Answer:
A characteristic of a short story is
d. It utilizes tone and mood to illustrate theme.
Step-by-step explanation:
A short story can be fictional, meaning it does not necessarily narrates a real event. The characters do not need to have a certain quality or characteristic. They can be everyday people or heroes, common or special. A short story may or may not include a lesson to be followed in life. It may simply tell readers of an event, big or small, that took place in character's life. That event might lead to a greater understanding of life, things, and people. But it might as well have no importance at all.
Among the options, the one that truly describes a characteristic of a short story is d. It utilizes tone and mood to illustrate theme. Tone is the attitude the author takes toward his or her subject, characters, and readers. He can use a tone that is happy, sarcastic, sorrowful, aggressive, peaceful etc. The tone helps develop the mood. Mood can be defined as the atmosphere an author creates that involves readers. Usually, word choice and description of the setting, as well as imagery, help produce a certain mood. Readers present an emotional response to the atmosphere - happiness, tranquility, fear etc.