Buying local can very as there is two key factors. A. How far it takes for the product to reach from producer to store to your table, which can easily affect prices. B. There has to be want for said products. You don't need someone to be selling local water if the access is free.
You forgot to include a photo, but if the story includes keywords like “You should” or any opinions, it will most likely be to persuade the reader to try a winter sport. If the text is only giving facts on skiing, the text is informing you. If the text is using fun keywords or telling a story, the text is most likely to entertain the reader. :)
I think it's optimistic because he's saying to take the country back.
That's what an Engineer might do...☺
Answer: His melancholy tone highlights the despair of the excerpt.
Explanation: In the given excerpt from Irving's "The Mysterious Stranger" we can see the description of a man struggling with strong emotions, his gestures (like clasping his hands together until his fingers were imprinted in his flesh, or sinking his face upon his knees) are signs of despair and suffering. So the statement that best describes the tone in the excerpt is: His melancholy tone highlights the despair of the excerpt.