Question

read this excerpt from \the world on turtles back.\
the birds of the sea joined together to save the woman and they broke her fall. the great sea turtle floated in
the ocean and received the woman on his back without harm. the frightened woman looked around and all
she could see was water and sky. she felt helpless, but the animals were determined to save her. she told
them that if they could find some soil, she could plant the roots from the great tree that were still tangled in
her hands.

based on the animals behavior toward the woman, it is reasonable to conclude that the animals

were frightened by a creature they had never seen.
felt compassion for the woman because she was scared
were hoping to live on land that the woman would create
wanted the roots from the sacred great tree

Explanation:

• Analyze Option A: The excerpt shows animals helping the woman, not being frightened by her, so A is incorrect.
• Analyze Option B: The woman is frightened/helpless, and animals "were determined to save her", showing compassion for her scared state. This matches the text.
• Analyze Option C: The text focuses on saving the woman, not on the animals' hope to live on land she creates.
• Analyze Option D: The woman has the roots, and the animals help her to let her plant them, not to get the roots themselves.

Answer:

B. felt compassion for the woman because she was scared