Question

read the excerpt from the land.

\i have to finish brushing down these horses first,\ i said.

ray sutcliffes face took on a look of exasperation.
\what? you got a race to tend to, boy!\

\im sorry, mister sutcliffe, but i told mister logan id brush these horses down for him, and he taught me a long time ago to do what i say im going to do.\

what does this dialogue reveal about paul?

he does not always keep his word.
he is easily intimidated by sutcliffe.
he enjoys working with mitchell.
he takes his responsibilities seriously.

Explanation:

Analyze the dialogue

Using the Dialogue Analysis knowledge point, we examine the exchange between Paul (the narrator) and Ray Sutcliffe. Paul insists on finishing his task: "I have to finish brushing down these horses first." Even when Sutcliffe reacts with exasperation and pressures him about a race, Paul politely but firmly stands his ground.

Evaluate character traits

Using the Characterization knowledge point, we look at Paul's explanation for his actions: "I told Mister Logan I'd brush these horses down for him, and he taught me a long time ago to do what I say I'm going to do." This statement directly shows that Paul values keeping his promises and completing his assigned duties, even under pressure from others.

Assess the options

• "He does not always keep his word": Incorrect, as Paul explicitly states he is staying to do exactly what he promised Mister Logan.
• "He is easily intimidated by Sutcliffe": Incorrect, because Paul politely refuses to rush off despite Sutcliffe's exasperation.
• "He enjoys working with Mitchell": Incorrect, as Mitchell is not mentioned in this excerpt.
• "He takes his responsibilities seriously": Correct, because he insists on fulfilling his promise to brush the horses before attending to the race.

Answer:

• He does not always keep his word.
• He is easily intimidated by Sutcliffe.
• He enjoys working with Mitchell.
• He takes his responsibilities seriously. (Correct answer)