Question

read this excerpt from \the world on turtles back.\

the animals thought that perhaps there was dirt at the depths of the ocean, but they had never tried to reach the bottom before. one by one they tried to swim down, but their attempts were futile. finally, the muskrat disappeared into the cold depth of the ocean. after a lengthy amount of time, he drifted to the surface with a tiny speck of earth in his hand. he appeared to be dead, but the animals prayed and chanted, and finally he stirred. the earth - diver was successful in bringing forth the soil to make the earth grow.

which sentence from the excerpt best supports the idea that the muskrat was willing to sacrifice himself for the good of all?

• finally, the muskrat disappeared into the cold depth of the ocean.
• after a lengthy amount of time, he drifted to the surface with a tiny speck of earth in his hand. he appeared to be dead.
• the animals prayed and chanted, and finally he stirred.
• the earth - diver was successful in bringing forth the soil to make the earth grow.

Explanation:

To determine which sentence shows the muskrat's willingness to sacrifice, we analyze each option:

• Option 1: "Finally, the muskrat disappeared into the cold depth of the ocean." The "cold depth" implies danger, and the muskrat going there (after others failed) shows he took a risky, self - sacrificing action for the group's goal of getting dirt.
• Option 2: This describes the result of his action, not the act of sacrifice itself.
• Option 3: This is about the animals' reaction and his recovery, not the sacrifice.
• Option 4: This is about the success of the Earth - Diver (muskrat) in getting the soil, not the sacrifice.

Answer:

A. Finally, the muskrat disappeared into the cold depth of the ocean.