Question

read the passage from \by the waters of babylon\.
it is not true what some of the tales say, that the ground
there burns forever, for i have been there. here and
there were the marks and stains of the great burning, on
the ruins, that is true. but they were old marks and old
stains. it is not true either, what some of our priests say,
that it is an island covered with fogs and enchantments.
it is not. it is a great dead place—greater than any dead
place we know. everywhere in it there are god-roads,
though most are cracked and broken. everywhere there
are the ruins of the high towers of the gods.

how does visiting the place of the gods affect the
narrator?

he discovers that it is unwise to have an inquiring
mind.

he learns that there is nothing supernatural to fear in
the destroyed city.

he renounces everything he learned from the priests
and his father.

he understands that the past has nothing of interest
for people of the present.

Explanation:

The narrator says that the ground doesn't burn forever (contradicting some tales), it's not an island of fogs and enchantments (contradicting priests). He sees it as a "Great Dead Place" with god - roads (cracked and broken) and ruins of towers. This shows he realizes there's no supernatural fear. The first option is wrong as he has an inquiring mind (he went to the Place). The third option is too extreme (he doesn't renounce everything). The fourth option is wrong as he is interested (he explored).

Answer:

He learns that there is nothing supernatural to fear in the destroyed city.