13
QuizMultiple Choice

Heritage and Multicultural American Identities — Test

Question 13 • TPS EdX English Language Arts 11

Read the excerpt from Leslie Marmon Silko’s story "The Man to Send Rain Clouds." His fingers were stiff, and it took him a long time to twist the lid off the holy water. Drops of water fell on the red blanket and soaked into dark icy spots. He sprinkled the grave and the water disappeared almost before it touched the dim, cold sand; it reminded him of something—he tried to remember what it was, because he thought if he could remember he might understand this. He sprinkled more water; he shook the container until it was empty, and the water fell through the light from sundown like August rain that fell while the sun was still shining, almost evaporating before it touched the wilted squash flowers. What inference can be made about Father Paul’s motives for going with Leon to sprinkle holy water on Teofilo’s grave?

Answer
A
He is curious about the funeral customs of the Pueblo people.
B
He hopes that Teofilo’s family will allow him to hold a funeral Mass.
C
He is performing last rites for Teofilo without the knowledge of Teofilo’s family.
D
He hopes to integrate his beliefs into theirs as much as possible.

Explanation

Father Paul goes with Leon and sprinkles holy water at Teofilo’s grave, joining a Pueblo funeral ritual rather than insisting on a separate Catholic ceremony. The comparison to August rain suggests he is beginning to understand how the water can fit the family’s beliefs about bringing rain. This supports the inference that he hopes to integrate his beliefs with theirs as much as possible.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.

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