This question has two parts. First, answer part A. Then, answer part B.

Part A:
Which statement BEST describes the theme of the text?
A. Bears are aggressive, wild creatures that can attack at any moment.
B. Bears can be fascinating and unpredictable.
C. Bears are a valuable part of the ecosystem.
D. Never approach or taunt a bear.

Part B:
Select the piece of evidence from "Shadow of the Pines" that BEST supports the answer to part A.

A. Her thick fur was matted and damp in some places, but when she walked in the sunshine her coat had an auburn-black sheen to it.
B. Mr. Hernandez raised his binoculars to watch her lope down the beach, stopping occasionally to sniff at the sand, edging into the water, then floundering back onto the shore.
C. The closer she came toward Mr. Hernandez's refuge, the more mesmerized he became by her movement, the reddish-black hues of her coat, her enormous, dripping jaws clenched victoriously around her rotten prize.
D. From somewhere in his memory, he retrieved a nugget of life-saving information: if you are confronted with a bear, never make sudden or antagonistic movements.