Diction and Tone Flashcards
6 cards from real English Language and Composition Exam practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Diction and Tone flashcards as text
Which tonal descriptor best fits writing that gently mocks a subject while remaining affectionate toward it?
Answer: Wry
Wry tone implies mild, good-natured amusement that mocks without hostility.
A politician repeatedly uses the word 'crisis' where 'challenge' might suffice. This word choice is best analyzed as:
Answer: A deliberate connotative choice to heighten urgency
'Crisis' carries connotations of emergency and danger that 'challenge' lacks, making it a strategic connotative choice.
An author describes a character's decision using passive voice ('mistakes were made'). What tonal effect does this produce?
Answer: Deflects responsibility and creates a detached tone
Passive construction distances the actor from the action, producing a tone of evasion or detachment.
Which sentence best demonstrates an ironic tone?
Answer: Oh, another traffic jam — clearly the city's infrastructure is flawless.
The sentence uses sarcasm to express the opposite of what is literally stated, which is the hallmark of ironic tone.
In analyzing tone on the AP Lang exam, a student should focus on:
Answer: Specific diction choices and their cumulative effect on the reader
Tone analysis on the AP exam requires close attention to how specific word choices accumulate to create an overall attitude.
Which term describes language that is deliberately vague or euphemistic to soften an unpleasant reality?
Answer: Doublespeak
Doublespeak uses indirect or euphemistic language to obscure, mislead, or soften a harsh truth.
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