Question

Difficulty: EasyWriter's Purpose, Tone, Mood, and Attitude

Read the passage below carefully:

"It is truly remarkable how modern consumers rush to purchase the latest smart kitchen appliances, convinced that a Wi-Fi-connected toaster will somehow revolutionize their morning routine. We willingly pay exorbitant prices for devices that require software updates just to brown a slice of bread, while ignoring the simple, durable appliances that served previous generations reliably for decades. This absurd obsession with unnecessary technology in basic household items proves that clever marketing can easily triumph over plain common sense."

What is the writer's primary attitude toward modern smart kitchen appliances?

  1. Sarcastic and criticalAnswer
  2. B
    Enthusiastic and supportive
  3. C
    Objective and neutral
  4. D
    Anxious and fearful

Answer

Sarcastic and critical
The correct answer recognizes that the writer's attitude is sarcastic and critical. The author uses ironic praise ('truly remarkable') together with openly scathing phrases such as 'absurd obsession' and 'marketing... triumph over plain common sense' to express mockery and strong disapproval of consumer habits.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Examine the vocabulary and tone markers in the text.
Phrases like 'absurd obsession', 'exorbitant prices', and needing 'software updates just to brown a slice of bread' indicate strong disapproval and mockery.
Identifying affective vocabulary helps reveal the author's true perspective on the topic.
2
Distinguish between literal statements and figurative irony.
The opening praise 'truly remarkable' is used sarcastically to highlight the foolishness of consumer behavior.
Recognizing sarcasm prevents literal misinterpretation of the author's intent.
3
Select the descriptor pair that accurately synthesizes the author's attitude.
The combination of mockery (sarcasm) and explicit disapproval (criticism) defines the writer's attitude.
Matching identified textual evidence with option descriptors yields the correct answer.

Key Concept

Writer's Tone, Mood, and Attitude
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