Distinguish the attitude from the volume of expression
Read for meaning first. Select a highlighted word if you want a closer look.
A cynical band member assumed that the sponsor's offer of chairs was merely an attempt to obtain flattering publicity. A sarcastic reply about another silent microphone praised its wonderful reliability while clearly mocking the equipment failure. The singer's effusion of delight filled three breathless messages when the group announced a small public performance. The bandleader recognized different attitudes in these exchanges and asked the group to discuss the practical arrangements without treating suspicion, a cutting joke, and expansive excitement as interchangeable reactions.
The cynical interpretation went beyond asking what the sponsor expected and presumed a selfish motive before anyone examined the offer. The sarcastic praise conveyed criticism through its contrast with the microphone's obvious failure, which made its cutting intention easy to recognize. The effusion about the performance expressed abundant delight without necessarily making a careful claim about how the evening would go. Once the group separated these effects, it could ask a direct question about sponsorship, repair the microphone, and share the singer's excitement on its own terms.
Before you move on
Look away from the passage. Can you explain each focus word in your own words?
Original fictional passages for vocabulary practice.