Question

the arctic prairies: a canoe journey
by ernest thompson seton
chapter ix
ernest thomas seton was a british author and wildlife artist and one of the founding members of the boy scouts of america. he later moved to manitoba in canada, where he published a number of books about the province and its wildlife. seton describes his experience battling mosquitoes at his camp on a lake in the northwest territories of canada.
(1) dr. l. 0. howard¹ tells us that the mosquito rarely goes far from its birthplace. that must refer to the miserable degenerates² they have in new jersey, for these of the north offer endless evidence of power to travel, as well as to resist cold and wind.
(2) on july 21, 1907, we camped on a small island on a lake. it was about one-quarter mile long, several miles from mainland, at least half a mile from any other island, apparently all rock, and yet it was swarming with mosquitoes. here, as elsewhere, they were mad for our blood; those we knocked off and maimed, would crawl up with sprained wings and twisted legs to sting as fiercely as ever, as long as the beak would work.
(3) we thought the stinging pests of the buffalo country as bad as possible, but they proved mild and scarce compared with those we yet had to meet on the arctic barrens of our ultimate goal.
(4) each day they got worse; soon it became clear that mere adjectives could not convey any idea of their terrors. therefore i devised a mosquito gauge³. i held up a bare hand for 5 seconds by the watch, then counted the number of borers on the back; there were 5 to 10. each day added to the number, and when we got out to the buffalo country, there were 15 to 25 on the one side of the hand and elsewhere in proportion. on the nyarling, in
3
select the correct answer.
read the sentence from the opening paragraph of the text.
that must refer to the miserable degenerates they have in new jersey, for these of the north offer endless evidence of power to travel, as well as to resist cold and wind.
what does this suggest about the authors idea of new jersey mosquitoes?
a. he feels that new jersey mosquitoes are afraid of the cold weather.
b. he thinks that new jersey mosquitoes are unlike all other types of mosquitoes.
c. he feels that new jersey mosquitoes are inferior to canadian mosquitoes.
d. he infers that there are serious problems with the new jersey mosquitoes.

Explanation:

The opening paragraph states that the mosquitoes in the north (Canada) are far worse than the "miserable degenerates" in New Jersey, implying New Jersey mosquitoes are less severe (inferior) compared to Canadian ones.

Answer:

C. He feels that New Jersey mosquitoes are inferior to Canadian mosquitoes.