Question

10 will you ever forget that day, athanasia? how the little children came half shyly near the log, fishing, and exchanging furtive whispers and half - concealed glances at the silent couple. their angling was rewarded only by a little black water - moccasin that wriggled and forked its venomous red tongue in an attempt to exercise its death - dealing prerogative. this athanasia insisted must go back into its native black waters, and paid the price the boys asked that it might enjoy its freedom. the children laughed and chattered in their soft patois; the man smiled tenderly upon athanasia, and she durst not look at the reeds as she talked, lest their crescendo sadness yield a foreboding. just then a wee girl appeared, clad in a multi - hued garment, evidently a sister to the small fishermen. her keen black eyes, set in a dusky face, glanced sharply and suspiciously at the group as she clambered over the wet embankment, and it seemed the drizzling mist grew colder, the sobbing wind more pronounced in its prophetic wail. athanasia rose suddenly.
the bayou flows as calmly, as darkly, as full of hidden passions as ever. on a night years after, the moon is shining upon it with a silvery tenderness that seemed brighter, more caressingly lingering than anywhere within the old city. behind, there rise the spires and towers; before, only the reeds, green now, and soft in their rustlings and whisperings for the future. false reeds — they tell themselves of their happiness to be, and it all ends in dry stalks and drizzling skies. the mocking - bird in the fragrant orange grove sends out his night song, and blends it with the cricket’s chirp, as the blossoms of orange and magnolia mingle their perfume with the earthy smell of a summer rain just blown over. perfect in its stillness, absolute in its beauty, tenderly healing in its suggestion of peace, the night in its clear -
assessment questions
question 9
what is the effect of the passage of time between paragraph 10 and paragraph 11?
a. it explains how the bayou has affected the city.
b. it highlights why athanasia has returned to the bayou.
c. it illustrates how little the bayou has changed over time.
d. it emphasizes the uncertainty athanasia faces in the future.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• Option A: The passage doesn't focus on the bayou's effect on the city. Eliminate A.
• Option B: There's no info on why Athanasia returned to the bayou. Eliminate B.
• Option C: Paragraph 10 describes the bayou's scene, and paragraph 11 (years later) says "The bayou flows as calmly, as darkly, as full of hidden passions as ever", showing little change over time. This matches.
• Option D: The passage doesn't emphasize Athanasia's future uncertainty. Eliminate D.

Answer:

C. It illustrates how little the bayou has changed over time.