Passage: "To suggest that the recent policy shift represents a 'bold new direction' is to ignore a cynical recycling of failed strategies, dressed up in superficial rhetoric. One need only scratch the surface to find the same tired premises lurking underneath." The author's tone in the passage can best be described as:
✓ Correct Answer: Option B
The author uses phrases like 'cynical recycling of failed strategies' and 'superficial rhetoric' to mock the idea of a 'bold new direction,' indicating a sarcastic and critical tone.