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.
Question
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)
Responses

a humorous tone
a humorous tone

a foreboding tone
a foreboding tone

an enthusiastic tone
an enthusiastic tone

a nostalgic tone

GPT-4o mini · Answer

The author’s use of the words "precipitous" and "embittered" conveys a foreboding tone.

"Precipitous" suggests steepness or danger, indicating that the woodland has a threatening or difficult landscape. "Embittered" implies resentment and hostility, highlighting the ongoing conflict and negative emotions between the families. Together, these words create a sense of tension and unease surrounding the relationships and history of the forest lands. Thus, the correct response is a foreboding tone.