Question

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Explanation:

Analyze the passage details

Using the Textual Evidence Analysis knowledge point, we examine the excerpt from The Quest of the Silver Fleece by W. E. B. Du Bois. The text describes a boy traveling alone at night through a swampy, wooded area. He drops his heavy bundle to listen to the sounds around him, including the crickets and a distant "eager hum of human voices, as of some great, swelling music." He feels lonely and reflects on his family who are far away.

Evaluate the options

We compare the key narrative events described in the passage with the four multiple-choice options:

• Option 1: Mentions a boy drawn to music who drops his bundle with all his possessions to listen better, sees a girl and watches her dance, and is pursued by men in the woods.
• Option 2: Mentions a boy who enjoys adventure, sees a girl singing and dancing, is too afraid to approach her, sleeps, gets attacked by men, and is found by the girl.
• Option 3: Mentions a boy traveling alone who encounters interesting musical tones and a girl dancing, hears strange voices before falling asleep, and wonders if it was a dream when he wakes up.
• Option 4: Mentions a boy traveling alone who stops at a ragged cabin, drawn by music and warmth of a fire, meets a girl who likes to dance, but leaves because he is afraid of the dark.

Identify the correct summary

In the full context of this famous opening excerpt from The Quest of the Silver Fleece, the boy (Bynum) is drawn through the swamp by the sound of distant music and the warmth of a fire light. He comes upon a ragged cabin where he sees a girl (Zora) dancing. He is unable to stay because he is startled/afraid of the dark and the mysterious surroundings, but they meet again later. Thus, Option 4 provides the most accurate objective summary of the complete narrative arc of this introductory passage.

Answer:

• (A) A boy is so drawn to the music that he drops the bundle with all his possessions to the ground to listen better. He sees a girl and watches her dance. Some men attempt to frighten him, but they lose him in the woods.
• (B) A boy who enjoys adventure is traveling through some woods when he sees a girl singing and dancing. He is too afraid to approach her, so he finds a place to sleep. He encounters some men who attack him, but he is able to escape. The girl finds him in the morning.
• (C) A boy is traveling alone and encounters interesting musical tones and a girl dancing. He hears some strange voices before falling asleep. When he awakens the next morning, he is wondering if the events were real or just in his dreams. The girl appears at the end.
• (D) A boy is traveling alone when he stops at a ragged cabin, drawn in by the music and warmth of the fire, and it is there that he meets the girl who likes to dance. He is unable to stay because he is afraid of the dark. He meets up with the girl later. (Correct answer)