Tone and Mood Language Practice

Directions: The words listed below are commonly used on exams to describe tone or mood. Define the words and then begin working through the Language Practice questions. This packet is a grade!

  1. Arrogant
  2. Compassionate
  3. Critical
  4. Cynical
  5. Defensive
  6. Humorous
  7. Impartial
  8. Inspirational
  9. Ironic
  10. Moralizing
  11. Nostalgic
  12. Patriotic
  13. Perplexed
  14. Pessimistic
  15. Reflective
  16. Reverent
  17. Satirical
  18. Sentimental
  19. Serious
  20. Witty

Language Practice-

1.  Write two short phrases about our school that use the tone of arrogance.

2. The phrase below shows compassion. Yes or No (change yes or no to blue)

“I am for doing good to the poor, but I differ in opinion about the means. I think the best way of doing good to the poor is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it.” - Ben Franklin

Write a short explanation:

3. Provide three synonyms for “critical”:

4. Find a quotation about our government that is cynical. Write the short phrases/comment onto this paper. Underline the parts/key words of the phrase that indicate a cynical tone in blue.

5. If I told you that I felt all teenagers were irresponsible and selfish, how would you respond using a defensive tone? Underline keywords that you use.

6. Find a humorous comment about the weather in North Carolina. Write the quotation here:

7. Most news articles are impartial. True -- False. (circle true or false)

Explain why:

8. The quotation below is inspirational. Yes -- No (circle yes or no)

"Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense. This day is all that is good and fair. It is too dear, with its hopes and invitations, to waste a moment on yesterdays."

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Underline at least two keywords/phrases that indicate the inspirational tone.

9. Find an image online that presents an ironic situation. After drawing or tracing the image the image onto this document, write a brief one sentence explanation.

10. Provide three synonyms for the word “moralizing”:

11. Write a short summary of one of your childhood memories. No more than 5 sentences that creates a mood of “nostalgia”. Underline the words and/or phrases that indicate “nostalgia”.

12. Does the quotation below have a tone of “patriotism”? Yes -- No (circle yes or no)

“Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”

Winston Churchill

Write a brief explanation:

13. Provide three synonyms for the word “perplexed”:

14. Find a quotation or phrase that has a pessimistic tone about professional athletes. Circle keywords/phrases that indicates the tone.

15. Provide three key phrases or words that would indicate a reflective tone:

For example: “in my rearview mirror…”

16. Write a short phrase that has a tone of reverence for your classmates. Underline the keywords that indicate that tone.

17. This image is a satirical image about: (circle the correct answer)

construction zones

fashion

digital overload

the government

18. Write a short description of kindergarten that has a tone of sentimentality. Underline the keywords/phrases that indicate that tone.

19. Provide three synonyms for the word “witty”: