The Pathless Trail

How does the story's setting influence its plot?

• It allows the American soldiers to overpower the natives.

• It provides a suitable location for a successful hunting expedition.

• It offers natural elements that help Lourenco.

• It limits access to medical supplies that may help Yuara.

Answer explanation

Because the men are on an expedition in the jungle, they have no access to medical supplies that may help Yuara survive his poisoning.

Read the Dictionary entry.

common (adj.)

1. belonging equally to

2. having no special status or designation

3. of inferior quality

4. coarse or vulgar

Which definition best matches the way the word "common" is used in paragraph 34?

• Definition 1

• Definition 2

• Definition 3

• Definition 4

Answer explanation

In paragraph 34, the dialogue reveals that Yuara is the son of a Mayoruna chief, which tells the Americans that they have saved not a "common" man but the son of an important local leader.

What is the best summary of the text?

• Three American soldiers on an expedition encounter Yuara and a tribe of cannibals. After an unfortunate encounter with a monkey, Yuara is poisoned. The American soldiers are smart and act quickly through the day and night to help Yuara.

• A big gray monkey chatters at the men on the expedition. An arrow rips across the back of Yuara's hand. Unfortunately, the arrow is poisonous. Yuara gets sick and the other men attempt to remove the poison.

• On an expedition, a native is stabbed by his own poison arrow. An American soldier on the expedition works quickly to draw the poison from the affected man. The native man survives and as a result establishes a friendship between the Americans and the natives.

• Yuara is the son of Chief Rana. He is the guide on a South American expedition. Three American soldiers have medical knowledge that allow them to help Yuara after a poisonous arrow hits him. All of the men are very concerned that Yuara will not survive.

Answer explanation

The summary presents the most important events from the story in the correct sequence. It does not include details that are not important to the plot or theme.

The 3rd person omniscient point of view helps the reader understand-

• McKay's knowledge about the monkey

• Yuara's decision to live as a coward

• Lourenco's concern with Yuara's situation

• Knowlton's disagreement with McKay's actions

Which of these best identifies the text as adventure fiction?

• The characters encounter a life or death situation.

• The characters exhibit impossible feats of strength.

• The characters must solve a mystery.

• The characters learn important life lessons.

Answer explanation

Adventure fiction provides action or danger, so this story is identified as adventure fiction because of Yuara's close encounter with death.

Which words from paragraphs 9 and 10 help create a mood of urgency?

• sprang forward, jumped to, whipped

• "Not without a try for life!," tied a handkerchief

• McKay, "Knowlton," one swift slash

• "Quick," twisted it tight, laid open the arm

Answer explanation

The words "sprang forward," "jumped to," and "whipped" indicate actions taken quickly and suddenly, which shows their need for urgency (immediate action).

The figurative language in paragraph 16 helps the reader understand that--

• Yuara is upset

• Yuara is angry

• Yuara is hopeful

• Yuara is near a fire

Answer explanation

The figurative language "Fire shot from Yuara's eyes" shows that Yuara is angry at the suggestion that he is a coward.

The author includes the italicized introduction most likely to--

• summarize the events that will occur in the text

• interest the reader by presenting mysterious characters and events

• provide questions about the characters and setting of the text

• introduce the characters and provide background information

Answer explanation

If you read the italicized introduction, you see that it provides information the reader needs to know about the relationships of the characters and details of their current situation.

Why is 3rd person omniscient point of view necessary for this story?

• The reader will not get confused between the monkey and the human characters.

• The reader sees the complicated relationship between McKay and the other American soldiers.

• The reader can better evaluate the medical skills of McKay as he treats Yuara's poisoning.

• The reader can understand what all the characters are saying.

Answer explanation

The characters do not all speak the same language, which is why the American soldiers need Lorenco to translate for them. If the story were told from 1st person point of view, the reader might not understand what some of the characters are saying.

Read this paragraph.

"As more minutes passed and the wounded man still breathed, a murmur of wonderment passed among the onlookers. Yuara should be dead, yet he was not even paralyzed. Such a thing had never before been known in the jungle."

How do these sentences help reveal the author's tone?

• By using the words "more minutes passed" and "Yuara should be dead," the author creates a tone of impatience and agitation.

• By using the words "a murmur of wonderment" and "never before been known," the author creates a tone of surprise and amazement.

• By using the words "Yuara should be dead" and "he was not even paralyzed," the author creates a tone of regret and disappointment.

• By using the words "the wounded man still breathed" and "such a thing," the author creates a tone of intensity and focus.

Answer explanation

The poison has killed people in the past, and "the onlookers" were expecting Yuara to die as well. Instead he is recovering and not even paralyzed. They "murmur in wonderment" because no one has ever before been healed after being poisoned.