Question

Read the excerpt from Part 2 of “To Build a Fire.”

As the twilight drew on, its eager yearning for the fire mastered it, and with a great lifting and shifting of forefeet, it whined softly, then flattened out its ears down in anticipation of being chidden by the man. But the man remained silent. Later, the dog whined loudly. And still later it crept close to the man and caught the scent of death. This made the animal bristle and back away. A little longer it delayed, howling under the stars that leaped and danced and shone brightly in the cold sky. Then it turned and trotted up the trail in the direction of the camp it knew, where were the other food providers and fire providers.

Which statement about this excerpt is correct?

This excerpt is part of the conflict resolution. It expresses the theme that death is part of the life cycle and must be faced with dignity.
This excerpt is part of the rising action. It expresses the theme that death is part of the life cycle and must be faced with dignity.
This excerpt is part of the conflict resolution. It expresses the theme that animals are better prepared to survive nature’s elements than humans.
This excerpt is part of the rising action. It expresses the theme that animals are better able to survive nature’s elements than humans.

Answer 1

Correct answer: "This excerpt is part of the conflict resolution. It expresses the theme that animals are better prepared to survive nature’s elements than humans."

Reason: The passage occurs after the man's death (the central conflict is resolved), and the dog's calm, instinctive reaction — leaving to find the camp — contrasts with the man's failure to survive, highlighting the story’s theme that animals, guided by instinct, are better adapted to the harsh natural environment.