Final answer:
Slim's dog is shot and her puppies are drowned in the story, illustrating the harsh conditions and ruthless decisions common to the lives of migrant workers during the Great Depression era.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question deals with the fate of Slim's dog and her puppies in the context of survival as a migrant worker. The correct answer is c) Slim's dog is shot, and her puppies are drowned, highlighting the harsh reality of survival. This event in the story exemplifies the ruthless and pragmatic decisions made by characters in challenging living conditions, reflecting the broader themes of hardship and disposability faced by itinerant workers during the Great Depression.
The narrative demonstrates the difficult choices that have to be made for the sake of practicality and efficiency on a ranch. In a society where survival often takes precedence over sentimentality, the migrant workers must adapt to these harsh realities, much like the domestication of dogs and other animals who have been selectively bred for traits conducive to human needs and survival, as mentioned in the A Case Study: Domestication of Dogs.