The Call of the Wild Answer Key for Chapters 5-6

1.25 pounds
2.They had been given no time to recuperate on the trail. In less than five months they had covered over 2500 miles. 3.Mercedes feels sorry for the dogs while Hal thinks they are lazy and wants to whip them. 4.The sled was overloaded with a mountainous load and the runners were frozen into the ground. 5.It soon fell over spilling half its load.

6.They were advised to half the load and use twice the dogs if they wanted to reach Dawson. 7.They purchased an additional six boosting the dog team to fourteen. 8.He had covered the distance four times previously.

9.Unfortunately, he cut back on the daily food ration and increased the distance covered each day by the dogs. 10.She insisted on riding on the sled despite repeated warnings from Charles and Hal that the dogs were exhausted. 11.They staggered into John Thornton’s camp and he was whittling an axe handle from a stick of birch. 12.Tears were coming to his eyes when he witnessed the cruel treatment of the dogs. 13.He threatened to kill Hal if he struck Buck again.

14.The sled plunged through the thin ice and all were lost with the exception of Buck who had been cut out of his traces by John Thornton.

Vocabulary
Wretched- (of a person) In a very unhappy or unfortunate state. Dwindled- Diminish gradually in size, amount, or strength
Feigned- Pretend to be affected by (a feeling, state, or injury) Taut- Stretched or pulled tight; not slack
Totter- Move in a feeble or unsteady way
Slipshod- (typically of a person or method of work) Characterized by a lack of care, thought, or organization Dismay- Cause (someone) to feel consternation and distress

Slovenly- Messy and dirty
Remonstrance- A forcefully reproachful protest
Clannish-Tending to exclude others outside the group
Suppress- Forcibly put an end to
Superfluous- Unnecessary, esp. through being more than enough Averred- State or assert to be the case
Mongrels- A dog of no definable type or breed
Forlorn- Pitifully sad and abandoned or lonely
Orthodox- Conforming to what is accepted as right or true
Importuned- Ask (someone) pressingly and persistently for or to do something Perambulating- 1.Walk or travel through or around (a place or area) Fissures- A long, narrow opening or line of breakage made by cracking or splitting Monosyllabic- Consisting of one syllable

Inarticulate- Unable to speak distinctly or express oneself clearly

Jaylen Hunter
Chapter Six—For the Love of a Man
1.He had frozen his feet the previous winter.
2.Buck’s life will take a turn for the better due to Thornton’s kind treatment. 3.They were waiting for the arrival of the raft that would carry them down to Dawson. 4.He saw to the welfare of his dogs as if they were his own children rather than simply from a sense of duty or business expediency. 5.He loved and respected Thornton.

6.They were Thornton’s partners and they arrived on the raft. 7.They were at a bar in Circle City when Thornton attempted to protect a tenderfoot who was being attacked by Burton. Burton then turned on John, knocking him to the floor. In an attempt to protect his master, Buck jumped in and tore Burton’s throat open, ending the altercation. 8.Thornton falls from the raft and is in danger of being swept through deadly rapids when Buck swims to save him. Thornton grabs onto his tail but is only able to reach temporary safety on a rock. Buck meanwhile swims to shore where Hans and Pete attach a rope to him. He then swims out to Thornton with the rope and finally they are both pulled to the safety of shore. 9.He claimed that Buck could pull a thousand-pound load from a standing start. 10.He wagered a sack of gold dust the size of a bologna sausage by slamming it down on the bar. 11.500 pounds

12.He offered to pay Thornton $1200 for the dog.
13.He loved the dog and did not want to sell him for any price.

Vocabulary
Enticed- Attract or tempt by offering pleasure or advantage
Manifested- Display or show (a quality or feeling) by one’s acts or appearance; demonstrate Communion-The sharing or exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings Shrewdly- Having or showing sharp powers of judgment; astute Passive- Accepting or allowing what happens or what others do, without active response or resistance Grubstaked- An amount of material, provisions, or money supplied to an enterprise (originally a prospector for ore) in return for a share in the… Chasm- A deep fissure in the earth, rock, or another surface Whim- A sudden desire or change of mind, esp. one that is unusual or unexplained Appalled- Greatly dismay or horrify

Diminished- Made smaller or less; Made to seem less impressive or valuable Hinder- Create difficulties for (someone or something), resulting in delay or obstruction Waxed- Cover or treat (something) with wax or a similar substance, typically to polish or protect it Babel- A confused noise, typically that made by a number of voices Indiscreet- Having, showing, or proceeding from too great a readiness to reveal things that should remain secret or private.