Final answer:
Ralph doesn't expect to encounter the beast because he thinks it is a result of the imagination and fear of the other boys.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ralph doesn't really expect to encounter the beast in the book because he believes it is just a figment of the other boys' imaginations. He thinks that the fear and beliefs of the others have led them to imagine the existence of the beast. Ralph is more rational and skeptical, and he relies on evidence and logic rather than superstition. For example, in the book, he says, 'Unless we get frightened of people.' This shows that Ralph sees the beast as a creation of fear and human imagination rather than a real physical threat.