Question

Read the excerpt from White Fang. "Kiche!" the man cried again, this time with sharpness and authority. And then the cub saw his mother, the she-wolf, the fearless one, crouching down till her belly touched the ground, whimpering, wagging her tail, making peace signs. The cub could not understand. He was appalled. The awe of man rushed over him again. His instinct had been true. His mother verified it. She, too, rendered submission to the man-animals. Which best states the perspective of White Fang in the excerpt? A: She is preparing to attack the man to show her authority

Answer 1

This question is missing the options. I've found them online. Since the excerpt is the same, I will omit it:

Which best states the perspective of White Fang's mother in the excerpt?

A. She is preparing to attack the man to show her authority.

B. She is puzzled by her cub's actions in front of the man.

C. She is confused about how she should act in front of  the man.

D. She is hoping to please the man by showing her obedience.

Answer:

The option which best states the perspective of White Fang's mother in this excerpt is:

C. She is confused about how she should act in front of  the man.

Explanation:

"White Fang" is a novel by author Jack London.

This is a tricky question, especially if we do not know what happens previously in the story. If we only read this particular excerpt and try to answer based on it, we will most likely choose letter D. However, that should not be the case. Take a look at how White Fang's mother acts in the previous paragraph:

She bounded in amongst them, her anxious and militant motherhood making her anything but a pretty sight. But to the cub the spectacle of her protective rage was pleasing. He uttered a glad little cry and bounded to meet her, while the man-animals went back hastily several steps. The she-wolf stood over against her cub, facing the men, with bristling hair, a snarl rumbling deep in her throat. Her face was distorted and malignant with menace, even the bridge of the nose wrinkling from tip to eyes so prodigious was her snarl.

White Fang's mother is confused and unsure about how to act. At first, she seems vicious, ready to attack the men to protect her cub. However, once a man yells "Kiche" with an imperative tone of voice, she changes her mind and acts submissively, which confuses White Fang. She is not necessarily trying to please the man. She is merely responding to his authority. She went from being enraged to being afraid, since the man's actions confused her. Therefore, the best option is letter C. She is confused about how she should act in front of  the man.