Question

read the passage from theodore roosevelt: an autobiography. in the yellowstone the animals seem always to behave as one wishes them to! it is always possible to see the sheep and deer and antelope, and also the great herds of elk, which are shyer than the smaller beasts. in april we found the elk weak after the short commons and hard living of winter. what is the closest meaning of the underlined phrase as it used in the excerpt? survival efforts hunting season long and cold season trials and tribulations

Explanation:

The text describes the condition of elk after the winter period, which is a time of hardship for animals. The "short commons and hard living of winter" refers to the scarcity of food (short commons) and difficult living conditions during the winter season. This is most closely related to the challenges animals face for survival during the cold winter months.

Answer:

long and cold season