I descended the steps to the cellar, reminding myself that the smell of dirt was not to be feared. The earthen walls shone with
moisture, and the rows of jarred fruit gleamed. I loathed these errands and doubted my ability to discern a peach from a pear in the dim light. I held a jar inches from my eyes and concluded it was some undesirable green—beans or peas—to be retrieved at a later date. As I mused, something crept stealthily from the shadows, and pounced unexpectedly from the summer’s stash. Which best describes the tone of the excerpt?
A. Somber
B. Disinterested
C. Angry
D. Uncertain
You can see the narrator not very sure of things. He reminds himself that the smell of dirt was not to be feared, but since he needs to remind himself, we do sense that the narrator does fear the smell. This: "loathed these errands and doubted my ability to discern a peach from a pear in the dim light" is another sentence that shows uncertainty. In the end, some shadow that can't clearly be discerned is more more thing that contributes to the tone.
As adjectives the difference between argumentative and cantankerous. is that argumentative is prone to argue or dispute while cantankerous is given to or marked by an ill-tempered nature, ill-tempered, cranky, surly, crabby.
