Question

read this excerpt from \the world on turtles back.\

with the deer antler, the right-handed twin demolished his brother. the left-handed twin died, but he didnt die. he was hurled off the edge of the earth by his brother. in this dark world below the earth, the left-handed twin still lives and reigns.

the right-handed twin lives in the sky-world and he is content with the world he helped to create. the left-handed twin lives in the world below. he, too, is content with the world of men. he delights in the sounds of warfare and suffering. these two beings rule the world and look after the affairs of men. during the day people have rituals to honor the right-handed twin. at night they dance and sing for the left-handed twin.

based on this excerpt, it is reasonable to conclude that

• the right-handed twin hurt his brother but did not kill him.
• the left-handed twin pretended to die but really survived.
• neither twin could die because they were immortal gods.
• the left-handed twin was immortal, but his brother was not.

Explanation:

Analyze the text evidence

Using the Textual Analysis knowledge point, we examine the excerpt: "The left-handed twin died, but he didn't die." This paradoxical statement suggests that while he underwent a physical "death" or defeat on Earth, his existence did not end. The text continues, "In this dark world below the earth, the left-handed twin still lives and reigns."

Evaluate the twins' nature

Using the Mythological Characterization knowledge point, we look at the status of both twins. The passage states that the right-handed twin lives in the Sky-World and the left-handed twin lives in the world below, and "These two beings rule the world and look after the affairs of men." Since both twins continue to live, rule, and receive rituals/worship from humans ("During the day people have rituals to honor the right-handed twin. At night they dance and sing for the left-handed twin"), they function as immortal, god-like entities.

Assess the options

• Option 1 ("the right-handed twin hurt his brother but did not kill him") is contradicted by "The left-handed twin died...".
• Option 2 ("the left-handed twin pretended to die") is unsupported; there is no mention of pretense.
• Option 3 ("neither twin could die because they were immortal gods") aligns with the text showing both twins surviving physical destruction to rule eternally.
• Option 4 ("the left-handed twin was immortal, but his brother was not") is incorrect because the right-handed twin also lives on eternally in the Sky-World.

Answer:

• (A) the right-handed twin hurt his brother but did not kill him.
• (B) the left-handed twin pretended to die but really survived.
• (C) neither twin could die because they were immortal gods. (Correct answer)
• (D) the left-handed twin was immortal, but his brother was not.