-friendly chatter and outright nagging, he made us order, finish up, and clear out. He seemed to see us only as automatic tip machines. The food and low prices bring the customers in the door. The service should not push them out.

The tone of the passage is

• sad.

• boastful.

• plain and factual.

• critical, or finds fault.

The writer says, “He seemed to see us only as automatic tip machines.” The tone of this sentence is

• very serious.

• threatening.

• sympathetic.

• sarcastic.

The writer’s main purpose is to

• inform the reader.

• caution and entertain the reader.

• flatter the reader.

• sell something to the reader.

In which sentence does the author use exaggeration to make a point about the food?

• The owners offer a menu of Italian food.

• They also know how to make a hearty red sauce.

• They also seem to lace everything with truckloads of garlic.

• The food and low prices bring the customers in the door.

Choose the tone word from the CHOICES that best describes each item.

“Please note in your checkbook how much money you spent using your ATM card today.”

• a. sympathetic

• b. straightforward

• c. sad

• d. sarcastic

• e. irritated

Choose the tone word from the CHOICES that best describes each item.

“Hey, lay off, you don’t have to nag me. I was going to do it anyway!”

• a. sympathetic

• b. straightforward

• c. sad

• d. sarcastic

• e. irritated

Choose the tone word from the CHOICES that best describes each item.

“When are you going to take the garbage out? Sometime this year, maybe?”

• a. sympathetic

• b. straightforward

• c. sad

• d. sarcastic

• e. irritated

Choose the tone word from the CHOICES that best describes each item.

“I know it’s been hard. And I appreciate all you are going through right now. If you will just put the receipts on the counter, I will take care of the paperwork for you.”

• a. sympathetic

• b. straightforward

• c. sad

• d. sarcastic

• e. irritated

Cloning human beings should be banned.

• Persuade

• Inform

• Entertain

The best way to survive babysitting a set of triplets is to come armed with plenty of energy, lots of patience, and a first-aid kit.

• Persuade

• Inform

• Entertain