Understanding Mythology in Black Ships Before Troy
Question 2 • CR Language Arts 1 (Semester 2) Summer 2026
Read this excerpt from “The Myth of Hercules.”Hercules was the son of the great god Zeus and a human woman named Alcmene. The goddess Hera did not like Alcmene and vowed to destroy Hercules when he was born. Hera sent two snakes to kill the baby as he lay in his crib, but Hercules was strong and strangled the snakes with his tiny hands before they could bite him with their sharp fangs.
Answer
A
Knowing that Hercules was born with superior strength explains why he is able to overcome great obstacles.
B
Knowing that Hercules strangled two snakes shows the reader that Hercules has a cruel nature.
C
Knowing that Hercules was born with superior strength explains why Hera wants to kill him as a baby.
D
Knowing that a goddess wants to destroy Hercules shows the reader that Hercules will fail to accomplish his goals.
Explanation
Hercules defeats the snakes while he is still a baby, showing that he has extraordinary strength from birth. This detail helps explain how he can overcome difficult challenges later. The excerpt says Hera wants to destroy him because she dislikes his mother, not because of his strength, and defeating the snakes does not show that Hercules is cruel.
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