In answering a question about tone, make sure to think about how the author feels about his subject. We can accomplish this task by looking at the word choice, particularly imagery , and then inferring the author's attitude. By listening to the sounds of the names and the 1st person...
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speakers thoughts and words, we can choose and defend the following tone options: confusion, frustration, and finally comfort.
The title "Names/Nombres" makes it clear that the speaker, who we discover is Julia Alvarez herself, is struggling with living as a child of Dominican Republican heritage. In particular, she is confused and even embarrassed by her own name. This confusion and even fear begins at the New York entry where the customs agent mispronounces the family name. As it turns out, most of their acquaintances are unable to pronounce Alavares properly, as Julia does:
... trilling my tongue for the drumroll of the r, All-vah-rrr-es! How could anyone get Elbures out of that orchestra of sound?
Julia's frustration at losing the music in her name is clear.
Later, Julia yearns for a less musical name, preferring a more typically American name such as Judy to fit in and avoid embarrassment. She is even jealous of the ease of her younger sister Ana's short and easy name.
As she develops a closer circle of friends, the speaker seems to understand that a new name can lead to acceptance and comfort as she is given the name "Alcatraz" from her peer group. At this point Julia understands that names are given out of respect and love. She is finally able to let go of the embarrassment and confusion and understand the true purpose of names.