Tone Based Questions - 4 | English for CLAT PDF Download

Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.
And then the two things happened to William. The first thing I heard about was on a Saturday in late May. It was the anniversary of David’s finding out about his illness, and when William called me I (so stupidly) thought he was calling me about that, and I was surprised and touched that he remembered the exact date. I said, “Oh Pillie, thank you for calling,” and he said, “What?” And then I said it was the first-year anniversary of David’s illness, and he said, “Oh God, Lucy, I’m sorry,” and I said, “No, it’s okay, tell me why you called.” And he did say, “Oh Lucy, I’ll call back another day. It can wait.” And I said, “Who cares about another day? Tell me now.” So William told me how that morning he had finally gone onto the ancestry website that Estelle had gotten him a subscription for, and then—sounding as though he was having a conversation about a tennis game he had just seen that was interesting—he told me. This is what he found: His mother had had a child before he was born. With her husband Clyde Trask, the potato farmer in Maine. This child was two years older than William, and the website stated her maiden name as Lois Trask and the child Lois had been born in Houlton, Maine, near where Catherine had lived with her first husband, the potato farmer husband Clyde Trask. The birth certificate stated Catherine Cole Trask as her mother and Clyde Trask as her father. Clyde Trask had married someone else when Lois was two years old; there was a marriage certificate for that as well. William could find no death certificate for Lois, only a marriage certificate from 1969, her name was now Lois Bubar—“I looked up how to pronounce it, and it’s boo-bar,” William said with some sarcasm—and the names of her children, and grandchildren. Her husband had a death certificate from five years ago. William asked what I thought of that and then said, almost casually, “It’s ridiculous, of course, it can’t be true. I bet these sites have all kinds of misinformation on them.” I got up and moved to a different chair. I asked him to take me through the steps again; I knew nothing about these websites. So he did, patiently, and as I listened—and I mean this literally—I got chills down my side. “Lucy?” he said. After a moment I said, “I think it has to be true, William.” “It’s not true,” he said, firmly. “God, Lucy. Catherine would never have left a child, and even if she ever did— which she wouldn’t have—she would have spoken to someone about it.” “Why are you so sure?”
Q1: What tone does Lucy exhibit when she realizes the significance of William's discovery on the ancestry website?
(a) Indifference
(b) Skepticism
(c) Amazement
(d) Confusion
Ans: (c)
Sol: Lucy's reaction to William's discovery about his mother's previous child is one of amazement. This is evident when she experiences chills down her side as she comprehends the truth in William's findings, indicating a deep, emotional realization.

Q2: In the passage, William's tone when discussing the ancestry website's information can best be described as:
(a) Accepting
(b) Dismissive
(c) Curious
(d) Excited
Ans: (b)
Sol: William's tone is dismissive, as indicated by his casual mention of the discovery and his quick assertion that the information is likely incorrect. His sarcasm and firm denial further support this tone.

Q3: The tone used by the author to describe the background information about Clyde Trask and Lois is primarily:
(a) Narrative
(b) Persuasive
(c) Expository
(d) Descriptive
Ans: (c)
Sol: The tone in this part of the passage is expository, as it provides detailed background information about Clyde Trask, Lois, and their family history in a clear and informative manner.

Q4: How does the tone of Lucy's inquiry about William's certainty on his mother's actions contrast with William's response?
(a) Lucy's tone is inquisitive and open-minded, whereas William's response is definitive and closed.
(b) Lucy's tone is doubtful and anxious, while William's is reassuring and calm.
(c) Lucy's tone is confrontational, compared to William's evasive reply.
(d) Lucy's tone is empathetic and supportive, in contrast to William's indifferent attitude.
Ans: (a)
Sol: Lucy's tone is characterized by a genuine inquiry and openness to possibilities, as she asks William to explain again, showing willingness to understand. In contrast, William's tone is firm and closed, as he insists that the information cannot be true.

Q5: The overall tone of the passage when discussing the ancestry website's findings can best be described as:
(a) Optimistic
(b) Melancholic
(c) Mystified
(d) Reflective
Ans: (c)
Sol: The passage carries a tone of mystification, especially in the way the characters react to the unexpected discovery of William's half-sibling. The elements of surprise, disbelief, and the unfolding mystery contribute to this tone.