The water is warm too, for it has slipped twinkling over the yellow sands in the sunlight before reaching
the narrow pool. On one side of the river the golden foothill slopes curve up to the strong and rocky
Gabilan Mountains, but on the valley side the water is lined with trees- willows fresh and green with
5 every spring, carrying in their lower leaf junctures the debris of the winter's flooding; and sycamores
with mottled, white, recumbent limbs and branches that arch over the pool. On the sandy bank under
the trees the leaves lie deep and so crisp that a lizard makes a great skittering if he runs among them.
Rabbits come out of the brush to sit on the sand in the evening, and the damp flats are covered with the
night tracks of 'coons, and with the spread pads of dogs from the ranches, and with the split-wedge tracks
10 of deer that come to drink in the dark.
There is a path through the willows and among the sycamores, a path beaten hard by boys coming down
from the ranches to swim in the deep pool, and beaten hard by tramps who come wearily down from the
highway in the evening to jungle-up near water. In front of the low horizontal limb of a giant sycamore
there is an ash pile made by many fires; the limb is worn smooth by men who have sat on it.
15 Evening of a hot day started the little wind to moving among the leaves. The shade climbed up the hills
toward the top. On the sand banks the rabbits sat as quietly as little gray sculptured stones. And then
from the direction of the state highway came the sound of footsteps on crisp sycamore leaves. The
rabbits hurried noiselessly for cover. A stilted heron labored up into the air and pounded down river. For
a moment the place was lifeless, and then two men emerged from the path and came into the opening
20 by the green pool.
They had walked in single file down the path, and even in the open one stayed behind the other. Both
were dressed in denim trousers and in denim coats with brass buttons. Both wore black, shapeless hats
and both carried tight blanket rolls slung over their shoulders. The first man was small and quick, dark of
face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong features. Every part of him was defined: small, strong hands,
25 slender arms, a thin and bony nose. Behind him walked his opposite, a huge man, shapeless of face, with
large, pale eyes, and wide, sloping shoulders; and he walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a
bear drags his paws. His arms did not swing at his sides, but hung loosely.
The first man stopped short in the clearing, and the follower nearly ran over him. He took off his hat and
wiped the sweat-band with his forefinger and snapped the moisture off. His huge companion dropped his
30 blankets and flung himself down and drank from the surface of the green pool; drank with long gulps,
snorting into the water like a horse. The small man stepped nervously beside him "Lennie!" he said sharply. "Lennie, for God' sakes don't drink so much." Lennie continued to snort into the
pool. The small man leaned over and shook him by the shoulder. "Lennie. You gonna be sick like you was
last night."
Lennie dipped his whole head under, hat and all, and then he sat up on the bank and his hat dripped down
on his blue coat and ran down his back. "That's good," he said. "You drink some, George. You take a good
big drink." He smiled happily.
George unslung his bindle and dropped it gently on the bank. "I ain't sure it's good water," he said. "Looks
kinda scummy." Lennie dipped his whole head under, hat and all, and then he sat up on the bank and his hat dripped down
on his blue coat and ran down his back. "That's good," he said. "You drink some, George. You take a good
big drink." He smiled happily.
George unslung his bindle and dropped it gently on the bank. "I ain't sure it's good water," he said. "Looks
kinda scummy." As revealed in the passage, the part of the river that Lennie and
George have happened upon is
A remote from human activity.
B almost dried up from drought.
C pristine wilderness.
D a popular spot.
1 answer
The passage describes a setting that includes evidence of human activity, such as the presence of paths beaten hard by boys and tramps, an ash pile made by many fires, and the tracks of various animals, including pets from nearby ranches. This indicates that the area is frequented by people. Therefore, the best answer is:
D a popular spot.
