In the excerpt, which statement best captures Brian's growing self-reliance?

• A. He was capable of taking care of himself.
• B. He relied on others for rescue.
• C. He surrendered to despair.
• D. He planned to abandon his shelter.

Answer: (A)

The core idea here is that Brian is getting better at handling things on his own. In the excerpt he takes charge of his own safety and needs, figuring out what to do next and following through with concrete steps that keep him alive. He builds a shelter, finds food and water, and learns to make fire, all through careful, practical thinking and persistence rather than waiting for someone to rescue him. This shows true independence and problem-solving under pressure, which is exactly what self-reliance looks like in a survival situation. The other options imply drawing on others, giving up, or abandoning his immediate safeguards, which would mean he hasn’t grown in autonomy. So the statement that he is capable of taking care of himself best captures his growing self-reliance.