Question

the rain splashed on the windshield of hanks new car. the rainfall was heavy, making it hard to see, even on the slowest streets in columbus. hank strained his eyes to see through the splatter of raindrops that his wipers could not remove. he leaned forward in the hope that he could make out something. andreas head nodded forward as she sat in front of her computer. i dont know what it is about the rain that makes me so sleepy, andrea thought. she glanced at the clock; it was almost time to go. drowsily, andrea began to gather her things and prepared herself to encounter the rain. she wrapped herself tightly in her rain jacket and put on her rain boots. i cant get wet today, she said to herself and bounded out of door. the rain began to pelt the car this time as hank rounded the corner of 5th street, heading toward main. i should probably stop, hank considered. he couldnt really see the street or the signs anymore, but he didnt want to be late again. hank had been late to his daughters recitals one too many times, and this would be the fifth time that he missed the beginning of a recital, so he pressed on. under the portico, andrea made her last - minute adjustments. i cant get any rain on me today, andrea told herself. she opened up her bright yellow umbrella, stepped underneath it, and began to walk toward main street for a birthday party. she picked up her pace when the rain began to fall down heavily. the wipers on hanks car were going on overdrive. they flicked back and forth as he went faster down main street. without warning, a yellow umbrella appeared out of nowhere. hank rushed to make a quick stop. he breathed heavily as his car splashed to a stop, and hank jumped out of his car. there stood andrea, drenched with the water that the car splashed on her when it had stopped. andrea looked at hank in shock. she was soaking wet, and hank was now late. to develop the story, the author uses a. the yellow umbrella as a symbol. b. the dialogue between characters. c. two distinctive themes. d. two alternating plotlines.

Explanation:

• Option A: The yellow umbrella is used by Andrea, but there's no indication it's a symbol; it's just her umbrella for staying dry.
• Option B: There's no dialogue between characters (no spoken interactions between Hank and Andrea or others in conversation).
• Option C: The story doesn't have two distinctive themes; it focuses on the rain affecting Hank's driving and Andrea's journey, with no clear two themes.
• Option D: The story alternates between Hank's experience driving in the rain and Andrea's experience getting ready and walking in the rain, creating two alternating plotlines.

Answer:

D. two alternating plotlines.