Notice the manner without inventing the motive
Read for meaning first. Select a highlighted word if you want a closer look.
Iris's artless excitement about joining the community band came through in an unpolished account of the songs she hoped to learn. The drummer's nonchalant shrug after dropping a stick made a small mishap look routine rather than alarming. An offhand comment about the unfinished program, delivered while someone packed cables, sounded more casual than the organizers had expected. The bandleader checked what the speaker meant before assuming that the remark reflected a settled judgment about all the work the volunteers had contributed.
Iris remained artless when she admitted not knowing a tune, responding naturally instead of trying to produce an impressive account of her experience. The drummer's nonchalant manner helped the rehearsal continue after another minor slip, although appearance alone could not establish his private feelings. The offhand comment turned out to concern a missing page rather than dissatisfaction with the whole program. A brief question prevented the group from treating casual delivery as proof of indifference and gave the organizer a specific correction to make.
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.