Identify the tone of the passage:

Concept

A passage’s tone is the writer’s attitude toward the subject. It is inferred from the dominant purpose, word choice, and method of development rather than from the topic alone.

An analytical tone examines an issue through causes, consequences, evidence, and possible responses in measured language. Sarcastic, narrative, and emotional tones instead depend on irony, a sequence of events, or strongly affective language.

Application

The passage explains the causes of water insecurity, traces its effects on health, food production, and economic stability, and evaluates responses such as harvesting, governance, technology, behavioural change, and equitable access. Its language is reasoned and evidence-oriented rather than mocking, story-like, or emotionally charged.

Contrast

• Analytical: develops the issue through causes, effects, and evaluated remedies; this pattern dominates the passage.

• Sarcastic: would rely on irony, mock praise, or ridicule, none of which structures the passage.

• Narrative: would organise events as a story with characters or a plot, which the passage does not do.

• Emotional: would foreground personal feeling or strongly affective language, whereas the passage remains measured.

Cross-check

If the subject “water security” were replaced by another public-policy issue while the cause–effect–solution structure stayed the same, the tone would still be analytical. Therefore, “Analytical” is the best-supported answer.