Question

read this quote from o. henry’s “a call loan”
with a gun in each hand merwin raised himself from behind a clump of chaparral and started for the engine. but before he had taken three steps, two long, strong arms clasped him from behind, and he was lifted from his feet and thrown, face downward upon the grass. there was a heavy knee pressing against his back, and an iron hand grasping each of his wrists. he was held thus, like a child, until the engine had taken water, and until the train had moved, with accelerating speed, out of sight. then he was released, and rose to his feet to face bill longley.
how is this excerpt an example of the western genre?
○ longley independently enforces law and order on his misguided friend.
○ merwin attempts to escape from his debt by jumping on the train.
○ merwin shows his cowardice by trying to take advantage of others.
○ longley is violently cruel, a trait typical of western main characters

Explanation:

To determine the correct answer, we analyze each option:

• Option 1 ("Longley independently enforces law and order on his misguided friend"): The excerpt shows Longley physically restraining Merwin (lifting him, holding him) to stop Merwin from reaching the engine, which can be seen as enforcing some form of order (possibly related to the situation with the engine/debt, though not a formal law - but in Western genre, characters often take matters into their own hands for "order").
• Option 2 ("Merwin attempts to escape from his debt by jumping on the train"): The excerpt doesn't mention debt or that Merwin is trying to escape debt by jumping on the train; he is starting for the engine, but the context of debt escape isn't here.
• Option 3 ("Merwin shows his cowardice by trying to take advantage of others"): The excerpt shows Merwin being restrained, not acting cowardly or taking advantage.
• Option 4 ("Longley is violently cruel, a trait typical of Western main characters"): Longley's actions are restraining, not necessarily "violently cruel" as a typical trait; the Western genre has complex characters, and this action seems more about stopping Merwin than cruelty.

So the best fit is Option 1.

Answer:

1. Longley independently enforces law and order on his misguided friend