Set 1: Command of Evidence (Intermediate)

Explanation

Answer: A

PASSAGE

The theme of 'man vs. nature' is central to Jack London's *To Build a Fire*. The protagonist is confident in his ability to survive the Yukon cold, ignoring the advice of an old timer. His eventual failure is portrayed not as malice by nature, but as indifference.

Which sentence from the story would best illustrate nature's 'indifference'?

A. The cold was a tangible thing that slapped him in the face.✓ Correct

B. The dog was disappointedly reluctant to leave the fire.

C. The tree, weighted with snow, dropped its load on his fire, blotting it out without warning.

D. He remembered the advice of the old timer on Sulphur Creek.

Detailed Explanation

This question requires you to identify evidence that supports a claim. The tree dropping snow is a simple physical reaction to weight/gravity. it happened 'without warning' and ruined his chance of survival, but the tree didn't 'mean' to do it. It just happened. This illustrates the cold, mechanical indifference of natural laws. The best evidence directly and explicitly supports the stated claim without requiring assumptions. Match specific textual details or data points to the claim being made. The correct answer provides clear, direct support. Strong evidence directly addresses the claim without requiring additional interpretation. When evaluating options, look for quotes or data that explicitly support the statement. Weak evidence may be tangentially related but doesn't provide direct proof.

Key Evidence:

• "dropped its load on his fire"

• "without warning"

Why others are wrong: B (About the dog, not nature.), C (This option is incorrect.), D (About memory, not nature.).

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