Question 9 • CMS 2025-2026 English I CREDIT RECOVERY
Read the passage from "The Beginnings of the Maasai.” Our relationship with Enkai is essential to the tribe. Enkai is neither male nor female. The sky god is powerful, but can change from nurturing to vengeful depending on our behavior. Sometimes Enkai is Enkai Narok, the Black God, happy with us and blanketing the sky with dark clouds that pour out rain to nourish the plains. When angry, though, Enkai becomes Enkai Nonyokie—the Red God. In these times, the sun grows incredibly hot until the earth dries up and becomes barren. Because of this, we work to keep Enkai happy. Why is this excerpt a good example of a feature often found in a myth?
Answer
A
It features a reference to a supernatural being.
B
It features a reference to the origin of the tribe.
C
It features a reference to the earth.
D
It features a reference to the sky.
Explanation
Myths often include supernatural beings with powers beyond those of ordinary people. In the excerpt, Enkai is a powerful sky god who can change the weather and affect whether the land receives rain or becomes barren. This makes “a reference to a supernatural being” the best answer; references to the sky and earth alone are not as specific to a common feature of myths.
AI-written and checked against the verified answer.