Answer:
The common theme between the two excerpts is "humanity's helplessness against nature."
Explanation:
Both excerpts show how human beings are fragile and helpless when nature shows its strength. This can be perceived by the fact that the two excerpts show characters that are dominated by doubts, uncertainties and fear in the face of nature's power over them. This power that the human being is not able to control. Nature can tear down and scare even the strongest human, that's what excerpts want to pass on to the reader.
Excitement: There were only 40 such riders going one way and 40 the other. Twain and the others had never seen one, ever. It was a little like anticipating the broadcast on television of the first American landing on the moon.
Finally after much anticipation, they were told they were going to see one such rider, and they did. It thrilled him to see the pony express rider. They were thrilled.
They knew what they were seeing. It was not bewilderment.
They were thrilled by the event. It was not indifference.
They had no reason to be afraid. He would pass them and be gone in and instant.
Answer: D
The correct option is A.
From the statement given in option A, it can be seen that the character been talked about was formerly happy but he suddenly came to himself and become sad when he remember that he did not have a nose. All that he has, that were making him happy a moment ago were completely forgotten.
