Author's Tone and Perspective: TEAS Practice Question with Answer & Explanation
An original TEAS 7-style reading practice question, written for nursing-school applicants — with a full breakdown of every answer choice.
Question
Read the following passage: "The shift toward renewable energy is not merely a political choice; it is a moral imperative that we owe to the next generation. For too long, we have relied on decaying fossil fuels that choke our atmosphere and poison our oceans. We have the technology, the ingenuity, and the collective will to harness the sun’s rays and the wind’s power. Let us rise to this challenge today—not out of fear, but out of a fierce determination to build a vibrant, green future for every child on this planet." Which of the following terms best describes the author's tone?
- A.Cynical and dismissive
- B.Somber and mournful
- C.Objective and clinical
- D.Passionate and persuasiveCorrect
Correct answer: D. The author uses emotionally charged language and a call to action, indicating a passionate and persuasive tone.
Understanding Author’s Tone in TEAS Reading
In the Reading section of the TEAS, you will often be asked to identify the author’s tone. Tone refers to the author’s attitude toward the subject matter. It is conveyed through word choice (diction) and sentence structure (syntax).
Why the Correct Answer is Right
The correct answer is D: Passionate and persuasive. The author uses "emotionally charged" language to sway the reader. High-energy words and phrases like "moral imperative," "choke our atmosphere," "ingenuity," and "fierce determination" indicate a strong emotional investment (passion). Furthermore, the author directly calls the reader to action ("Let us rise to this challenge"), which is the hallmark of a persuasive tone.
Analysis of Incorrect Options
- A: Cynical and dismissive: This is incorrect because a cynical tone would express doubt about human motives or suggest that the effort is useless. This author is highly optimistic about what "we have the power" to do.
- B: Somber and mournful: While the author mentions "poisoned oceans," the overall message is not one of grief or sadness. Instead, the focus is on a call to action and a bright future, which shifts the energy away from being somber.
- C: Objective and clinical: This tone is common in textbooks or medical reports. It relies on cold, hard facts and neutral language. This passage is the opposite; it uses subjective adjectives like "vibrant" and "poison" to evoke emotion rather than just stating data.
TEAS Concept: Identifying Tone
To succeed on these questions, look for "loaded" words.
- Positive Tone: Look for adjectives like brilliant, essential, innovative, heartening.
- Negative Tone: Look for words like wasteful, alarming, mediocre, biased.
- Neutral Tone: Look for a lack of adjectives or words like results, says, identifies, observes.
Memory Tip
Think of tone as the "mood" of the writing. If you were reading this aloud, would you be shouting from a podium (passionate), crying (somber), or reading a boring instruction manual (objective)? In this passage, the author is clearly at the podium!
Quick study tip: When determining tone, ignore your own feelings about the topic and focus exclusively on the specific adjectives the author chose to use.
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