Read the following excerpt from Leslie Marmon Silko’s story "The Man to Send Rain Clouds."Before they wrapped the old man, Leon took a piece of string out of his pocket and tied a small gray feather in the old man's long white hair. Ken gave him the paint. Across the brown wrinkled forehead he drew a streak of white and along the high cheekbones he drew a strip of blue paint. He paused and watched Ken throw pinches of corn meal and pollen into the wind that fluttered the small gray feather. Then Leon painted with yellow under the old man's broad nose, and finally, when he had painted green across the chin, he smiled.The actions of Leon and Ken indicate that
Answer
A
they are overwhelmed with grief at the old man’s death.
B
they still value the traditional beliefs of the Pueblo people.
C
they did not care much for the deceased man.
D
they have abandoned the traditional practices of the Pueblo.
Explanation
Leon ties a feather into the old man’s hair and paints his face, while Ken scatters corn meal and pollen—actions associated with traditional Pueblo burial practices. Their careful participation shows that they continue to honor their cultural beliefs and customs. The excerpt focuses on these rituals, not on being overwhelmed with grief or abandoning tradition.
AI-written and checked against the verified answer.