“The Settlers” by Rowena Jackson 1 Little Bear crept closer through the tall grass until he had a better vantage point to watch the trail of wagons pass. He’d never seen white people before, though his father sometimes traded skins and bows with the men. Little Bear had heard all of the warnings, but he still wanted to see what they looked like.

2 One wagon fell behind the rest of the caravan. The rains of the past few days had turned the trail to thick mud, and the wagon’s oxen were tired. They made it another few minutes before Little Bear heard a loud crack, and the back corner of the wagon crashed to the ground.

3 Two people from the wagon inspected the broken wheel. Little Bear froze when one pulled out a rifle and fired it into the air. He crouched into a small ball in the weeds, his heart drumming in his ears. But then he saw other people running to help the stranded travelers, and he knew that the rifle shot had just been a signal.

4 Just then, there was a rustle in the grass beside Little Bear. He let out the long breath he’d been holding when he saw it was just his older brother, White Deer, who silently signaled that they needed to return home before the settlers spotted them.

5 Little Bear followed, but he paused a moment to glance back. Traveling out on the open prairie was dangerous, and the settlers were just people. He hoped the pioneer family got their wagon wheel fixed soon.

Question: Which statement supports the idea that Little Bear is curious about the white settlers?

Group of answer choices

"He’d never seen white people before, though his father sometimes traded skins and bows with the men."

"Little Bear had heard all of the warnings, but he still wanted to see what they looked like."

"He hoped the pioneer family got their wagon wheel fixed soon."

"Little Bear froze when one pulled out a rifle and fired it into the air."

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“The Settlers” by Rowena Jackson

1 Little Bear crept closer through the tall grass until he had a better vantage point to watch the trail of wagons pass. He’d never seen white people before, though his father sometimes traded skins and bows with the men. Little Bear had heard all of the warnings, but he still wanted to see what they looked like.

2 One wagon fell behind the rest of the caravan. The rains of the past few days had turned the trail to thick mud, and the wagon’s oxen were tired. They made it another few minutes before Little Bear heard a loud crack, and the back corner of the wagon crashed to the ground.

3 Two people from the wagon inspected the broken wheel. Little Bear froze when one pulled out a rifle and fired it into the air. He crouched into a small ball in the weeds, his heart drumming in his ears. But then he saw other people running to help the stranded travelers, and he knew that the rifle shot had just been a signal.

4 Just then, there was a rustle in the grass beside Little Bear. He let out the long breath he’d been holding when he saw it was just his older brother, White Deer, who silently signaled that they needed to return home before the settlers spotted them.

5 Little Bear followed, but he paused a moment to glance back. Traveling out on the open prairie was dangerous, and the settlers were just people. He hoped the pioneer family got their wagon wheel fixed soon.

Question: In paragraph 3, why does the author choose the words froze, crouched in a small ball and heart drumming in his ears?

Group of answer choices

To show that Little Bear was frightened by the sound of the rifle being shot.

To show that Little Bear is cold.

To show that Little Bear wanted to know more about the settlers.

To show that Little Bear was afraid when White Dear crept up on him.