What does this quotes means “an ocean would never laugh if clouds weren’t there to kiss her tears”

If the author of the gift of the magi had made the reader aware of the gifts that jim had purchased in the beginning of the story this would be an example of

What theme is best revealed by this conflict? a.)with cooperation, crews can defeat the gods. b.)dangerous ocean travel claims many lives. c.)rest is required for all who work hard. d.)people must respect the wrath of the gods. read the excerpt from part 1 of the odyssey. now zeus the lord of cloud roused in the north a storm against the ships and driving veils of the squall moved down like night on land and sea. the bows went plunging at the gust; sails cracked and lashed outstrips in the big wind. we saw death in that fury, dropped the yards, unshipped the oars, and pulled for the nearest lee: then two long days and nights we lay offshore.

Plz asap read this sentence from paragraph 3 of the article. the boys and girls are merely asked to obtain the signatures of ten friends or relatives. how does the word "merely" affect the meaning of the sentence? a- it suggests that asking people to subscribe to the washington times is something negative. b- it implies that obtaining ten signatures is not a requirement for receiving a prize. c- it downplays the fact that to win the prize, children must ask people to subscribe to the washington times. d- it emphasizes that children receive the prize only if they obtain ten signatures.