Read the following excerpt from "the scarlet ibis" by william hurst and answer the question that follows.

the flower garden was stained with rotting brown magnolia petals and ironweeds grew rank amid the purple phlox. the five o'clocks by the chimney still marked time, but the oriole nest in the elm was untenanted and rocked back and forth like an empty cradle. the last graveyard flowers were blooming, and their smell drifted across the cotton field and through every room of our house, speaking softly the names of our dead.

determine the mood created by the details of the setting.
a. lively
b. cheerful
c. terrifying
d. depressing

Why does the author's description of the mercury boiler—"the mercury, when vaporized, going into a mercury turbine and then into a condenser, remaining hot enough to generate steam in a steam boiler"—intentionally incorporate such highly technical language? using technical language establishes the expertise of the writer and convey the complex nature of the process being described. using technical language allows the writer to subtly poke fun at those who seek to make basic processes seem overly complicated. using technical language encourages readers to develop deeper and more meaningful personal connections to the information. using technical language lets the writer make clear to readers that the article is intended for readers who are themselves experts on electricity.