Question

read the passage below:
the villagers whispered long after the man had passed. though no proof
existed, their words followed him everywhere, shaping how others treated
him. he learned that silence could be heavier than chains.
question:
which theme is best supported by the passage?
a. silence always leads to freedom
b. false judgments can cause lasting harm
c. rumors spread quickly in small towns
d. truth is more important than friendship

Explanation:

• Option A: The passage says silence can be heavier than chains, not that it leads to freedom. Eliminate A.
• Option B: The villagers spread words (without proof) that shaped how others treated the man, showing false judgments (from unproven words) caused harm that followed him. This matches.
• Option C: The passage focuses on the impact of the words, not just how quickly rumors spread. Eliminate C.
• Option D: The passage has no mention of friendship or truth vs. friendship. Eliminate D.

Answer:

B. False judgments can cause lasting harm