"The Open Boat" (Stephen Crane)

None of them knew the color of the sky. Their
eyes glanced level, and were fastened upon the
waves that swept toward them. These waves
were of the hue of slate, save for the tops, which
were of foaming white, and all of the men knew
the colors of the sea. The horizon narrowed and
widened, and dipped and rose, and at all times its
edge was jagged with waves that seemed thrust up in points like rocks.

1. how is the first paragraph of the story important to the passage as a whole?
a. it focuses on the danger of the ocean as insurmountable.
b. it focuses on the ocean's importance over the sky land, setting the sea as the primary settings.
c. it establishes the ocean as the primary focus and antagonist of the survivors.
d. it establishes the ocean as ugly and gray, as opposed to beautiful and blue.

Part a which statement best describes a central idea in this narrative? in times of tragedy, it is difficult to determine how best to be of service. in times of crisis, people prefer to be alone. young people tend to look to older people to take action in times of tragedy. when people publicly commit to being of service, they are more likely to follow through. part b which detail from the text best to shape the central idea in part a? "'i thought you might have too much going on already. i saw everyone post online.' martin said, 'i don’t think anyone wanted to be in the way today, so i’m glad you came.'" "finally, he said, 'i don’t know what to do. i guess i should tell him to let me know if he needs anything, but that doesn’t feel like enough.'" "he wondered how many people would actually show up to out and how many would simply hope that enough others did." "he explained to her that martin’s mom had died, and told her how he felt about his friend’s loss. 'what do you plan to do for him? ' his mother asked."

Which is the best paraphrase of the passage? a.)it’s always cloudy where the men of winter live. b.)it’s always misty where the men of winter live. c.)it’s always dark where the men of winter live. d.)it’s always sunny where the men of winter live. read the passage from the odyssey - elpenor. by night our ship ran onward toward the ocean's bourne, the realm and region of the men of winter, hidden in mist and cloud. never the flaming eye of helios lights on those men at morning, when he climbs the sky of stars, nor in descending earthward out of heaven; ruinous night being rove over those wretches.

Fortify is a verb that means “to protect and strengthen.” a fortifications is a that means something that protects.