Answer:
Absurd.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tone in a text or passage refers to the attitude or opinion of the author presented in the text. This tone can be understood or known through the use of certain words in the text, which can make readers get or understand what the author's tone is regarding the text.
In the given passage, the author talks about how mall culture is affecting Americans. But the word that best tells us the tone of the passage is the use of the word "absurd" which makes the author's opinion clear. Through this word, we can know that the author thinks the opinion of people about Americans and their mall culture is absurd.
Thus, the correct answer is absurd.