Read this passage:
the man was shocked. it was as though he had just heard
his own sentence of death. for a moment he sat and
stared at the spot where the fire had been. then he grew
very calm. perhaps the old-timer on sulphur creek was
right. if he had only had a trail-mate he would have been in
no danger now. the trail-mate could have built the fire.
well, it was up to him to build the fire over again, and this
second time there must be no failure. even if he
succeeded, he would most likely lose some toes. his feet
must be badly frozen by now, and there would be some
time before the second fire was ready.
what inference can you make about the man from the evidence in this
passage from "to build a fire"?

a. his feet are already badly frozen from the cold.

b. he regrets not listening to the old man's advice.

c. the man must now build the fire a second time.

d. it will take him some time to build a second fire.

The best option is letter B) He regrets not listening to the old man's advice.

Explanation:

All the options are correct in the sense that they all present true information contained in the passage we just read. However, the question is asking us what inference we can make. An inference is a conclusion we can make based on reasoning and evidence. The passage offers us a certain evidence when it says, "Perhaps the old-timer on Sulphur Creek was  right. If he had only had a trail-mate he would have been in  no danger now. The trail-mate could have built the fire." From this evidence, we can safely infer that the man regrets not listening to the old man's advice. Now that he is in trouble, he can see how wise it would have been to not come alone to the woods with such cruel weather. Having someone else with him would have improved his chances of surviving.

"To Build a Fire" is a short story by Jack London. The conflict developed in it is man vs nature as the main character underestimates the weather and overestimates his own skills. Unfortunately, he does not survive the cold.

jim mohr

explanation: