In the poem "The Drought" by Gary Soto, the poet's description of the path of the clouds serves to create a sense of tension and anticipation, making the reader feel the impact of the drought. The clouds moving up the mountains, scraping their bellies on the slate shingles, and passing through the valley evoke a feeling of impending doom and harshness.
Here's how the different options apply to the poet's decision to describe the path of the clouds:
A. It evokes a mood of uncertainty that people often feel when a weather pattern is unexpected.
- This option does not fully capture the impact of the poet's description, as the mood is more one of harshness and impending disaster rather than just uncertainty.
B. It creates tension that reflects the anticipation of rain that people experience during a drought.
- This is the most accurate description. The detailed depiction of the clouds' movement builds tension and reflects the longing for rain that is often associated with drought conditions.
C. It builds suspense to foreshadow a future disaster that will be even more destructive than a drought.
- While the description does create a sense of impending disaster, it is more focused on the current harshness of the drought rather than foreshadowing an even worse event.
D. It uses a metaphor to compare a storm to the hardships in life that pass by quickly.
- This option does not fully capture the literal description of the clouds' path and the impact it has on setting the tone of the poem.
In conclusion, the best statement that describes the effect of the poet's decision to describe the path of the clouds in "The Drought" is: B. It creates tension that reflects the anticipation of rain that people experience during a drought.
