Suddenly, rounding a bend in the Yukon, a faint wail reached [the travelers]. Straining their ears, it was supplemented by other wails, for all the world like the dying agonies of women and children and of strong men. One instant they debated. If this were the famine, as it surely was, they would certainly be torn to pieces in the mad scramble for their grub. They seized their oars in panic terror and made a wild rush for the bank, landing at Klondike City, and even the few men they there met could not convince them that it was only the nocturnal song of the husky.
Which inference can be made based on this passage?
Husky—Wolf Dog of the North
Responses
The huskies' howl had a wild sound because the wolves from the surrounding woods joined in.
The huskies' howl had a wild sound because the wolves from the surrounding woods joined in.
The huskies' typical howl had a frightening sound, but the howl did not mean that anything was wrong.
The huskies' typical howl had a frightening sound, but the howl did not mean that anything was wrong.
The huskies read the humans' emotions and howled in sympathy when the town ran out of food.
The huskies read the humans' emotions and howled in sympathy when the town ran out of food.
The huskies howled because they understood that when the town ran out of food, the humans would eat their dogs.
The huskies howled because they understood that when the town ran out of food, the humans would eat their dogs.
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1 answer
The best inference that can be made based on the passage is:
The huskies' typical howl had a frightening sound, but the howl did not mean that anything was wrong.
This inference accurately reflects the travelers' reaction and the description of the huskies' howling as they mistakenly interpreted the sounds as something threatening. The passage suggests that the travelers were frightened by the howls, thinking it was related to a famine, but it was actually just the huskies singing at night.
