Question
A horseman in the sky: after firing his shot, Private Carter Druse reloaded his life and resumed his watch. Ten minute had hardly passed when a federal sergeant crept cautiously to him on hands and knees. Druse neither turned his head nor looked at him, but lay without motion or sign of recognition. Did you fire, the sergeant whispered. Yes. At what. A horse. It was standing on yonder rock-pretty far out. You see it is no longer there, it went over the cliff. The man’s face was white but he showed no other sign of emotion. Having answered, he turned away his eyes and said no more. The sergeant did not understand. See here Druse, he said, after a moments silence, it’s no use making a mystery. I order you to report. Was there anybody on that horse. Yes. Well. My father. The sergeant rose to his feet and walked away. Good god he said.
Passage 2: the long flames sang their drumming chorus in voices of the heaviest bass. The wind whirled clouds of smoke and cinders into the faces of spectators. The form of the old barn was outlined in black amid these masses of orange hued flames. And then came this Swede again, crying as one who is the weapon of the sinister fates: De Colts, De Colts, you have forgot De Colts! Old Fleming staggered. It was true: they had forgotten the two colts in the box stalls at the back of the barn. Boys, he said, I must try to get em out. They clamored about him then, afraid for him, afraid of what they should see. Then they talked wildly each to each. Why, it’s sure death! He would never get out! Why it’s suicide for a man to go in there! Old Fleming stared absent mindedly at the open doors. The poor little things! He said. He rushed into the barn. When the roof fell in, a great funnel of smoke swarmed toward the sky, as if the old man’s might sprit, relaxed from its body—a little bottle—had swelled like the Henie of a fable. The smoke was tinted rose hue from the flames, and perhaps the unutterable midnights of the universe will have no power to daunt the color of this soul.
Both passages develop themes that:
A. The most important lesson soldiers learn is to protect the innocent
B. An honorable person protects all living things
C. Scouting out of a sense of duty can come at a great personal cost
D. Going against a parents wishes can lead to disaster
Passage 2: the long flames sang their drumming chorus in voices of the heaviest bass. The wind whirled clouds of smoke and cinders into the faces of spectators. The form of the old barn was outlined in black amid these masses of orange hued flames. And then came this Swede again, crying as one who is the weapon of the sinister fates: De Colts, De Colts, you have forgot De Colts! Old Fleming staggered. It was true: they had forgotten the two colts in the box stalls at the back of the barn. Boys, he said, I must try to get em out. They clamored about him then, afraid for him, afraid of what they should see. Then they talked wildly each to each. Why, it’s sure death! He would never get out! Why it’s suicide for a man to go in there! Old Fleming stared absent mindedly at the open doors. The poor little things! He said. He rushed into the barn. When the roof fell in, a great funnel of smoke swarmed toward the sky, as if the old man’s might sprit, relaxed from its body—a little bottle—had swelled like the Henie of a fable. The smoke was tinted rose hue from the flames, and perhaps the unutterable midnights of the universe will have no power to daunt the color of this soul.
Both passages develop themes that:
A. The most important lesson soldiers learn is to protect the innocent
B. An honorable person protects all living things
C. Scouting out of a sense of duty can come at a great personal cost
D. Going against a parents wishes can lead to disaster
Answers
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GPT-4o mini
Both passages develop themes that are best represented by:
**C. Scouting out of a sense of duty can come at a great personal cost.**
In Passage 1, Private Carter Druse is torn between his duty as a soldier and the emotional cost of shooting at a horse that carries his own father. His action shows the heavy burden that comes with loyalty to duty, resulting in a great personal loss.
In Passage 2, Old Fleming risks his life to save the colts from a burning barn, demonstrating that his sense of duty to protect the innocent (the colts) comes at a potential personal cost to himself (death in the fire). Both passages illustrate how the characters' sense of duty to their responsibilities leads them to face significant personal risks and moral dilemmas.
**C. Scouting out of a sense of duty can come at a great personal cost.**
In Passage 1, Private Carter Druse is torn between his duty as a soldier and the emotional cost of shooting at a horse that carries his own father. His action shows the heavy burden that comes with loyalty to duty, resulting in a great personal loss.
In Passage 2, Old Fleming risks his life to save the colts from a burning barn, demonstrating that his sense of duty to protect the innocent (the colts) comes at a potential personal cost to himself (death in the fire). Both passages illustrate how the characters' sense of duty to their responsibilities leads them to face significant personal risks and moral dilemmas.
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