CELPIP Vocabulary for Tone 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An email begins 'I would be most grateful if you could kindly reconsider.' What tone does this signal?
- Formal and polite (Correct answer)
- Casual and joking
- Angry and demanding
- Sad and hopeless
Correct answer: Formal and polite
Phrases like 'most grateful' and 'kindly' mark a formal, polite tone.
Question 2: Which word makes a sentence sound the most enthusiastic?
- Thrilled (Correct answer)
- Fine
- Adequate
- Acceptable
Correct answer: Thrilled
'Thrilled' expresses strong positive excitement, unlike the neutral options.
Question 3: A note says 'Whatever, do what you want.' This tone is best described as:
- Indifferent (Correct answer)
- Encouraging
- Apologetic
- Curious
Correct answer: Indifferent
'Whatever' signals a dismissive, indifferent attitude.
Question 4: Choose the word that softens a request: 'Could you ___ send the report?'
- possibly (Correct answer)
- immediately
- never
- instead
Correct answer: possibly
'Possibly' makes the request gentler and more polite.
Question 5: Which sentence has a sarcastic tone?
- Oh great, another meeting I can't wait for. (Correct answer)
- I look forward to the meeting.
- The meeting is at noon.
- Please join the meeting.
Correct answer: Oh great, another meeting I can't wait for.
'Oh great' paired with reluctance shows sarcasm—saying the opposite of what is meant.
Question 6: The word 'unfortunately' most often introduces a tone that is:
- Regretful (Correct answer)
- Joyful
- Aggressive
- Boastful
Correct answer: Regretful
'Unfortunately' signals regret about bad news.
Question 7: Which word conveys the most confident tone?
- Certainly (Correct answer)
- Maybe
- Perhaps
- Possibly
Correct answer: Certainly
'Certainly' expresses firm confidence, while the others show doubt.
CELPIP Vocabulary for Tone 2
An email begins 'I would be most grateful if you could kindly reconsider.' What tone does this signal?