Question

The country girls were considered a menace to the social order. Their beauty shone out too boldly against a conventional background. But anxious mothers need have felt no alarm. They mistook the mettle of their sons. The respect for respectability was stronger than any desire in Black Hawk youth.

How does this passage support the theme "following social rules leads people to avoid risk”?

The country girls learn the American ways of life through their contacts with the Black Hawk men and their mothers.
The country girls are portrayed as vibrant and beautiful, while the Black Hawk men are portrayed as conventional and afraid of risks.
The country girls are portrayed as dangerous, which is why the men and their mothers are afraid of them.
The Black Hawk men learn to take risks and go against convention by meeting the country girls.

Answer 1

The passage supports the theme "following social rules leads people to avoid risk" by portraying the Black Hawk youth as prioritizing respectability over taking risks. It highlights how the conventional background and desire for respectability among the youth prevent them from embracing the boldness and vitality represented by the country girls.

Step-by-step explanation:

The passage delineates the conflict between the conservative social norms prevalent in Black Hawk and the vivaciousness of the country girls. The portrayal of the country girls as bold and beautiful contrasts with the cautiousness and adherence to social norms exhibited by the Black Hawk youth. This contrast emphasizes how the fear of deviating from societal conventions inhibits the youth from embracing the risks posed by the vibrant and unconventional country girls.

Furthermore, the passage suggests that the anxious mothers' concerns about their sons' encounters with the country girls are unfounded. It underscores the misconception these mothers have about their sons' willingness to challenge social boundaries. Despite the allure of the country girls' vitality, the respect for social respectability is emphasized as a stronger influence, leading the Black Hawk youth to avoid the risk of deviating from societal expectations.

Overall, the passage highlights the conflict between the vitality represented by the country girls and the conformity expected by the Black Hawk society. It elucidates how the emphasis on adhering to social norms restrains individuals from embracing risks and exploring unconventional paths, ultimately supporting the theme that following social rules often leads people to avoid taking risks.

Answer 2

The Black Hawk men learn to take risks and go against convention by meeting the country girls.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to the question, country girls were considered a menace to social order because they were beautiful and mothers were anxious for their sons but their sons proved them wrong by having great self respect and holding it above any of their Black Hawk desires.

The passage supports the theme "following social rules leads people to avoid risk” by portraying the Black Hawk men learn to take risks and go against convention by meeting the country girls.