The forest lands of Gradwitz were of wide extent and well stocked with game; the narrow strip of precipitous woodland that lay on its outskirt was not remarkable for the game it harboured or the shooting it afforded, but it was the most jealously guarded of all its owner's territorial possessions. A famous law suit, in the days of his grandfather, had wrested it from the illegal possession of a neighbouring family of petty landowners; the dispossessed party had never acquiesced in the judgment of the Courts, and a long series of poaching affrays and similar scandals had embittered the relationships between the families for three generations.

Question

The forest lands of Gradwitz were of wide extent and well stocked with game; the narrow strip of precipitous woodland that lay on its outskirt was not remarkable for the game it harboured or the shooting it afforded, but it was the most jealously guarded of all its owner's territorial possessions. A famous law suit, in the days of his grandfather, had wrested it from the illegal possession of a neighbouring family of petty landowners; the dispossessed party had never acquiesced in the judgment of the Courts, and a long series of poaching affrays and similar scandals had embittered the relationships between the families for three generations.
Use the passage to answer the question.
Analyze the author's use of the words precipitous and embittered. What tone do these words convey?
(1 point)

• a nostalgic tone
• a foreboding tone
• an enthusiastic tone
• a humorous tone

GPT-4o mini · Answer

The author's use of the words "precipitous" and "embittered" conveys a **foreboding tone**. "Precipitous" suggests danger or steepness, implying a challenging or treacherous environment, while "embittered" indicates deep-seated resentment and conflict between the families, adding to the sense of tension and hostility. Together, they evoke a sense of unease and anticipation of conflict, aligning with a foreboding mood.