Contemporary American Indian Voices

Question 17 • Hopkins FA American Literature (2026-2027)

Which excerpt from "The Man to Send Rain Clouds" best illustrates how Leon’s beliefs differ from those of Father Paul?

Answer

"Well, I'm glad you understand. I hope I'll be seeing you at Mass this week—we missed you last Sunday. See if you can get old Teofilo to come with you." The priest smiled and waved at them as they drove away.

Leon walked toward the old man's bed. The red plaid shawl had been shaken and spread carefully over the bed, and a new brown flannel shirt and pair of stiff new Levi's were arranged neatly beside the pillow.

It was noontime now because the church bells rang the Angelus. They ate the beans with hot bread, and nobody said anything until after Teresa poured the coffee.

Leon turned to look up at the high blue mountains in the deep snow that reflected a faint red light from the west. He felt good because it was finished, and he was happy about the sprinkling of the holy water; now the old man could send them big thunderclouds for sure.

Explanation

Choice D shows Leon connecting the priest’s holy water with his own traditional belief that Teofilo can send rain clouds. Father Paul treats the sprinkling as a Christian religious rite, while Leon sees it as helping the old man bring rain. The other excerpts describe the funeral preparations or ordinary events without showing this difference in beliefs.

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