Name: ___________________ Period: _______ Date: _______________-

Author’s Tone

I am a person who bears grudges and I have a lot against three of my children,
Manuel, Roberto, and Consuelo. My body is becoming half-paralyzed from being so
angry with these children of mine. I am ashamed to talk about it. It is hard for a
father to have such sons. They turned out bad because of bad surroundings and
bad companions. Their friends are doing these boys no good. It is a shame that I
cannot do anything about. In spite of my advice, they go the other way instead of
taking the straight path.

There is nothing better in this world than upright work. I am a poor and humble
person, but I try to do things the best way I can. My sons can't say their father came
home drunk or abandoned them. An uncle of theirs just died of drink. It seems they
take after their uncle more than they do me. I don't understand it.

1. The tone of the narrator's speech is

a.cheerful
b.lively
c. discouraged
d.flowery

2. The narrator's tone reinforces an attitude of __________________.

a.weariness, from earning an honest but poor living.
b.confidence, since everything will be fine.
c. pride, because his family pleases him.
d.disappointment, caused by his children.

3. The passage ends in a tone of __________________.

a.clever deceitfulness
b.tense expectation
c. firm determination
d.sad bewilderment

4. Which sentence in the passage reveals the narrator's feelings of

hopelessness?
a.They turned out bad because of bad surroundings and bad companions.
b.I am a poor and humble person, but I try to do things the best way I can.
c. It seems that they take after their uncle more than they do me.
d.It is a shame that I cannot do anything about it.
Name: ___________________ Period: _______ Date: _______________-
Author’s Tone

I am a person who bears grudges and I have a lot against three of my children,
Manuel, Roberto, and Consuelo. My body is becoming half-paralyzed from being so
angry with these children of mine. I am ashamed to talk about it. It is hard for a
father to have such sons. They turned out bad because of bad surroundings and
bad companions. Their friends are doing these boys no good. It is a shame that I
cannot do anything about. In spite of my advice, they go the other way instead of
taking the straight path.

There is nothing better in this world than upright work. I am a poor and humble
person, but I try to do things the best way I can. My sons can't say their father came
home drunk or abandoned them. An uncle of theirs just died of drink. It seems they
take after their uncle more than they do me. I don't understand it.

1. The tone of the narrator's speech is

a.cheerful
b.lively
c. discouraged
d.flowery

2. The narrator's tone reinforces an attitude of __________________.

a.weariness, from earning an honest but poor living.
b.confidence, since everything will be fine.
c. pride, because his family pleases him.
d.disappointment, caused by his children.

3. The passage ends in a tone of __________________.

a.clever deceitfulness
b.tense expectation
c. firm determination
d.sad bewilderment

4. Which sentence in the passage reveals the narrator's feelings of

hopelessness?
a.They turned out bad because of bad surroundings and bad companions.
b.I am a poor and humble person, but I try to do things the best way I can.
c. It seems that they take after their uncle more than they do me.
d.It is a shame that I cannot do anything about it.