Careened', These oily tears Dripping down the tears on your depressed face, Will one day be staunched, I…

Step 1: Analyze the question We are asked for the tone of the poet in the lines from Ibiwari Ikiriko's "Oily Tears". Tone is the poet's attitude toward the subject, shown through word choice.

Step 2: Explain the concept Tone is found in the key words and the way the speaker addresses the subject. Here are the meanings of the options:

• Supplicatory: begging or pleading with someone.
• Optimistic: hopeful about the future.
• Sympathetic: showing pity or understanding for another's suffering.
• Piteous: arousing pity, or pitiful in itself.

Step 3: Work through the lines

• "These oily tears dripping down the tears on your depressed face": the poet acknowledges the suffering of the Niger Delta people, who are hurt by oil pollution. This part is sympathetic.
• "Will one day be staunched, I swear!": to staunch means to stop a flow. The poet is making a firm promise that the suffering will end one day. The word "swear" shows confidence and assurance.

The key point is that the poet does not beg (so not supplicatory) and is not himself pitiful (so not piteous). The poet looks ahead with hope and determination, assuring the sufferer that the tears will stop. Sympathy is present, but the dominant attitude in the lines is the hopeful assurance of a better future. That is optimism.

Step 4: Answer The tone is optimistic, which is option B.

Step 5: Exam tip For tone questions, look at the verbs and the final statement of the lines. A promise about the future ("will one day... I swear") points to optimism or hope. Words like "pity" or "alas" point to sympathy or piteousness. Don't pick sympathetic just because the subject is sad; ask what the poet does about the sadness. Here he promises that it will end.