Question

dian dog
hen i was growing up i lived in a pueblo in mexico there one day i bought a dog. i was ve years old, the bright autumn air was cold delicious, and the dog was an unconscionable gain at five dollars
it was an indian dog; that is, it belonged to a navajo man who had come to celebrate the feast san diego. it was one of two or three rangy nimals following in the tracks of the mans covered wagon as he took leave of our village on his way home. indian dogs are marvelously independent and resourceful, and they have an idea of themselves, i believe, as knights and philosophers
the dog was not large, but neither was it small it was one of those unremarkable creatures that one sees in every corner of the world, the common denominator of all its kind. but on that day—and to me—it was noble and brave and handsome
it was full of resistance, and yet it was ready to return my deep, abiding love. i could see that. it needed only to make a certain adjustment in its lifestyle, to shift the focus of its vitality from one frame of reference to another. but i had to drag my dog from its previous owner by means of a rope its bushy tail wagged happily all the while
that night i secured my dog in the garage where there was a warm clean pallet, wholesome food, and fresh water, and i bolted the door

1. what literary device does the author use in the underlined portion?

a. alliteration
b. metaphor
c. oxymoron
d. personification

1. based on this paragraph, which word best describes the appearance of the dog?

a. attractive
b. ordinary
c. skinny
d. uncommon

1. what does the author mean when he says that the dog must \shift the focus of its vitality from one frame of reference to another\ (underlined portion)?

a it must become more dependent on its owner
b. it must get used to living with its new owner
c. it must put its energy into pleasing people
d. it must understand the authors personality

Explanation:

1. In the underlined portion "Indian dogs are marvelously independent and resourceful, and they have an idea of themselves, I believe, as knights and philosophers", the author gives human - like qualities (being independent, having an idea of themselves like knights and philosophers) to the dogs, which is personification.
2. The text says "It was one of those unremarkable creatures that one sees in every corner of the world, the common denominator of all its kind", indicating the dog's appearance is ordinary.
3. The author has just bought the dog, so when he says the dog must "shift the focus of its vitality from one frame of reference to another", he means the dog must get used to living with its new owner.

Answer:

1. D. Personification
2. B. Ordinary
3. B. It must get used to living with its new owner