Words have always swirled around me like snowflakes - each one delicate and different, each one melting untouched in my hands. Deep within me, words pile up in huge drifts. Mountains of phrases and sentences and connected ideas. Clever expressions. Jokes. Love songs. From the time I was really little - maybe just a few months old - words were like sweet, liquid gifts, and I drank them like lemonade. I could almost taste them. They made my jumbled thoughts and feelings have substance. My parents always blanketed me with conversation. They chattered and babbled. They verbalized and vocalized. My father sang to me. My mother whispered strength into my ear. Every word my parents spoke to me or about me I absorbed and kept and remembered. Question Write a RARE response in which you explain how the author's word choice impacts the tone. What can you tell about how the narrator feels about words? (4 points)

The author's choice of words such as "delicate," "liquid gifts," and "sweet" creates a tone of admiration and reverence towards words. The use of phrases like "I could almost taste them" and "made my jumbled thoughts and feelings have substance" illustrates the deep connection and importance the narrator places on words. This conveys the narrator's intense love and appreciation for words, showing that they hold a special place in their heart and mind. The overall tone is one of affection and admiration towards the power and beauty of language.