Question

How do the words can, may, and could in the third paragraph(lines 33107-68199) help establish the tone of the paragraph?
A. They create an optimistic tone that makes clear authors are hopeful about the effects of their research on colony collapse disorder.
B. They create a dubious tone that makes clear the authors do not have confidence in the usefulness of the research described.
C. They create a tentative tone that makes clear the authors suspect but do not know that their hypothesis is correct.
D. They create a critical tone that makes the authors skeptical of claims that pyrethrins are inherent in mono-crops.

Answer 1

Hint: These lines are from paragraphs in comprehension passages in which author uses can, may, could to depict tentativeness.

Complete answer:
Option A is They create an optimistic tone that makes clear that authors are hopeful about the effects of their research on colony collapse disorder is an incorrect option because optimism is being confident or hopeful about what is going to happen in which may cannot be suited in. Option B is They create a dubious tone that makes clear the authors do not have confidence in the usefulness of the research described is an incorrect option because the word used here dubious stands to depict a doubtful tone which cannot be expressed using words may, can or could. Option C is They create a tentative tone that makes clear the authors suspect but do not know that their hypothesis is correct, is a correct option because it shows the probability of results may come undesired as may could is used to depict the probability of happening where assurance cannot be given. Option D is to create a critical tone that makes the authors skeptical of claims that pyrethrins are inherent in mono-crops is an incorrect option.

Hence, the correct option is C is correct.

Note:
May, could is often used to show the possibility of an event as an outcome of following actions. These words can also be used to ask permission for something from someone. For example: May I go to the restroom?, it could be dangerous to not use a helmet while riding a scooty.