Question

Which excerpt from "The Adventure of the Mysterious Picture" conveys the playful tone of the passage?
The attention of the company was immediately turned to me; if my face had been pale the moment before, it now glowed almost to burning.
I tried to laugh, but could only make a grimace; and found all the muscles of my face twitching at sixes and sevens.
There is a picture in the room in which I was put last night, that has had an effect upon me the most singular and incomprehensible.
“A picture!” said the old gentleman with the haunted head. “A picture!” cried the narrator with the waggish nose. “A picture! a picture!” echoed several voices.




Read the excerpt from a short story.
I descended the steps to the cellar, reminding myself that the smell of dirt was not to be feared. The earthen walls shone with moisture, and the rows of jarred fruit gleamed. I loathed these errands and doubted my ability to discern a peach from a pear in the dim light. I held a jar inches from my eyes and concluded it was some undesirable green—beans or peas—to be retrieved at a later date. As I mused, something crept stealthily from the shadows, and pounced unexpectedly from the summer’s stash.
Which best describes the tone of the excerpt?
somber
disinterested
angry
uncertain


Read the excerpt from a short story.
From the porch, the cabin looked as quaint and rustic as the website had promised. I hoisted my duffel to my hip, unlocked the door with the key I’d been sent, and stepped into the warm air of the mountain home. The floorboards creaked a welcome as I investigated. I admired the piney living room, noting the stone hearth and the dappled afternoon light on the walls. Then I made my way toward the sole bedroom at the end of the hall. I glanced at the eyelet bedcover, the mantle clock, and the antique mirror. Wait. I glanced again at the mirror and impulsively brushed my hair from my eyes, balking at the coloring of the wayward wisps. How could it be? My hand touched my skin—the image I faced was a much older version of myself. I backed away, watching my wrinkled face retreat. I tripped on the doorjamb, stubbed my toe on an errant nail, and nearly toppled over my own luggage as I lunged for the door.
What technique does the author use to build suspense in the excerpt?
darkening the word choice
quickening the pace of the story
intentionally omitting setting details
making the outcome of events uncertain

Answer 1

1) The fourth excerpt: “A picture!” said the old gentleman with the haunted head… — the playful repetition and humorous descriptions (e.g., “the waggish nose”) create a light, joking tone.

2) Uncertain — the narrator’s doubt, unease about identifying the jars, and the sudden, stealthy movement create an unsettled, unsure mood.

3) Quickening the pace of the story — short, rapid actions and sentence fragments speed the narrative and heighten suspense.