Question
“But the animal, General Zaroff?”
“Oh,” said the general, “it supplies me with the most exciting hunting in the world. No other hunting compares with it for an instant. Every day I hunt, and I never grow bored now, for I have a quarry with which I can match my wits.”
Rainsford’s bewilderment showed in his face.
“I wanted the ideal animal to hunt,” explained the general. “So I said: ‘What are the attributes of an ideal quarry?’ And the answer was, of course, ‘It must have courage, cunning, and, above all, it must be able to reason.”’
“But no animal can reason,” objected Rainsford.
“My dear fellow,” said the general, “there is one that can.”
“But you can’t mean—” gasped Rainsford.
“And why not?”
“I can’t believe you are serious, General Zaroff. This is a grisly joke.”
“Why should I not be serious? I am speaking of hunting.”
“Hunting? Good God, General Zaroff, what you speak of is murder.”
The general laughed with entire good nature. He regarded Rainsford quizzically. “I refuse to believe that so modern and civilized a young man as you harbors romantic ideas about the value of human life. Surely your experiences in the war—”
“Did not make me condone cold-blooded murder,” finished Rainsford stiffly.
Laughter shook the general. “How extraordinarily droll you are!” he said. “One does not expect nowadays to find a young man of the educated class, even in America, with such a naïve, and, if I may say so, mid-Victorian point of view. It’s like finding a snuffbox in a limousine. Ah, well, doubtless you had Puritan ancestors. So many Americans appear to have had. I’ll wager you’ll forget your notions when you go hunting with me. You’ve a genuine new thrill in store for you, Mr. Rainsford.”
“Thank you, I’m a hunter, not a murderer.”
“Dear me,” said the general, quite unruffled, “again that unpleasant word. But I think I can show you that your scruples are quite unfounded.”
“Yes?”
“Life is for the strong, to be lived by the strong, and, if needs be, taken by the strong. The weak of the world were put here to give the strong pleasure. I am strong. Why should I not use my gift? If I wish to hunt, why should I not? I hunt the scum of the earth: sailors from tramp ships—lascars, blacks, Chinese, whites, mongrels—a thoroughbred horse or hound is worth more than a score of them.”
“But they are men,” said Rainsford hotly.
“Precisely,” said the general. “That is why I use them. It gives me pleasure. They can reason, after a fashion. So they are dangerous.”
“But where do you get them?”
The general’s left eyelid fluttered down in a wink. “This island is called Ship Trap,” he answered. “Sometimes an angry god of the high seas sends them to me. Sometimes, when Providence is not so kind, I help Providence a bit....
Question 1
Part A
What does the interaction between the hunters reveal about Zaroff’s attitude toward Rainsford?
Responses
He views Rainsford’s moral stance as misguided and uninformed.
He views Rainsford’s moral stance as misguided and uninformed.
He thinks of Rainsford as a worthy opponent.
He thinks of Rainsford as a worthy opponent.
He believes Rainsford’s views of life and death are insincere.
He believes Rainsford’s views of life and death are insincere.
He finds what Rainsford says to be humorous.
He finds what Rainsford says to be humorous.
Question 2
Part B
How does Zaroff’s attitude advance the plot of this passage?
Responses
Since Zaroff enjoys conversation with Rainsford, he uses it to analyze his enemy.
Since Zaroff enjoys conversation with Rainsford, he uses it to analyze his enemy.
Because Zaroff devalues life, he is bored with his own life.
Because Zaroff devalues life, he is bored with his own life.
Because Zaroff is intelligent, he tries to be a master of men.
Because Zaroff is intelligent, he tries to be a master of men.
Since Zaroff sees Rainsford as sentimental, he misjudges him as an opponent.
“Oh,” said the general, “it supplies me with the most exciting hunting in the world. No other hunting compares with it for an instant. Every day I hunt, and I never grow bored now, for I have a quarry with which I can match my wits.”
Rainsford’s bewilderment showed in his face.
“I wanted the ideal animal to hunt,” explained the general. “So I said: ‘What are the attributes of an ideal quarry?’ And the answer was, of course, ‘It must have courage, cunning, and, above all, it must be able to reason.”’
“But no animal can reason,” objected Rainsford.
“My dear fellow,” said the general, “there is one that can.”
“But you can’t mean—” gasped Rainsford.
“And why not?”
“I can’t believe you are serious, General Zaroff. This is a grisly joke.”
“Why should I not be serious? I am speaking of hunting.”
