Question

read the passage from \the willow-wren and the bear.\
when the fox felt the first sting, he started so that he lifted one leg, from pain, but he bore it, and still kept his tail high in the air; at the second sting, he was forced to put it down for a moment; at the third, he could hold out no longer, screamed, and put his tail between his legs. when the animals saw that, they thought all was lost, and began to flee, each into his hole, and the birds had won the battle.

then the king and queen flew home to their children and cried: \children, rejoice, eat and drink to your heart’s content, we have won the battle!\ but the young wrens said: \we will not eat yet, the bear must come to the nest, and beg for pardon and say that we are honourable children, before we will do that.\ then the willow-wren flew to the bear’s hole and cried: \growler, you are to come to the nest to my children, and beg their pardon, or

which excerpt from the passage encompasses the falling action of the story?
○ \when the fox felt the first sting, he started so that he lifted one leg, from pain, but he bore it, and still kept his tail high in the air.\
○ \when the animals saw that, they thought all was lost, and began to flee, each into his hole, and the birds had won the battle.\
○ \then the king and queen flew home to their children and cried: children, rejoice, eat and drink to your heart’s content, we have won the battle!\
○ \and now at last the young wrens were satisfied, and sat down together and ate and drank, and made merry till quite late into the night.\

Explanation:

To determine the falling action, we analyze the story structure. The falling action occurs after the climax (the battle's peak) and leads to resolution.

• The first option describes the fox's reaction during the battle (rising action or climax).
• The second option states the animals flee and the birds win, which is the climax or immediate aftermath, but not falling action.
• The third option: After the battle (climax), the King and Queen return, and the young wrens demand the bear's apology. This shows the story moving towards resolution, fitting falling action (events after climax that lead to conclusion).
• The fourth option is the resolution (characters celebrating after the conflict is resolved).

Answer:

C. "Then the King and Queen flew home to their children and cried: 'Children, rejoice, eat and drink to your heart’s content, we have won the battle!' But the young wrens said: 'We will not eat yet, the bear must come to the nest, and beg for pardon and say that we are honourable children, before we will do that.' Then the willow - wren flew to the bear’s hole and cried: 'Growler, you are to come to the nest to my children, and beg their pardon, or'"