Question

Jack London, "To Build a Fire" – The man thinks repeatedly about some advice he once received from "the old-timer on Sulpher Creek." What advice did the old-timer proffer?

1) He told the man to never keep wolfdogs as pets because they are unpredictable and can attack their owners.
2) He told the man to never travel alone in weather more than fifty degrees below zero because it's unsafe.
3) He told the man to always pack extra matches and a flint because it is necessary to build fires for warmth.
4) He told the man to go back to the mainland United States because the man is mentally unprepared for Arctic conditions.

Answer 1

The old-timer on Sulphur Creek advised the protagonist in 'To Build a Fire' to never travel alone in the Klondike when it is fifty degrees below zero. The correct option is 3.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Jack London's "To Build a Fire," the advice given by the old-timer on Sulphur Creek to the protagonist was to never travel alone in the Klondike when the temperature dropped below fifty degrees below zero.

Despite initially dismissing the old-timer's warning as overly cautious, the man in the story comes to realize the truth and value of the advice as he struggles to survive in the harsh conditions after an accident leaves him in peril.

This advice is a crucial detail of the story, emphasizing the theme of the relentless natural world and the importance of heeding experienced wisdom when facing its challenges.