Everywhere was a shadow of death. The farmers spoke of much illness among their families. In the town the doctors had become more and more puzzled by new kinds of sickness appearing among their patients. There had been several sudden and unexplained deaths, not only among adults but even among children, who would be stricken suddenly while at play and die within a few hours.

—Silent Spring,
Rachel Carson

Which is the best comparison of the tone in these passages?

Both passages have a dark, frightening tone.
Both passages have a somber tone, but the second is more somber.
While the first passage has a dark, horrifying tone, the tone of the second is much lighter.
While the first passage has a negative tone, the second has an even more negative tone.