Question

the following text is from joseph conrads 1907 novel the secret agent: a simple tale. mr. verloc is navigating the london streets on his way to a meeting. before reaching knightsbridge, mr. verloc took a turn to the left out of the busy main thoroughfare, uproarious with the traffic of swaying omnibuses and trotting vans, in the almost silent, swift flow of hansom - drawn carriages. under his hat, worn with a slight backward tilt, his hair had been carefully brushed into respectful sleekness, for his business was with an embassy. and mr. verloc, steady like a rock - a soft kind of rock - marched now along a street which could with every propriety be described as private. which choice best describes the function of the underlined phrase in the text as a whole? a. it qualifies an earlier description of mr. verloc. b. it emphasizes an internal struggle mr. verloc experiences. c. it contrasts mr. verloc with his surroundings. d. it reveals a private opinion mr. verloc holds.

Explanation:

The text is from a literary work and asks about the function of a description of Mr. Verloc. Analyzing the qualities emphasized in a character - description is a key aspect of literary analysis.

Answer:

A. It qualifies an earlier description of Mr. Verloc.