What is the tone of the passage: As soon as we walked in the door, we felt at home. The hostess rushed to the door to greet us and quickly introduced us to several other people who were open and welcoming. By the end of the day we'd made plans to play golf with one couple and to visit another couple later in the week for another party. What a great neighborhood this is!

What is the tone of the passage: Everyone was silent, obviously expecting the worse. Some people sat on the edge of their seats or tapped their feet, almost as though they were eager to learn the verdict and be done with the waiting. No one expected good news, and it was obvious from their drawn faces and wrinkled clothes that they had been waiting a long time to hear what was inevitable.

What is the tone of the passage: The team had trained hard, worked hard, and played hard, and now they were earning the attention they deserved. Each player was among the best in the county. These were students who deserved nothing but praise for all of their work, and as their teachers, we spent a few minutes reflecting on all the work they've done.

What is the tone of the passage: The candles flickered in the twilight and soft violin music snuck into the room. The table was draped in white lace and set with delicate white and blue china as well as fine crystal goblets. At each place setting, a small vase of delicate roses stood guard. When the newlyweds entered the room, a hush fell over everyone, only to be replaced with a quiet 'aww' as they kissed for the first time.

What is the tone of the passage: It was really adorable how hard Amanda tried to host an elegant party. Certainly, she couldn't be blamed for doing so many things wrong. She wasn't raised in an environment in which these types of events were common. She tried her best, but of course, didn't quite succeed.

What is the tone of the passage: Everyone was silent, waiting for the verdict to come down. A few people tapped their feet, or hovered at the edge of their seats. When a court officer walked into the room, many people stood, but the officer waved his hands. 'Have a seat, folks,' he said. 'There's no verdict yet.'

What is the tone of the passage: It wasn't clear what was going on in the classroom. Some students were reading novels, others were working on math problems, and still others were tapping on their phones. The teacher smiled, 'We're on track today to meet our learning goals.' It wasn't clear what those goals might be. The students seemed to be of all different ages, and there didn't seem to be a clear, single goal.

What is the tone of the passage: Merle was concerned about his history exam. Even though he'd studied for days, and even though he felt like he knew the answers to most of the questions, he was concerned that he might have missed something. He really had no reason to be concerned, as he did all he could to prepare and it was more than likely that he'd see the results of that preparation.

What is the tone of the passage: It was obvious that something was going on. There was a cluster of four people who stopped talking instantly when Cameron entered the room. Simone glanced around nervously when Simone approached them. 'What are you doing here?' he asked. 'We weren't expecting you.'