Based on the context of each excerpt from n. scott momaday's the way to rainy mountain, choose the word that most closely matches the meaning of the bolded word. pensive fragile antagonist lobby whatever they were in the mountains, they could be no more. however tenuous their well-being, however much they had suffered and would suffer again, they had found a way out of the wilderness. arrowboth in order to consummate the ancient sacrifice—to impale the head of a buffalo bull upon the medicine tree—a delegation of old men journeyed into texas, there to beg and barter for an animal from the goodnight herd. arrowboth my grandmother was spared the humiliation of those high gray walls by eight or ten years, but she must have known from birth the affliction of defeat, the dark brooding of old warriors. arrowboth some of them painted their faces and carried the scars of old and cherished enmities. arrowboth

Fragile - tenuous: Whatever they were in the mountains, they could be no more. However tenuous their well-being, however much they had suffered and would suffer again, they had found a way out of the wilderness.

Tenuous means fragile or delicate. After the people found their way out of the wilderness, they were most likely fragile from a lack of proper care and nutrition.

Lobby - beg and barter: In order to consummate the ancient sacrifice—to impale the head of a buffalo bull upon the medicine tree—a delegation of old men journeyed into Texas, there to beg and barter for an animal from the Goodnight herd.

The verb lobby means to persuade. In this passage the old men are trying to persuade someone for an animal.

Pensive - brooding: My grandmother was spared the humiliation of those high gray walls by eight or ten years, but she must have known from birth the affliction of defeat, the dark brooding of old warriors.

Pensive means to be deep in thought. Brooding also means to be deep in thought but usually over something that has a negative outcome. The person brooding usually wishes to change what has happened.

Antagonist - Enmities: Some of them painted their faces and carried the scars of old and cherished enmities.

Enmities is another word for something that is hated, just like an enemy. An antagonist goes against a person or thing and is often hated or strongly disliked so this would be the best choice.

if you want me to check your answer i agree with what you put. i read the story

read this passage from the crisis. what rationale is paine using for going to war with great britain? my own line of reasoning is to myself as straight and clear as a ray of light. not all the treasures of the world, so far as i believe, could have induced me to support an offensive war, for i think it murder; but if a thief breaks into my house, burns and destroys my property, and kills or threatens to kill me, or those that are in it, and to "bind me in all cases whatsoever" to his absolute will, am i to suffer it? what signifies it to me, whether he who does it is a king or a common man; my countryman or not my countryman; whether it be done by an individual villain, or an army of them? if we reason to the root of things we shall find no difference; neither can any just cause be assigned why we should punish in the one case and pardon in the other.

it is waged war against an army of countrymen

it would lead to independence from britain

it would be an offensive war

it would be a defensive war