Question

Read the passage from "By the Waters of Babylon.” I found it at last in the ruins of a great temple in the mid-city. A mighty temple it must have been, for the roof was painted like the sky at night with its stars—that much I could see, though the colors were faint and dim. It went down into great caves and tunnels—perhaps they kept their slaves there. But when I started to climb down, I heard the squeaking of rats, so I did not go—rats are unclean, and there must have been many tribes of them, from the squeaking. But near there, I found food, in the heart of a ruin, behind a door that still opened. I ate only the fruits from the jars—they had a very sweet taste. There was drink, too, in bottles of glass—the drink of the gods was strong and made my head swim. After I had eaten and drunk, I slept on the top of a stone, my bow at my side.

Which details most reveal the setting of the passage? Select three options.
1. “the ruins of a great temple in the mid-city”
2. “rats are unclean, and there must have been many tribes of them”
3. “in the heart of a ruin, behind a door that still opened”
4. “they had a very sweet taste”
5. “the drink of the gods was strong and made my head swim”

Answer 1

Only the options, 1 and 3 relate to the setting. The other three just state his emotions and what he was thinking at a particular time.

If you ask me, option 1 is the best fitting for a setting.