Question

Difficulty: EasyTone and Attitude Comparison

Read the following two short excerpts regarding energy policy.

Passage A:
Wind energy represents the single most important breakthrough in our fight against climate change. We must transition exclusively to wind power immediately, as it is our only realistic hope for a sustainable future. Traditional fossil fuels are a disastrous dead end that must be completely abandoned without delay.

Passage B:
Wind energy certainly offers a valuable component for a diversified clean energy portfolio. However, relying on it as a solitary solution is dangerously naive, given its intermittent nature. A truly robust strategy requires a balanced integration of wind, solar, and advanced nuclear technologies.

Match each topic on the left with the description on the right that best characterizes the authors' tones and attitudes toward that topic.

  • The general value of wind energyBoth authors express a positive attitude, though with differing degrees of enthusiasm.
  • Relying entirely on wind energyAuthor A is unreservedly supportive, while Author B is highly critical of the idea.
  • Continued use of fossil fuelsAuthor A exhibits an attitude of absolute rejection and harsh criticism.

Answer

The general value of wind energy matches the shared positive attitude; relying entirely on wind energy matches Author A's support versus Author B's criticism; continued use of fossil fuels matches Author A's absolute rejection.
By closely reading the descriptive language, we can see Author A is zealously pro-wind and anti-fossil fuels, whereas Author B is moderately pro-wind but strongly against a wind-exclusive strategy. These explicit tone markers allow us to perfectly align each topic with its corresponding attitude description.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the authors' tones regarding the general value of wind energy.
Author A praises it as a breakthrough, and Author B acknowledges it as a valuable component. Both are positive.
This establishes that both authors share a generally favorable attitude toward wind energy itself.
2
Compare the authors' attitudes toward relying exclusively on wind energy.
Author A demands an exclusive transition to wind, while Author B criticizes this as dangerously naive.
This highlights a sharp contrast where Author A is highly supportive and Author B is highly critical of a wind-only approach.
3
Identify Author A's attitude toward fossil fuels.
Author A uses the phrase 'disastrous dead end' and demands they be abandoned.
This explicitly demonstrates a tone of harsh criticism and absolute rejection.

Key Concept

Tone and Attitude Comparison
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