Question

the open boat is an 1897 short story by stephen crane. in the story, four men are at sea in a lifeboat. the narrator suggests that the progress of the boat is dependent on the forces of nature. 10 mark for review which quotation from the open boat most effectively illustrates the claim? a “a strong wind, marked by dingy clouds, and clouds brick - red, like smoke from a burning building, appeared from the south - east.” b “it was a long afternoon. a changed tide tried to force the boat southward, but wind and wave said northward.” c “there was a terrible grace in the move of the waves, and they came in silence, save for the snarling of the crests.” d “there was a long, loud swishing astern of the boat, and a gleaming trail of phosphorescence, like blue flame, was furrowed on the black waters.”

Explanation:

The claim is about the boat's progress being dependent on natural - forces. Option B mentions a tide trying to push the boat southward and wind and waves pushing it northward, showing the impact of natural forces on the boat's movement. Option A just describes the appearance of clouds and wind. Option C describes the grace and sound of waves without showing their impact on the boat's progress. Option D describes a phosphorescent trail behind the boat, not the forces affecting its progress.

Answer:

B. "It was a long afternoon. A changed tide tried to force [the boat] southward, but wind and wave said northward."