Immediately after Noah leaves, Tom's action is to sleep.

• A. To tell Ma
• B. To sleep
• C. To tell Pa
• D. To tell Rose

Answer: (B)

This question hinges on remembering a character’s immediate reaction in a tense moment and what that reaction reveals about him. The text shows Tom’s first move right after Noah leaves is to sleep. This isn’t about a plan or a conversation; it’s about fatigue and a coping instinct. Tom uses sleep to temporarily escape the shock and emotional weight of Noah’s departure, signaling a withdrawal rather than quick communication or action.

That staying asleep communicates more about Tom than words could in that moment: he’s exhausted, overwhelmed, and not ready to engage with Ma, Pa, or Rose or to confront the new situation aloud. The other possibilities—telling someone right away—don’t fit because the scene emphasizes his immediate retreat into sleep as a response to the disruption, not a decision to speak or act out loud.