"By the Waters of Babylon," Part 2: Analyzing Theme — Quiz
Question 17 • English Language Arts 10
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. How does the narrator react to the conflict in this passage?
Answer
A
The narrator remains calm and levelheaded as he tries to get away from the dog.
B
The narrator expresses sympathy toward the dog because of its living situation.
C
The narrator feels embarrassed because the dog seems to be mocking him.
D
The narrator becomes paranoid and fearful of the dog, so he picks up his arrows.
Explanation
The narrator recognizes that the dog may be dangerous, but he thinks through the risks before acting: he considers killing it with an arrow, wonders whether there are other dogs, and notes that night is falling. These details show caution and levelheadedness rather than panic. A is correct: he remains calm as he responds to the danger. The passage does not say that he picks up his arrows, feels embarrassed, or feels sympathy for the dog.
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