Read the excerpt from part 1 of "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge." He unclosed his eyes and saw again the water below him. "If I could free my hands," he thought, "I might throw off
the noose and spring into the stream. By diving I could evade the bullets and, swimming vigorously, reach the bank,
take to the woods and get away home. My home, thank God, is as yet outside their lines; my wife and little ones are
still beyond the invader's farthest advance."
As these thoughts, which have here to be set down in words, were flashed into the doomed man's brain rather than
evolved from it the captain nodded to the sergeant. The sergeant stepped aside.
Based on the excerpt, which is the most reasonable plot prediction?
O The prisoner will escape.
The prisoner will beg for mercy.
The execution will commence.
The sergeant will stop the hanging.

C

Explanation:

The narrative describes him as a “doomed man.” The thoughts that flash into his mind mirror his relief that his “wife and little ones” are safe and his acceptance towards his fate. His relief and acceptance go hand in hand as the only thing he worries about at this moment is his family, yet he realizes he does not have to worry because they are “still beyond the invader’s farthest advance.” Because of this, he is at peace with facing death because he knows that his family is safe. Additionally, the emotional/mental transition from his first thought to his second thought reflects an initial want to escape that then turns into acceptance that he will never see them again; he does not need to beg for mercy.

giovanni battista pergolesi, italian baroque composer who wrote one of the most famous settings of the stabat mater. don lorenzo perosi, catholic priest and director of the sistine choir under five popes.