Question

view passage 1
this passage is from the short story \second variety\ by philip k. dick. the story takes place after a nuclear war has turned the world into a wasteland.

the boy fell in beside him. hendricks strode along. the boy walked silently, clutching his teddy bear.

\what’s your name?\ hendricks said, after a time.

\david edward derring.\

\david? what—what happened to your mother and father?\

\they died.\

\how?\

\in the blast.\

\how long ago?\

\six years.\

hendricks slowed down. \you’ve been alone six years?\

o. there were other people for awhile. they went
david is a 13 year-old boy \hugging his dirty teddy bear\ as he walks.
what does this detail suggest about david?

○ it suggests that david is more innocent than most 13-year-old boys.
○ it suggests that david is lost and doesnt know where he is.
○ it suggests that david is looking for his mother and father.
○ it suggests that emotionally david is more like a seven-year-old than a 13-year-old.

Explanation:

• For the option "more innocent than most 13 - year - old boys", the teddy bear detail alone doesn't strongly suggest a comparison to other boys' innocence.
• The option "lost and doesn't know where he is" has no textual support from the teddy bear or the passage context.
• The option "looking for his mother and father" is not indicated by the teddy bear; the passage says his parents died.
• The teddy bear is a toy associated with younger children. A 13 - year - old clutching a teddy bear, especially in a post - nuclear wasteland where he's been alone, suggests his emotional development is more like a younger (seven - year - old) child, as he clings to a comfort object typical of a younger age.

Answer:

D. It suggests that emotionally David is more like a seven - year - old than a 13 - year - old.