Based on the passage about the dog appearing during the walk to the gallows, answer: How did the arrival of the dog change the atmosphere of the event?

Introduction / Context:
This reading comprehension item focuses on the impact of an unexpected detail in a serious scene. The passage describes a gloomy march towards the gallows when a dog suddenly runs into the yard, barking and wagging its body with joy. The question asks specifically how the arrival of the dog changed the atmosphere of the event. Understanding this requires careful attention to how the narrator and the other characters react to the dog behaviour.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The scene involves a prisoner being escorted to the gallows by warders and magistrates.
• A dog suddenly appears, barking, leaping, and wagging its whole body with glee.
• The text states that everyone stood aghast and was too taken aback even to grab the dog.
• We must choose the option that best summarises this effect on the people present.

Concept / Approach:
The key to answering lies in the phrase everyone stood aghast and too taken aback. Aghast means shocked or filled with sudden surprise, often in a negative or stunned way. Taken aback also indicates a sudden feeling of surprise or being momentarily unable to react. These words show that the atmosphere changed from grim purposefulness to shock and amazement at the dog cheerful intrusion. Therefore, we must choose an option that captures this stunned reaction, rather than options that introduce escape, scattering, or added sadness, which are not mentioned in the passage.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the description of the dog arrival: it bounds into the yard, barking loudly, and jumps around the people with joy. Step 2: Note the narrator statement that everyone stood aghast, indicating a strong feeling of surprise. Step 3: Also note that they were too taken aback even to grab at the dog, so they did not react quickly. Step 4: Compare these details with the options. Look for words that match shock, amazement, or being momentarily frozen. Step 5: See that the option saying it stunned everyone present there matches these ideas. Step 6: Confirm that no other option reflects the reaction actually described in the text.

Verification / Alternative check:
We can check each incorrect option against the passage. There is no mention of the people running away or scattering, so option A is unsupported. The prisoner does not escape, and the text does not even suggest any attempt to escape, so option B is clearly wrong. There is no description of the prisoner feeling more sad as a result of the dog arrival, so option C is not correct. In contrast, everyone stood aghast and too taken aback shows that the main effect was a moment of stunned surprise. The phrase stunned everyone present there is a good paraphrase of this combination, verifying that option D accurately summarises the change in atmosphere.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
It caused the people to scatter: The passage never states or implies that the people ran away or moved in all directions. They actually remain standing.
It allowed the prisoner to escape: The text does not describe any escape attempt or success; the dog simply interrupts the solemn procession.
It saddened the prisoner even more: The narrator does not comment on the prisoner emotions changing because of the dog. The focus is on the reaction of the group as a whole.
It stunned everyone present there: This matches the words aghast and taken aback in the passage and correctly summarises the change in mood.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake in such questions is reading too much into the situation instead of sticking to the text. Because the scenario is dramatic, learners may imagine an escape or emotional breakdown that the passage never mentions. Another pitfall is being misled by options that sound dramatic but are not supported by the actual words. To avoid these errors, students should always underline key phrases such as stood aghast and taken aback and look for options that closely match those ideas rather than relying on assumptions.

Final Answer:
The arrival of the dog changed the atmosphere by stunning everyone present there, as they stood aghast and could not react immediately.