Literary Analysis and Reading Skills
Read the following passage. Then, answer the question(s).
Part A Which phrase is the best description of the author's tone in this
passage?
A. urgent and concerned
B. weary and defeated
(1) Last month, our planet lost another 100,000 acres of
rainforest. By the time you are finished reading this, 50 more
acres of rainforest will be lost. When will it stop?
C. surprised and filled with wonder
(2) The destruction of the rainforests involves more than the
loss of unique and spectacular scenery. Rainforest flora might
hold the key to treating a wide range of diseases. Rainforest
fauna includes species found nowhere else on the planet.
Once they are gone, they are gone forever. With them go the
benefits they might offer, as well as a part of our natural
heritage.
(3) The loss of our rainforests may also have negative
consequences for Earth's climate. The trees of the rainforest
help stimulate local precipitation by adding moisture to the
atmosphere. Additionally, the trees help absorb carbon dioxide,
a gas that contributes to warming temperatures and climate
change.
OD. angry and filled with misery
Part B Which sentence most strongly reflects this tone?
O A. Last month, our planet lost another 100,000 acres of
rainforest.
B. Rainforest flora might hold the key to treating a wide range
of diseases.
C. After only a few years, the farms are often abandoned.
D. When will it finally stop?
o