“Hunting? Good God, General Zaroff, what you speak of is murder.”
The general laughed with entire good nature. He regarded Rainsford quizzically. “I refuse to believe that so modern and civilized a young man as you harbors romantic ideas about the value of human life. Surely your experiences in the war—”
“Did not make me condone cold-blooded murder,” finished Rainsford stiffly.
Laughter shook the general. “How extraordinarily droll you are!” he said. “One does not expect nowadays to find a young man of the educated class, even in America, with such a naïve, and, if I may say so, mid-Victorian point of view. It’s like finding a snuffbox in a limousine. Ah, well, doubtless you had Puritan ancestors. So many Americans appear to have had. I’ll wager you’ll forget your notions when you go hunting with me. You’ve a genuine new thrill in store for you, Mr. Rainsford.”
“Thank you, I’m a hunter, not a murderer.”
“Dear me,” said the general, quite unruffled, “again that unpleasant word. But I think I can show you that your scruples are quite unfounded.”
“Yes?”
“Life is for the strong, to be lived by the strong, and, if needs be, taken by the strong. The weak of the world were put here to give the strong pleasure. I am strong. Why should I not use my gift? If I wish to hunt, why should I not? I hunt the scum of the earth: sailors from tramp ships—lascars, blacks, Chinese, whites, mongrels—a thoroughbred horse or hound is worth more than a score of them.”
“But they are men,” said Rainsford hotly.
“Precisely,” said the general. “That is why I use them. It gives me pleasure. They can reason, after a fashion. So they are dangerous.”
“But where do you get them?”
The general’s left eyelid fluttered down in a wink. “This island is called Ship Trap,” he answered. “Sometimes an angry god of the high seas sends them to me. Sometimes, when Providence is not so kind, I help Providence a bit....
Question 1
Part A
What does the interaction between the hunters reveal about Zaroff’s attitude toward Rainsford?
Responses
He views Rainsford’s moral stance as misguided and uninformed.
He views Rainsford’s moral stance as misguided and uninformed.
He thinks of Rainsford as a worthy opponent.
He thinks of Rainsford as a worthy opponent.
He believes Rainsford’s views of life and death are insincere.
He believes Rainsford’s views of life and death are insincere.
He finds what Rainsford says to be humorous.
He finds what Rainsford says to be humorous.
Question 2
Part B
How does Zaroff’s attitude advance the plot of this passage?
Responses
Since Zaroff enjoys conversation with Rainsford, he uses it to analyze his enemy.
Since Zaroff enjoys conversation with Rainsford, he uses it to analyze his enemy.
Because Zaroff devalues life, he is bored with his own life.
Because Zaroff devalues life, he is bored with his own life.
Because Zaroff is intelligent, he tries to be a master of men.
Because Zaroff is intelligent, he tries to be a master of men.
Since Zaroff sees Rainsford as sentimental, he misjudges him as an opponent.
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
### Question 1
**Part A**
The correct response is: **He views Rainsford’s moral stance as misguided and uninformed.**
Zaroff’s dialogue suggests he sees Rainsford’s objections to hunting humans as overly sentimental and indicative of a naïve perspective, which he finds amusing or quaint. He appears to underestimate Rainsford’s understanding of morality and ethics.
### Question 2
**Part B**
The correct response is: **Since Zaroff sees Rainsford as sentimental, he misjudges him as an opponent.**
Zaroff seems to dismiss Rainsford's protests and moral objections, believing that Rainsford will eventually come to understand and even enjoy the thrill of his hunting game. This misjudgment plays a critical role in the plot as it sets the stage for the conflict between them and indicates that Zaroff is underestimating Rainsford’s skills and determination.
**Part A**
The correct response is: **He views Rainsford’s moral stance as misguided and uninformed.**
Zaroff’s dialogue suggests he sees Rainsford’s objections to hunting humans as overly sentimental and indicative of a naïve perspective, which he finds amusing or quaint. He appears to underestimate Rainsford’s understanding of morality and ethics.
### Question 2
**Part B**
The correct response is: **Since Zaroff sees Rainsford as sentimental, he misjudges him as an opponent.**
Zaroff seems to dismiss Rainsford's protests and moral objections, believing that Rainsford will eventually come to understand and even enjoy the thrill of his hunting game. This misjudgment plays a critical role in the plot as it sets the stage for the conflict between them and indicates that Zaroff is underestimating Rainsford’s skills and determination.