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QuizMultiple Choice

Diction and Syntax: Impact on Mood, Voice, and Tone

Question 1 • TX-English I B-CR

Read the excerpt from "Surrendering” by Ocean Vuong.One early-spring afternoon, when I was in fourth grade, we got an assignment in language-arts class: we had two weeks to write a poem in honor of National Poetry Month. Normally, my poor writing abilities would excuse me from such assignments, and I would instead spend the class mindlessly copying out passages from books I’d retrieved from a blue plastic bin at the back of the room. The task allowed me to camouflage myself; as long as I looked as though I were doing something smart, my shame and failure were hidden.

Answer
A
The author uses repetition to emphasize an event that occurred and to create a bitter tone.
B
The author uses longer sentence construction to slow the pace of the reader and to create a remorseful tone.
C
The author uses parallelism to help the reader understand a life-changing moment and to create a wretched tone.
D
The author uses various punctuation marks to indicate pauses and to create a passionate tone.
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