Question

some years ago – never mind how long precisely – having nothing particular to interest me on shore, i thought i would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world. whenever i find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly november in my soul, then, i account it high time to get to sea as soon as i can. there is nothing surprising in this. if they but knew it, almost all people in their degree, some time or other, cherish very nearly the same feelings towards the ocean with me. now, when i say that i am in the habit of going to sea whenever i begin to grow hazy about the eyes and begin to be over - conscious of my lungs, i do not mean to have it inferred that i ever go to sea as a passenger. passengers get sea - sick, grow quarrelsome, don’t sleep of nights, do not enjoy themselves much, as a general thing; no, i never go as a passenger; nor, though i am something of an experienced sailor, do i ever go to sea as a commodore, or a captain, or a cook. i abandon the glory and distinction of such offices to those who like them. for my part, i abominate all honorable respectable toils, trials, and tribulations of every kind whatsoever: it is quite as much as i can do to take care of myself, without taking care of ships, schooners, and whatnot. and as for going as a cook, – though i confess there is considerable glory in that, a cook being a sort of officer on ship - board – yet, somehow, i never fancied broiling fowls; – though once broiled, judiciously buttered, and judgmentally salted and peppered, there is no one who will speak more respectfully, not to say reverentially, of a broiled fowl than i will. i always go to sea as a sailor because they make a point of paying me for my trouble; whereas they never pay passengers a single penny that i ever heard of. on the contrary, passengers themselves must pay. and there is all the difference in the world between paying and being paid. the act of paying is an uncomfortable infliction. but being paid, what will compare with it? the urbane activity with which a person receives money is really marvellous, considering that we so earnestly believe money to be the root of all earthly ills.
assessment questions
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9... 34
5 out of 34 answered
question 6
the narrator’s decision in paragraph 5 to join the whaling voyage develops the story by –
a. revealing that fate is responsible for the narrator’s circumstances.
b. revealing that the narrator was tricked into joining the whaling voyage.
c. highlighting that the narrator is conflicted about joining the whaling voyage.
d. highlighting that the narrator believes he is in control of his choices.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• Option A: The text doesn't show fate controlling the narrator's circumstances. The narrator chooses to go to sea and join the voyage based on his own preferences, not fate.
• Option B: There's no indication the narrator was tricked. He describes his own reasons for choosing to go as a sailor and join the whaling voyage.
• Option C: The narrator isn't conflicted. He clearly states his reasons for going as a sailor (being paid, avoiding the troubles of other roles) and his choice to join the whaling voyage seems consistent with his preferences.
• Option D: The narrator explains his choices (going as a sailor, joining the whaling voyage) based on his own desires (not wanting the troubles of other roles, wanting to be paid, etc.). This shows he believes he is in control of his choice.

Answer:

D. highlighting that the narrator believes he is in control of his choice.