How do critical thinking and native intelligence or scholastic aptitude relate?

Read this excerpt from "birdfoot's grampa.” the old man must have stopped our car two dozen times to climb out and gather into his hands the small toads blinded by our lights and leaping, live drops of rain. what are readers most likely to infer from the phrase "leaping, live drops of rain”? a the toads are all hurt. b the toads are still alive. c the toads are in shock. d the toads are not moving.

What point is the author trying to make by comparing the travel times of the first transcontinental railroad and the first transcontinental flight?

Read this excerpt from the lady of shalott by alfred, lord tennyson. in which three lines does the poet reveal the monotomy of the lady’s existence