Question

read the passage from \cruel tribute.\

on the third day all the youths and maidens of the city were brought together in the market place, so that lots might be cast for those who were to be taken. then two vessels of brass were brought and set before king aegeus and the herald who had come from crete. into one vessel they placed as many balls as there were noble youths in the city, and into the other as many as there were maidens; and all the balls were white save only seven in each vessel, and those were black as ebony.

then every maiden, without looking, reached her hand into one of the vessels and drew forth a ball, and those who took the black balls were borne away to the black ship, which lay in waiting by the shore. the young men also drew lots in like manner, but when six black balls had been drawn theseus came quickly forward and

what effect does the author create with the sequence of events in this passage?

○ the author builds events slowly to create tension.
○ the author races through events to create excitement.
○ the author maintains the pace to create peacefulness.
○ the author alternates the pace to create frustration.

Explanation:

To determine the effect of the sequence of events, we analyze the pacing: the author describes the gathering, the preparation of the vessels, the maidens' drawing of balls, and then the young men's turn, with details that build anticipation (e.g., the black balls meaning being taken away). This slow build of events creates tension as readers wait to see who will draw the black balls and what will happen next. The other options are incorrect: "races through" is wrong as events are detailed, "maintains pace for peacefulness" is wrong (the situation is tense, not peaceful), and "alternates pace for frustration" is wrong (the pace is steady and building tension, not alternating or frustrating).

Answer:

The author builds events slowly to create tension.