Question

Select the correct text in the passage. Which three sentences in this excerpt from Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Contest" suggest that the author's tone is mocking? The blue-clad player struck several chords upon his lyre, and then burst suddenly out into the “Ode of Niobe.” Policles sat straight up on his bench and gazed at the stage in amazement. The tune demanded a rapid transition from a low note to a high, and had been purposely chosen for this reason. The low note was a grunting, a rumble, the deep discordant growling of an ill-conditioned dog. Then suddenly the singer threw up his face, straightened his tubby figure, rose upon his tiptoes, and with wagging head and scarlet cheeks emitted such a howl as the same dog might have given had his growl been checked by a kick from his master. All the while the lyre twanged and thrummed, sometimes in front of and sometimes behind the voice of the singer. But what amazed Policles most of all was the effect of this performance upon the audience. Every Greek was a trained critic, and as unsparing in his hisses as he was lavish in his applause. Many a singer far better than this absurd fop had been driven amid execration and abuse from the platform.

Answer 1

• The low note was a grunting, a rumble, the deep discordant growling of an ill-conditioned dog.

• Then suddenly the singer threw up his face, straightened his tubby figure...

• Many a singer far better than this absurd fop ....

In the first sentence, the mocking tone is conveyed by comparing the low note of the lyre to the unpleasant growling of an angry dog. It is also said to be a "rumble" and a "grunting." It is making fun of the lack of skill of the musician.

The second sentence mocks the singer. His voice is as bad as the sound of the lyre, resembling the growl of a dog that has just been kicked. His appearance is similarly funny, with a "wagging head" and "scarlet cheeks."

Finally, the third sentence mocks the singer by calling him an "absurd fop."

Answer 2

Then suddenly the singer threw up his face, straightened his tubby figure, rose upon his tiptoes, and with wagging head and scarlet cheeks emitted such a howl as the same dog might have given had his growl been checked by a kick from his master.

Every Greek was a trained critic, and as unsparing in his hisses as he was lavish in his applause.

Many a singer far better than this absurd fop had been driven amid execration and abuse from the platform.