AnswersRS AZ-English Language Arts 10 B"By the Waters of Babylon," Part 2: Analyzing Theme

"By the Waters of Babylon," Part 2: Analyzing Theme Answers

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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.

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.
2
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Read the passage from "By the Waters of Babylon.”Why should I lie about it? I am a priest and the son of a priest. If there are spirits, as they say, in the small Dead Places near us, what spirits must there not be in that great Place of the Gods? And would not they wish to speak? After such long years? I know that I felt myself drawn as a fish is drawn on a line. I had stepped out of my body—I could see my body asleep in front of the cold fire, but it was not I. I was drawn to look out upon the city of the gods.

A
Sons must try to follow their fathers.
B
Men strive to speak to the spirit world.
C
Maturity is a result of being courageous.
D
Spiritual experiences can lead to greater understanding.
3

Which resolutions connect to the theme that real friends will usually do the right thing? Select two options.

A
Amaya passes the most difficult test with the help of Keiko’s notes.
B
Keiko confronts Amaya directly, which leads to Amaya apologizing.
C
Amaya hands the papers back to Keiko and promises to tell the teacher.
D
Keiko catches Amaya in the act, but Amaya denies any wrongdoing.
E
Amaya blames Keiko for making it hard to live up to Keiko’s reputation.
4

How do conflicts throughout a story most affect the plot?

A
Conflicts help describe settings and characters in great detail.
B
Conflicts are a way to share characters’ thoughts and feelings.
C
Conflicts are used to introduce the resolution of the story.
D
Conflicts lead to more plot events as well as character reactions.
5

Read the passage from "By the Waters of Babylon.”That is all of my story, for then I knew he was a man—I knew then that they had been men, neither gods nor demons. It is a great knowledge, hard to tell and believe. They were men—they went a dark road, but they were men. I had no fear after that—I had no fear going home, though twice I fought off the dogs and once I was hunted for two days by the Forest People. When I saw my father again, I prayed and was purified. He touched my lips and my breast, he said, "You went away a boy. You come back a man and a priest." I said, "Father, they were men! I have been in the Place of the Gods and seen it! Now slay me, if it is the law—but still I know they were men."

A
The dialogue supports the theme that wisdom comes from obeying one’s parents, because it shows how the narrator has followed the same path as his father.
B
The dialogue supports the theme that only the fittest survive, because it details how the narrator avoids being killed by the Forest People.
C
The dialogue supports the theme that knowledge is gained by taking risks, because it illustrates that the narrator makes a discovery by breaking the rules.
D
The dialogue supports the theme that learning the truth is not always easy, because it highlights that the narrator is upset by the idea that the gods were men.

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