Read the excerpt from chapter 2 of Animal Farm.

Question

The pigs now revealed that during the past three months they had taught themselves to read and write from an old spelling book which had belonged to Mr. Jones’s children and which had been thrown on the rubbish heap. Napoleon sent for pots of black and white paint and led the way down to the five-barred gate that gave on to the main road. Then Snowball (for it was Snowball who was best at writing) took a brush between the two knuckles of his trotter, painted out MANOR FARM from the top bar of the gate and in its place painted ANIMAL FARM.

How does the passage influence the reader’s interpretation of the text? Select two options.

The text contributes to a feeling of suspense.
The text highlights exciting events to keep the reader’s attention.
The text indicates that the story is moving toward a key event in the text.
The text furthers the plot by explaining how the pigs can read and write.
The text furthers the plot by giving details about Snowball.

Answer 1

The two options that best reflect how the passage influences the reader's interpretation of the text are:

1. The text indicates that the story is moving toward a key event in the text. - The act of changing the name from "MANOR FARM" to "ANIMAL FARM" symbolizes a significant shift in power and identity, marking a key event in the narrative.

2. The text furthers the plot by explaining how the pigs can read and write. - This detail about the pigs teaching themselves to read and write helps the reader understand their growing intelligence and capability, which is critical for the progression of the story and the unfolding of the pigs' leadership dynamics.