Why does Rose of Sharon become scared after the dog is killed?

• A. It will have a negative effect on her unborn baby
• B. She loved the dog
• C. It reminds her of Tom
• D. Bad omen about move to California

Answer: (A)

This moment tests how Rose of Sharon’s pregnancy shapes her reaction to violence and loss. When the dog is killed, she doesn’t simply feel sadness or affection; she feels a protective fear that death and danger on the road could threaten the life growing inside her. The death becomes a tangible reminder of how fragile life is for someone who is about to have a baby, so she interprets it as a sign that their circumstances may harm her unborn child. That’s why the most fitting interpretation is that it will have a negative effect on her unborn baby.

The other ideas don’t fit as well because the scene isn’t primarily about her love for the dog, a memory of Tom, or a prediction about California. The key reaction centers on her concern for the baby and the precariousness of their situation.