What is the Tone of the Passage

Tones of Passages for Reading Comprehension Questions in CAT Examination

Thursday, June quaternary, 2020

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Tones of Writing

By now, you must be aware of the various types of RC passages also the dissimilar writing styles. Close to the writing style, comes the tone of passage. Equally you would know, tone-based questions frequently back-trail CAT RC passages. So, what is really meant by ‘tone of the passage’?

The tone of the passage represents the author’s sentiment or mental attitude towards the subject area existence discussed. In other words, information technology’s the predominant emotion the author displays towards the subject. You probably react differently to different people in same or different situations. You may speak the same sentence in harsh or polite or sarcastic tone depending upon the context and people. Similarly, RC tones vary in unlike contexts with same or dissimilar subjects.

Learning to place the tone will assist you in multiple means: answering the directly tone based questions too as figuring out the implicit information and inferences. Tone of the passage is indicative of the message that the author wants to convey to the reader. The aforementioned prepare of words alter their significant if yous speak them in a different tone.

Broadly, the tones used are

subjective


or
objective
. Every bit yous would guess, the objective tone is used when the author chooses to remain neutral and discrete. On the other hand, a subjective tone reveals the mental attitude and emotions of the writer with respect to the issue. By and large, CAT RCs characteristic in the post-obit types of tones:

Acerbic/harsh/severe/bitter/caustic/vitrolic:

How would you lot limited your dislike or disapproval for something or someone in a harsh way? Hither comes the part of acerbic tone. The writer reveals his disagreement with a particular theory or may express his disdain towards a person in an acerbic tone. Once you identify this tone, y’all will be able to answer the ‘author hold/disagree’ questions that follow the RC passage.

Angry/indignant:

Like to the to a higher place type, this kind of tone shows the author’south anger towards the discipline in a justified way. How do yous justify your anger towards any unfair system? You lot may do then by some arguments, facts and examples regarding the subject. Similarly, the author intends to justify his anger past stating various reasons related to the issue.

Such RC passages circumduct around biased systems or policies followed by the regime. Questions based on such passages are mostly direct and easy to reply.

Atoning

As the proper name states, this kind of tone is used to express remorse or guilt regarding the mishaps or tragedies that may accept occurred in the past. RC passages based on this tone generally talk of theories related to earth wars, natural disasters or other such catastrophes that accept impacted flesh adversely. Such passages may likewise include a lot of facts and figures.

Belligerent/bellicose

In which tone do you think 2 warring parties talk to each other? As you would guess, they are aggressively hostile towards each other. This is when author adopts belligerent tone of writing. Think of the feelings that Allies and Axis powers had towards each other. RC passages based on this kind of tone are easily to understand and let y’all easily predict the answers to inference-based questions.

Biased

While favouring one matter/person/group over the other, we tend to utilize a biased tone to display our inclination towards information technology. Similarly, the author uses a biased tone and presents arguments in favour of a particular thing/theory in the passage. One time yous identify the author’s stand, yous will be able to figure out the answers to the required questions.

Commiserating

This type of tone is used to limited grief or testify sympathy for a person or a group of people suffering from prejudiced practices or cultural norms. The writer intends to familiarize the reader with the trauma undergone by the sufferers.

Condescending/Patronizing

A condescending tone implies an attitude of patronizing superiority of a particular thing/person/grouping. As you would expect, such RC passages may display snobbish or scornful tones with regard to things considered inferior in the author’s view.

Contemptuous/derisive/disparaging

This kind of tone exhibits author’s disdain or antipathy towards the subject. You will often discover such passages treating the subject in a scornful and ridiculous mode.

Cynical

How practise tend to speak near people you find distrustful? Here comes the role of contemptuous tone. Passages written in cynical tone reveal writer’s view of lodge being driven purely by self-involvement.

Dogmatic

You must have some firm beliefs and perspective regarding item aspects of life. In what kind of tone will you lot speak well-nigh them? This is where dogmatic tone comes into play. When the author is assertive regarding his opinions, he uses a dogmatic tone to convey his viewpoint.

Emotional

While narrating an incident/event/story, the author uses an emotional tone of writing in order to portray the feelings regarding the aforementioned. Such RC passages may appear complex and need to be reread to arrive at the right respond.

Ethical

As y’all would know, the issues of ethics in business take assumed greater relevance in the growing corporate culture. Such RC passages commonly characteristic in Cat exam. The author employs an ethical tone to depict the problems of morality, righteousness, honesty, etc.

Euphemistic

How do you express your disliking or disagreement without being offensive or blunt? In such a example, euphemistic tone comes to your rescue. RC passages in this kind of tone make use of indirect and implicit statements.

Grandiose

As the name suggests, this type of tone is adopted past passages written in a descriptive or abstract mode. The passage may appear more than elaborative than necessary. Also, sometimes abstract passages utilise a grandiose tone of writing.

