Which sentence provides the best summary of the first and second stanzas of the poem? A A boy darts down a hill, stops to think, and talks to a bird along the way. B A boy looks down a steep hill, and his heart starts to race with excitement. C A boy lifts his feet and hands off his bicycle and feels the air whizzing by him. D A boy speeds so fast down a hill that he cries out to a bird that he, too, is flying.

Which statement best evaluates the author's use of pacing in the passage? a. the author's use of pacing is not effective, because the imagery and figurative language don't adequately describe either the cheetah or the gazelle. b. the author's use of pacing is effective, because the imagery and figurative language speed up the action, making the scene come alive for the reader. c. the author's use of pacing is effective, because the long, complex sentences the reader fully understand the power and beauty of nature. d. the author's use of pacing is not effective, because the long, complex sentences distract from the sense of stress and anxiety the passage should convey.