Identify one major change in Brian's worldview by the end of the book?

• A. He views himself as capable and self-reliant rather than a passive observer.
• B. He becomes dependent on others for safety.
• C. He loses faith in his own abilities.
• D. He remains an observer waiting for rescue.

Answer: (A)

A big idea here is Brian’s growing sense of self-reliance. By the end of the book he shifts from feeling like a passive observer who waits for rescue to believing he can handle dangers and solve problems on his own. His survival hinges on real, active choices—finding or making fire, building shelter, securing food, and figuring out how to stay safe in a harsh environment. This shows a fundamental change in how he sees himself and his abilities.

That’s why the option describing him as capable and self-reliant best fits. It captures the arc of his experience: through skill, resourcefulness, and persistence, he moves from dependence on luck or others to trust in his own power to endure.

The other ideas don’t fit as well. He isn’t depicted as becoming dependent on others for safety, nor does he lose faith in his own abilities, and he certainly doesn’t stay as an observer waiting for rescue—he takes action and ultimately makes it through the ordeal.