Humanistic

Every bit you would guess, a humanistic tone of writing is well-nigh suitable to problems related to welfare, values and other such human affairs. A good idea for such passages would be to glance at the questions earlier reading the passage. This way, you will be able to grasp the essence of the given passage/theory.

Humorous

One of the most interesting tones of writing, a humorous tone is witty and agreeable at the same time. All you demand to practise is spot the message that that author wants to convey in a lite-hearted style.

Introspective

How would you lot talk about analysing your feelings or contemplate your actions? Well, an introspective tone is employed in the passage then equally to self-examine and reflect upon one’s actions and feelings.

Incendiary/ provocative

Y’all may take come up across some famous speeches past groovy orators and constitute their words moving or soul-stirring. Well, that’southward an incendiary tone into play. It’s the tone of spoken language utilized by revolutionaries and politicians every bit well. In other words, an incendiary tone is meant to incite people in a negative or positive management.

Laudatory

How accept you praised something or someone you admired? That’southward what laudatory tone sounds similar. Ofttimes, descriptive passages adopt this kind of tone so every bit to discuss a particular subject forth with certain justifications.

Motivating

Another interesting kind of tone, a motivating tone of writing aims to inspire and propel you by the employ of influential quotes and examples. Such passages may present examples of some popular personalities and incidents from their lives.

Pedestrian

When a passage appears neither interesting nor circuitous to you, probably it has a pedestrian tone of writing. In other words, this kind of tone is used when the RC passage talks well-nigh commonplace things and ideas.

Populist

As the proper name says, a populist tone is used to discuss theories and characteristics exhibited by full general populace. The author of the passage utilizes a populist tone to explain features and behavior of mutual people.

Romantic

Every bit you would expect, this kind of tone is fanciful and exaggerated. Such passages may announced interesting to read but contains unrealistic content. This tone is mostly used for abstract RC passages.

Sarcastic/satirical/ironical/taunting

Endeavour expressing your disliking indirectly and without sounding too serious? Well, most of us take spoken in this way at one fourth dimension or the other. When the author states a negative opinion about something in a taunting or ironic way, he uses a sarcastic tone in the passage.

Speculative

We do read near various speculations in newspapers- economic, political, etc. Similarly, RC passages explaining whatsoever such theories adopt a speculative tone of writing. Putting it other means, such passages circumduct around hypothetical things and skilful opinions.

Technical

As the proper noun states, the author of the passages tends to use technical jargons while using this tone of writing. This type of tone is generally used to discuss the core ideas of particular fields of study. Such passages are mostly accompanied past a lot of facts and figures.

By now, you are aware of the diverse tones of writing. So, at present how tin can you be sure of a particular tone being used for the passage? Well, you lot can look for the clues in the following ways:

• Look at the adjectives and adverbs used in the passage and their connotations. The
  
  option of words
  
  provides a potent hint of the author’due south tone.
• Another clue is given by the
  
  manner of writing
  – whether it is narrative, descriptive, etc.
• Also, give a broad overview to the structure and arrangement of ideas in the passage.

The lesser-line:
read

and exercise
as much equally you can. This will aid you lot place the tone accurately and in a lesser time.

Writing Styles of Passages in CAT Examination

CAT Questions related to Reading Comprehension

All questions from CAT Exam Reading Comprehension
Reading Comprehension – Forenoon slot – Gear up i: Understanding where yous are in the globe is a basic survival skill, which is why nosotros, similar nigh species come up hard-wired with specialized brain areas to create congnitive maps of our surround.
Reading Comprehension – Forenoon slot – Set up 2: I used a smartphone GPS to find my way through the cobblestoned maze of Geneva’s Old Town, in search of a handmade automobile that changed the globe more than than any other invention.
Reading Comprehension – Morning slot – Set three: This year solitary, more than 8,600 stores could close, co-ordinate to industry estimates, many of them the brand -name ballast outlets that real estate developers once stumbled over themselves to court.
Reading Comprehension – Morning slot – Set four: Scientists take long recognized the incredible diversity within a species.
Reading Comprehension – Forenoon slot – Ready v: Do sports mega events similar the summer Olympic Games do good the host city economically?
Reading Comprehension – Afternoon slot – Set 1: Creativity is at once our virtually precious resource and our almost inexhaustible one.
Reading Comprehension – Afternoon slot – Set up 2: During the frigid season…it’s frequently necessary to nestle nether a coating to try to stay warm.
Reading Comprehension – Afternoon slot – Set iii: The terminate of the age of the internal combustion engine is in sight. In that location are pocket-sized signs everywhere: the shift to hybrid vehicles is already nether way among manufacturers.
Reading Comprehension – Afternoon slot – Set 4: Typewriters are the epitome of a technology that has been comprehensively rendered obsolete by the digital age.
Reading Comprehension – Afternoon slot – Set 5: Despite their fierce reputation. Vikings may not take always been the plunderers and pillagers pop culture imagines them to exist.

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