"By the Waters of Babylon," Part 2: Analyzing Theme
Question 7 • ELA 10B - 2023
Read the passage from "By the Waters of Babylon.”When I woke, the sun was low. Looking down from where I lay, I saw a dog sitting on his haunches. His tongue was hanging out of his mouth; he looked as if he were laughing. He was a big dog, with a gray-brown coat, as big as a wolf. I sprang up and shouted at him but he did not move—he just sat there as if he were laughing. I did not like that. When I reached for a stone to throw, he moved swiftly out of the way of the stone. He was not afraid of me; he looked at me as if I were meat. No doubt I could have killed him with an arrow, but I did not know if there were others. Moreover, night was falling.
Answer
A
The narrator expresses sympathy toward the coyote because of its living situation.
B
The narrator feels embarrassed because the coyote seems to be mocking him.
C
The narrator remains calm and levelheaded as he tries to flee from the coyote.
D
The narrator becomes paranoid and fearful of the coyote as he considers how to protect himself.