Final answer:
The speaker's attitude toward her home in Lithuania can be best described as bitter, as she feels overwhelmed and disconnected in an unfamiliar environment. Tone changes could significantly affect reader interpretation, and 'melancholy' is not one of the seven universal emotions. Option C is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
The word that best describes the speaker's attitude toward her home in Lithuania based on the excerpt provided is bitter. The passage describes the speaker's feelings of isolation, misunderstanding, and discomfort in an unfamiliar setting.
Despite having studied the language, the speaker still feels unprepared and disconnected, which contributes to a bitter sentiment rather than one of amusement, shame, or affection.
A different tone could significantly alter the meaning conveyed to the reader, changing the atmosphere from one of fond recollection to one of resentment, from pride to embarrassment, or from sincerity to sarcasm.