Mood, Tone, and Theme Practice

Tone Practice 1. Often you feel you’ve done nothing when you’ve actually done a lot. That’s because what you did do seemed beneath notice—it was so small that it didn’t “count.” But it did—just as each stitch counts toward a finished dress, each brick or nail toward a house you can live in, each mistake toward knowing how to do things right. a. hesitant b. encouraging c. amused

Tone Practice 2. A vaccine is a preparation of killed or weakened germs that is injected under the skin and causes the blood to produce antibodies against the disease. Effective vaccines, for instance, have been developed for small pox, rabies, and polio. a. objective b. arrogant c. regretful

Tone Practice 3. We have come together this afternoon to mourn the deaths of sixteen miners—our friends and neighbors—who were trapped by fire yesterday, deep below the earth. They lived bravely and they died too soon, leaving behind grieving wives and bewildered children. We bid them a final farewell. a. forgiving b. sorrowful c. angry

Tone Practice 4. Why do these things always happen to me?, Brad wondered. First, I forget an important meeting, and nobody reminds me until it’s over. Then my boss dumps a big project on my desk and wants it done by yesterday. And to top everything off, I leave my wallet on the bus. a. comic b. self-pitying c. optimistic

Mood Practice 1. The wind howled like a banshee, the thunder rolled, and the lightning drew zigzag lines across the sky. With the sights and sounds of the thunderstorm cloaking his room, Charlie awoke from his night’s sleep. As he peeked out from under the covers, a dark, shifting shadow appeared on the wall of his room. For the reader, the selection creates a mood of ____________. peace fear safety humor

Mood Practice 2. The pioneer family members piled into the wagon and left behind the safety and security in the East. They had cut the lifeline that connected them to all the things that were near and dear. As they traveled to the new land out west, Grandfather held the family together. He hunted when they were hungry, found water when they were thirsty, and protected them against the dangers that lurked all around them. Everyone in the family agreed. Grandfather was a rock.   For the reader, the selection creates a mood of ________________. confidence insecurity failure distrust

Mood Practice 3. One of the ways we can improve life on planet Earth is to use more solar energy. The sun’s solar power is a cleaner form of energy than fossil fuels, such as coal and petroleum. If our sights are firmly fixed on using solar energy, Earth’s pollution will decrease. The atmosphere will be clearer, global warming will slow down, and fewer animals will lose their habitats as people search for new oil supplies. Definitely, solar energy is a ray of sunshine for our planet.   For the reader, the selection creates a mood of ______________. destruction negativity failure optimism

Theme Practice What is the main theme of this passage? Everyone knows the story of the fisherman who one day pulled a magic fish from the river. Not only was the fish huge, but it could also talk. It said in a small voice, "Fisherman, throw me back into the river, and I'll grant you three wishes." "I don't need any wishes," the man said. "My life is great just the way it is." And he threw the fish back into the river. The next day another fisherman came along. Again, the magic fish was caught. "Fisherman," said the huge fish in a small voice, "throw me back into the river and I'll grant you three wishes." "Hmm, let's see," said the man. "How about some lunch, fresh bait for my hook, and a new pair of boots without holes in them?" The fish granted the man his wishes and leapt back into the river. The next day yet another fisherman came along. News of the magic fish had spread throughout the village. All day he fished, and he caught lots of huge fish to feed his hungry family. But not a single one of them could talk. After a while, he started getting hungry too. Finally, he decided not to wait any longer. He would just have to choose -- eat well tonight or go hungry wishing for things he didn't have? When he thought about it that way, he decided to go home to his family. What is the main theme of this passage? A magic fish tries to find the river where it came from. There is true magic in the world. Be careful what you wish for. Learn the value of what you already have.