Question

Read the excerpt from a short story.
I thanked her again for the cake, and quietly retreated from the porch. A blast of air conditioning assailed me as I reentered our home and closed the summer heat behind me. Placing the cake on the table with the others, I noted its carefully scalloped frosting with mounting sadness. Clutching the doorjamb, I suppressed a sob. The reality of our loss would wait.
Which words from the excerpt convey the tone?
“thanked” and “retreated”
“assailed” and “reentered”
“placing” and “scalloped”
“clutching” and “suppressed”

Answer 1

“clutching” and “suppressed” — those words show the narrator’s emotional struggle and convey the somber, grieving tone.