Question

Read the passage.

Isaac glared at the clock on his desk as he waited for the phone call that would change his life—he wasn’t sure if the change would be for the better or the worse, but he knew that his life was going to change. It was an old clock that had belonged to his grandmother. Usually the quiet, dependable sound of the seconds ticking by comforted him, if he noticed them at all. Tick-tock. Tick-tock. Tick-tock. Today, it occurred to him that the clock was mocking him. Tick-tock. Tock-tick. Tock-tock. "I wonder if Jenny wants this clock. . . .” His thought was interrupted by the sound of the phone ringing.

Which statement best describes the author’s use of a stylistic element in this excerpt?

The em dash indicates a shift in Isaac’s mood.
The change in the second description of the clock’s sounds emphasizes Isaac’s unease.
The ellipsis suggests that Isaac cannot concentrate.
The quotation marks indicating Isaac’s thoughts emphasize his uncertainty about the future.

Answer 1

The change in the second description of the clock’s sounds emphasizes Isaac’s unease.

The altered tick pattern (Tick-tock → Tock-tick) mirrors his disturbed perception and creates a sense that the familiar has become unsettling, reinforcing his anxiety about the impending call.