Which feature of a text most strongly supports determining the author’s attitude toward the topic?

• A. The choice of words, connotations, and mood throughout the text
• B. The text's length
• C. The number of illustrations
• D. The presence of footnotes

Answer: (A)

Attitude toward the topic is revealed most clearly through the author's word choice and the mood the writing creates. The specific words chosen—whether they carry positive, negative, or loaded connotations—signal how the author feels about the subject. The overall tone or mood, such as hopeful, skeptical, indignant, or matter-of-fact, further communicates that stance. Together, diction, connotations, and mood show where the author stands more directly than any other element.

Length, number of illustrations, or footnotes don’t directly express the author’s feelings about the topic. They influence readability, emphasis, or credibility, but they don’t convey attitude as specifically as language does. For instance, a short piece might be sharply biased or balanced, and an essay with many illustrations might still present a clear stance depending on how the words frame the topic. The strongest clue to the author’s stance comes from how the topic is described and the emotional coloring of the language.