Question

something... something isnt quite right here, andrew thought as he took one cautious step forward. he strained his eyes looking down the pitch - black hallway that lay before him. however, he saw nothing... nothing at all. andrew tried to hear any movement down the hall. but he heard nothing... nothing at all. the stillness of the house disquieted him. andrew took one more step into the darkness, and that darkness enveloped him. there was no way out... no way out at all. how does the writer build tension within the passage? a. by focusing the passage on one character b. by using a house as the passages setting c. suspense.

Explanation:

To determine how the writer builds tension, we analyze each option:

• Option A: Focusing on one character (Andrew) alone doesn't inherently build tension. A passage can focus on a character without creating tension.
• Option B: Using a house as a setting is a neutral choice. A house setting doesn't necessarily create tension; it depends on how it's used.
• Option C: The passage uses elements like the pitch - black hallway, Andrew seeing/hearing nothing, the stillness, and the sense of being trapped (no way out) to create suspense. Suspense is a key literary device to build tension by making the reader anxious about what will happen next, which is evident in this passage as we wonder what will befall Andrew in the dark, silent house.

Answer:

C. suspense.