Lesson 4: Chapter 2- The Law of Club and Fang

Question

Write the letter of the correct answer in the blank before each question or highlight the correct answer.

________ 1. On his first day on the Dyea beach, Buck found that the men and dogs were all savages who
(A) were thieves and murderers with no consciences,
(B) knew no law but the law of club and fang,
(C) wouldn’t hesitate to kill a dog showing fear.

________ 2. The husky dog that Curly made advances to in her friendly way
(A) leaped at her and ripped her face open from eye to jaw,
(B) snarled and barked viciously, attracting the attention of the rest of the dogs on the beach,
(C) cowered, because she was twice his size.

________ 3. Curly was attacked and savagely killed by thirty or forty huskies that surrounded her when
(A) she had her opponent on the ground with her teeth in his throat,
(B) the dog she was fighting with knocked her off her feet,
(C) she tried to run from the animal that was attacking her.

________ 4. Curly’s death taught Buck that
(A) each fight was to the death, and running from it guaranteed a quick end,
(B) the pack always ridded itself of its weakest members with no mercy,
(C) there was no fair play, and once you were down, that was the end of you.

________ 5. Buck felt a bitter and deathless hatred for Spitz when he saw the dog
(A) run out his scarlet tongue in a way he had of laughing after the dog fight that ended Curly’s life,
(B) continue to rip at Curly’s lifeless body after the fight was over and François had driven the other dogs away,
(C) render the last snarling bite that ended Curly’s life.

________ 6. When the two huskies Billee and Joe were added to Perrault’s team, the dog Spitz
(A) accepted both of them immediately as equals and teammates,
(B) brutally attacked both of them causing them to cry in appeasement,
(C) bit Billee and drove him to the confines of the camp, but Joe faced Spitz’s attacks with snarling and diabolically gleaming eyes.

________ 7. When Buck tried to enter the tent to sleep, both Perrault and François
(A) drove him back out into the cold,
(B) allowed him to curl up in a back corner near some wooden crates,
(C) ignored his presence, but Spitz drove him back outside.

________ 8. Buck learned from his team-mate Billee that dogs slept warmly in the cold by
(A) digging and curling up in a hole that filled with their own body heat,
(B) positioning themselves side-by-side against a tent or some other structure,
(C) curling up on the sheltered side of a barrel or any object located on the ground.

________ 9. Perrault was gladdened by the possession of Buck because he
(A) could see that the dog had more strength than the ordinary dog for pulling heavy loads,
(B) was anxious to secure the best dogs for his job as courier of important dispatches for the Canadian Government,
(C) had been having a string of bad luck with dogs that were not able to adjust to the cold.

________ 10. Buck was surprised at the eagerness of the team and
(A) the manner in which Perrault managed to communicate to all nine dogs,
(B) the change in Dave and Sol-leks who became alert and active and seemed to take delight in their work,
(C) the speed at which they could travel as if they were one dog.

________ 11. Buck was purposely placed between Dave and Sol-leks so that they could teach him, and he
(A) found himself bitten and whipped with almost every step,
(B) was so intimidated by their presence that he made many mistakes,
(C) found it better to heed their instruction that to retaliate against their sharp teeth and François’s whip.

________ 12. Buck learned that he must eat quickly or be robbed of his unfinished ration, and by watching and learning he managed to
(A) keep the other dogs away from his food,
(B) steal a whole chunk of bacon when Perrault’s back was turned,
(C) catch an occasional mouse or rat.

________ 13. Which of the following was NOT part of Buck’s rapid decivilization?
(A) He grew callous to ordinary pain and he could eat anything,
(B) He could hear and know the meaning of the faintest sound,
(C) He lost all memories of his former life on Judge Miller’s estate.

________ 14. As a changed animal, Buck’s most conspicuous trait was an ability to
(A) scent the wind and forecast the way it would blow,
(B) scent moving water deep under the ice and snow,
(C) cunningly steal food from men and other dogs.

________ 15. On the still cold nights when Buck pointed his nose at a star and howled long and wolflike,
(A) he was mourning the passing of his old life and the brutal life he had been forced into,
(B) it was the instincts of his ancestors coming down through the centuries and through him,
(C) he was expressing the strength he felt in his soul.

Answer 1

________ 1. On his first day on the Dyea beach, Buck found that the men and dogs were all savages who
(B) knew no law but the law of club and fang.

________ 2. The husky dog that Curly made advances to in her friendly way
(A) leaped at her and ripped her face open from eye to jaw.

________ 3. Curly was attacked and savagely killed by thirty or forty huskies that surrounded her when
(B) the dog she was fighting with knocked her off her feet.

________ 4. Curly’s death taught Buck that
(C) there was no fair play, and once you were down, that was the end of you.

________ 5. Buck felt a bitter and deathless hatred for Spitz when he saw the dog
(A) run out his scarlet tongue in a way he had of laughing after the dog fight that ended Curly’s life.

________ 6. When the two huskies Billee and Joe were added to Perrault’s team, the dog Spitz
(C) bit Billee and drove him to the confines of the camp, but Joe faced Spitz’s attacks with snarling and diabolically gleaming eyes.

________ 7. When Buck tried to enter the tent to sleep, both Perrault and François
(B) allowed him to curl up in a back corner near some wooden crates.

________ 8. Buck learned from his team-mate Billee that dogs slept warmly in the cold by
(A) digging and curling up in a hole that filled with their own body heat.

________ 9. Perrault was gladdened by the possession of Buck because he
(B) was anxious to secure the best dogs for his job as courier of important dispatches for the Canadian Government.

________ 10. Buck was surprised at the eagerness of the team and
(B) the change in Dave and Sol-leks who became alert and active and seemed to take delight in their work.

________ 11. Buck was purposely placed between Dave and Sol-leks so that they could teach him, and he
(C) found it better to heed their instruction than to retaliate against their sharp teeth and François’s whip.

________ 12. Buck learned that he must eat quickly or be robbed of his unfinished ration, and by watching and learning he managed to
(A) keep the other dogs away from his food.

________ 13. Which of the following was NOT part of Buck’s rapid decivilization?
(C) He lost all memories of his former life on Judge Miller’s estate.

________ 14. As a changed animal, Buck’s most conspicuous trait was an ability to
(B) scent moving water deep under the ice and snow.

________ 15. On the still cold nights when Buck pointed his nose at a star and howled long and wolflike,
(B) it was the instincts of his ancestors coming down through the centuries and through him.