Question

Read the passage.

His front wheel struck the edge of the shell, flipped the turtle like a tiddly-wink, spun it like a coin, and rolled it off the highway. The truck went back to its course along the right side. Lying on its back, the turtle was tight in its shell for a long time. But at last its legs waved in the air, reaching for something to pull it over.

In this excerpt from John Steinbeck’s “The Turtle,” what is significant about the turtle’s actions after it has been hit by the truck?

Answer 1

In this excerpt from "The Turtle," the turtle's actions after it has been hit by the truck are significant because they show the turtle's resilience and determination to survive. Despite being flipped, spun, and rolled off the highway, the turtle remains tight in its shell for a long time before finally starting to wave its legs in the air, indicating that it is still alive and trying to find a way to right itself. This suggests that the turtle has a strong will to live and is not easily defeated, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.