<p>For some reason the tone questions occasionally get me. When you've narrowed it down to two really close answers, how do you decide which one is the actual tone of the passage?</p>
<p>sometimes I just skim the passage hoping to find key descriptive words that describe what mood the writer is towards the subject, and what his views are.</p>
<p>tomjonesistheman has a good tip: it's all about adjectives and adverbs. "Key descriptive words" are the answer. Other descriptive details can help too.</p>
<p>I'd also say that, when in doubt, you should choose the less extreme choice: you might know that tip already. If you're picking between "irritated" and "indignant," it's more likely to be "irritated."</p>
<p>thanks for your tips</p>
<p>Great info, everyone! Thanks!</p>