Read the excerpt from Gilgamesh: A New English Version . Gilgamesh, hearing his beloved friend, came to himself. He yelled, he lifted his massive axe, he swung it, it tore into Humbaba’s neck, the blood shot out, again the axe bit flesh and bone, the monster staggered, his eyes rolled, and at the axe’s third stroke he toppled like a cedar and crashed to the ground. At his death-roar the mountains of Lebanon shook, the valleys ran with his blood, for ten miles the forest resounded. Then the two friends sliced him open, pulled out his intestines, cut off his head with its knife-sharp teeth and horrible bloodshot staring eyes. Which statement best paraphrases evidence to support the conclusion that Gilgamesh is a fierce warrior?
Answer
A
After attacking and killing Humbaba with his axe, Gilgamesh assists in slicing him open, removing his intestines, and cutting off his head.
B
Humbaba is so terrified of Gilgamesh that he lets out a “death-roar” that makes the mountains of Lebanon shake.
C
Humbaba is so wounded that he staggers around before crashing to the ground like a falling cedar tree.
D
After hearing Enkidu’s encouraging words, Gilgamesh feels like himself again and begins to yell and swing his axe.
Explanation
The excerpt shows Gilgamesh as fierce through both his attack and what he does afterward: he kills Humbaba with his axe, then helps slice the monster open, remove his intestines, and cut off his head. Choice C includes these actions and best supports the conclusion that Gilgamesh is a fierce warrior. Choice A focuses on Humbaba’s defeat rather than Gilgamesh’s actions.
AI-written and checked against the verified answer.