PSAT Reading Question 442: Answer and Explanation

Question: 442

Both Passage 1 and Passage 2 have a tone of

• A. obedience and inferiority.
• B. aggression and anxiety.
• C. practicality and avarice.
• D. formality and deference.

Correct Answer: D

Explanation:

(D) The tone, or overall feel/attitude, of the passages can be described as serious, official, and respectful. Choice (D) best describes these feelings since "formality" refers to a stateliness and "deference" implies a respectfulness. Jefferson offers ideas of his own, rather than submitting himself as subservient like in choice (A). Although Jefferson may be anxious because of the severity of his letters, he is far from aggressive. Practical could readily describe Jefferson's tone, but avarice, or greed, does not.