Call of the Wild

Which words from paragraph 2 help the reader understand the meaning

of avail?

• A. swore strange barbarous oaths

• B. stamped the snow in futile rage

• C. His lash was always singing

• D. they were at it again

The description of the revolt led by Buck in paragraph 1 is important to the

excerpt because it —

• F. shows how François is depended on by the team

• G. reveals the conflict at the heart of the selection

• H. demonstrates how much the team depends on their human leader

• J. explains why the selection is told from the viewpoint of a dog

Which sentence best illustrates the climax of the selection?

• A. The encouragement Buck gave the rebels led them into all kinds of

  petty misdemeanors.

• B. In fact, his conduct approached that of a bully, and he was given to

  swaggering up and down before Spitz’s very nose.

• C. At the mouth of the Tahkeena, one night after supper, Dub turned up a

  snowshoe rabbit, blundered it, and missed.

• D. He was ranging at the head of the pack, running the wild thing down, the

  living meat, to kill with his own teeth and wash his muzzle to the eyes in

  warm blood.

Through the dogs’ experience, the author explores the idea that —

• F. the goal of life is achieved by following one’s instincts

• G. being a part of a team is the most important achievement in life

• H. hard work and dedication to the goal is required to overcome challenges

• J. only through hunting can a living being achieve greatness

Buck’s pursuit of the snowshoe rabbit leads him to —

• A. the joyful knowledge that he is alive

• B. compete with François over leadership of the team

• C. the sought-after satisfaction of fresh meat

• D. concern for the viability of future teamwork

The last two sentences of paragraph 3 convey that —

• F. the rabbit was so light as not to break through the ice

• G. dogs and humans have much in common

• H. Buck is leading the team to victory

• J. the rabbit is currently winning the race

What is the best summary of the selection?

• A. After two days of a sled-dog race, the team of the dogs has begun to

  unravel. Buck leads one faction, and François leads another. When a rabbit

  appears in the wilderness, a nearby team of huskies joins the dogs for an all-

  out chase, but the rabbit is not caught by the end.

• B. After two days of a sled-dog race, the team of the dogs has begun to

  unravel. Groups are forming and feuds are rising to the surface. When a

  rabbit appears and all of the dogs chase it, the leader of the rebels, Buck,

  takes the lead. In pursuit of the rabbit, he finds the joys of living.

• C. After two days of a sled-dog race, the team of the dogs has begun to

  unravel. They are camped for the night, and the omniscient narrator reveals

  which dogs are in which group—the rebels or the original team. Buck is

  clearly the emerging leader of the whole group.

• D. After two days of a sled-dog race, the team of the dogs has begun to

  unravel. When a rabbit appears in the wilderness and a nearby team of

  huskies joins the pursuit, only one dog can win the prize and eat the rabbit.

  In the chase, Buck finds the meaning of life.