Describe the dugout.

• A. It was at the narrow end of a v-shaped hollow, about 10 feet by 20 feet, sunk into a clay bank, with a sod roof and a chimney made of sticks and mud; there was a brush-arbor shed and a cave for livestock.
• B. It was a wooden cabin with a tile roof.
• C. It was a cave with no roof.
• D. It was a tent in a field.

Answer: (A)

A dugout is a shelter built into the side of a hill or bank, usually covered with earth or sod and often with a simple, earthen roof. The description fits because it places the living space at the end of a v-shaped hollow sunk into a clay bank, showing it’s carved into the earth rather than standing above ground. The sod roof is a hallmark of this kind of dwelling, using earth and vegetation for insulation and weatherproofing. A chimney made of sticks and mud indicates there’s a fireplace inside, providing heat and light without a conventional roof. The presence of a brush-arbor shed and a livestock cave adds to the sense of a rural, self-sufficient homestead typical of dugouts. Other shelter types—like a wooden cabin with a tile roof, a cave with no roof, or a tent in a field—do not match these features, as they are not built into earth with an earth-covered roof and a simple internal fireplace.