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Coming of Age in That Thing We Call a Heart — Quiz

Question 2 • English Language Arts 10

Read the excerpt from The Red Badge of Courage. In this excerpt, Henry’s regiment is getting ready for their first battle. After a time the brigade was halted in the cathedral light of a forest. The busy skirmishers were still popping. Through the aisles of the wood could be seen the floating smoke from their rifles. Sometimes it went up in little balls, white and compact. During this halt many men in the regiment began erecting tiny hills in front of them. They used stones, sticks, earth, and anything they thought might turn a bullet. Some built comparatively large ones, while others seems content with little ones. This procedure caused a discussion among the men. Some wished to fight like duelists, believing it to be correct to stand erect and be, from their feet to their foreheads, a mark. They said they scorned the devices of the cautious. But the others scoffed in reply, and pointed to the veterans on the flanks who were digging at the ground like terriers. In a short time there was quite a barricade along the regimental fronts. Directly, however, they were ordered to withdraw from that place. Which phrase best explains how the author represents conflicting perspectives in this excerpt?

Answer
A
by describing the natural environment around the soldiers
B
by describing the different locations of the barricades
C
by suggesting the soldiers’ discussion was unnecessary in the end
D
by showing the soldiers’ ideas regarding how they should fight

Explanation

The excerpt presents two opposing views about fighting: some soldiers think they should stand upright and openly face danger, while others favor building barricades for protection. This contrast in the soldiers’ ideas about how they should fight best explains how the author represents conflicting perspectives. Choice C is less accurate because the later order to withdraw does not make the disagreement itself unnecessary.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.

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