Question

read the excerpt from the land.

at first i just walked the grey, letting him get used to me. then i bridled and saddled him and finally i mounted. i let him get accustomed to my weight on his back as he walked around the pasture, then knowing our time was short, i put him through paces, first a trot followed by a gallop before slowing him down and taking him back to the cool of a shade tree. i gave him more apple wedges. i let him drink from a stream nearby before i brushed him again. all the while i never stopped talking to him.

what is the purpose of this narration?

• to explain how paul gets to know sutcliffes horse
• to provide backstory about pauls history with horses
• to explain pauls motivation for participating in the horse race
• to provide backstory about how paul learned to ride horses

Explanation:

Analyze the excerpt

The narrator describes a sequence of actions taken with a horse ("the grey"): walking him, letting him get used to the narrator, bridling, saddling, mounting, letting him get accustomed to the weight, putting him through paces (trot, gallop), cooling him down, feeding him apple wedges, letting him drink, brushing him, and talking to him. This detailed process shows the narrator building trust and getting acquainted with a specific horse.

Evaluate the options

Using Plot Analysis and Novel Comprehension, we evaluate the purpose of this detailed sequence:

• Option 1 ("to explain how Paul gets to know Sutcliffe's horse"): This matches the text perfectly. The narrator (Paul) is systematically working to build a relationship, trust, and familiarity with "the grey" (Sutcliffe's horse).
• Option 2 ("to provide backstory about Paul's history with horses"): The text describes a present, step-by-step interaction with one specific horse, not general past history.
• Option 3 ("to explain Paul's motivation for participating in the horse race"): The passage does not discuss his reasons or motivations for entering a race.
• Option 4 ("to provide backstory about how Paul learned to ride horses"): The passage shows him already knowing how to ride and handle horses; it is not about his learning process.

Determine the correct choice

The narration focuses entirely on the immediate, step-by-step process of Paul establishing a bond and getting to know this specific horse. Therefore, the first option is the correct choice.

Answer:

• (A) to explain how Paul gets to know Sutcliffe's horse (Correct answer)
• (B) to provide backstory about Paul's history with horses
• (C) to explain Paul's motivation for participating in the horse race
• (D) to provide backstory about how Paul learned to ride horses