Question
Sky
by Ambrose Bierce
After firing his shot, Private Carter Druse reloaded his rifle and resumed his watch. Ten minutes 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 moment’s silence, “it’s no use making a mystery. I order you to report. Was there anybody on the horse?”
“Yes.”
“Well?”
“My father.”
The sergeant rose to his feet and walked away. “Good God!” he said.
"A Horseman in the Sky" by Ambrose Bierce
Question
Use the passages to answer the question. Select passage 1 and passage 2.
Both passages develop the theme that
(1 point)
Responses
going against a parent’s wishes can lead to disaster.
going against a parent’s wishes can lead to disaster.
an honorable person protects all living things.
an honorable person protects all living things.
the most important lesson soldiers learn is to protect the innocent.
the most important lesson soldiers learn is to protect the innocent.
acting out of a sense of duty can come at a great personal cost.
acting out of a sense of duty can come at a great personal cost.
by Ambrose Bierce
After firing his shot, Private Carter Druse reloaded his rifle and resumed his watch. Ten minutes 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 moment’s silence, “it’s no use making a mystery. I order you to report. Was there anybody on the horse?”
“Yes.”
“Well?”
“My father.”
The sergeant rose to his feet and walked away. “Good God!” he said.
"A Horseman in the Sky" by Ambrose Bierce
Question
Use the passages to answer the question. Select passage 1 and passage 2.
Both passages develop the theme that
(1 point)
Responses
going against a parent’s wishes can lead to disaster.
going against a parent’s wishes can lead to disaster.
an honorable person protects all living things.
an honorable person protects all living things.
the most important lesson soldiers learn is to protect the innocent.
the most important lesson soldiers learn is to protect the innocent.
acting out of a sense of duty can come at a great personal cost.
acting out of a sense of duty can come at a great personal cost.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The passages develop the theme that **acting out of a sense of duty can come at a great personal cost.** In both excerpts, the characters face the painful consequences of their actions driven by a sense of obligation, highlighting the emotional and moral struggles that arise from such decisions.