Which term describes the author's attitude toward the subject or audience?

• A. Inference
• B. Central Idea
• C. Theme
• D. Tone

Answer: (D)

Attitude toward the subject or audience is shown through the author’s tone. Tone is the author’s stance or feeling toward what is being discussed, conveyed through word choice, imagery, and sentence style. You identify it by listening to the emotional color of the language—are the words playful, serious, angry, hopeful, or skeptical? The rhythm and length of sentences also signal tone: crisp, sharp sentences can create urgency or sarcasm, while measured, smooth sentences can feel calm or reflective.

This is different from the central idea, which is the main point the author is making about the topic, and from the theme, the underlying message about life or human nature. It’s also different from inference, which is something you conclude about the text based on evidence. Tone specifically targets the author’s attitude toward the subject or toward the audience, not the primary point or the broader message, and not an assumed takeaway you deduce.