Read the excerpt from Gilgamesh: A New English Version.
Gilgamesh, hearing his beloved friend,
came to himself. He yelled, he lifted
his massive axe, he swung it, it tore
into Humbaba's neck, the blood
shot out, again the axe bit flesh
and bone, the monster staggered, his eyes
rolled, and at the axe's third stroke
he toppled like a cedar and crashed to the ground.
At his death-roar the mountains of Lebanon shook,
the valleys ran with his blood, for ten miles
the forest resounded. Then the two friends
sliced him open, pulled out his intestines,
cut off his head with its knife-sharp teeth
and horrible bloodshot staring eyes.
Which statement best paraphrases evidence to support the conclusion that Gilgamesh is a fierce warrior?
A. Humbaba is so terrified of Gilgamesh that he lets out a "death-roar" that makes the mountains of Lebanon shake.
B. After hearing Enkidu's encouraging words,
Gilgamesh feels like himself again and begins to yell and swing his axe.
C. Humbaba is so wounded that he staggers around before crashing to the ground like a falling cedar tree.
D. After attacking and killing Humbaba with his axe, Gilgamesh assists in slicing him open, removing his intestines, and cutting off his head.
Answer: D. After attacking and killing Humbaba with his axe, Gilgamesh assists in slicing him open, removing his intestines, and cutting off his head.
