Read the passage. History in the Making

The December morning was cold and crisp as John Lee and his retriever Sampson turned toward the beach. Inhaling, John Lee let the smells and sounds wash over him. As he and Sampson crisscrossed the fields of sea oats and beach grasses, a cold, bitter wind gusted across the dunes. Pulling his jacket more tightly to him, John Lee clucked at Sampson, urging the lumbering black dog onward. Despite the cold, John Lee was determined not to miss a single, solitary moment of this day—history was in the making!

As he and Sampson walked along the dunes, John Lee recalled that first meeting with the two brothers from Ohio—the Wright Brothers. John Lee had literally collided with Wilbur one day while chasing after Sampson. Then, his brother Orville wandered over to see what the commotion was about. John Lee was afraid that both he and Sampson were in for a scolding. Happily, Orville and Wilbur simply initiated a conversation, patiently answering the curious John Lee’s questions.

John Lee had already heard some rumblings about the two; they were inventors, tinkering with some unique contraption—a flying machine. They had run a bicycle shop back in Ohio until they had become increasingly intrigued by anything and everything having to do with flight. They researched and studied and toyed with various experiments, and eventually had made their way to North Carolina to conduct “trials” with their flying machine. Everything about the brothers fascinated John Lee—from their flat Ohio accents to their conversations peppered with scientific jargon—words like velocity, atmospheric, and physics. For the first time, he could envision the existence of a world beyond Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

Jogging over a large dune, John Lee spotted the familiar outlines of the Wrights’ work shed and living quarters. Coming around the corner of the shed was Orville Wright; trailing behind him was his brother Wilbur, deep in conversation with one of the men who worked at the Kill Devil Hills Life-Saving Station, one of the many stations constructed along the coastline to assist sailors in need of help. The Wright brothers had chosen this area of the outer banks because of the constant wind needed provide a lift to their flying machine.

John Lee’s gaze strayed toward a group of men placing a series of tracks down on the ground, watching as one man guided the others in the placement of the tracks. Today, the Wrights were conducting another trial with their flying machine. Three days earlier, Wilbur had successfully steered the machine, soaring above the ground for a total of three seconds. John Lee treasured that sight—it was one of the most thrilling things he had ever witnessed. Now, he and Sampson watched as several men from the Life-Saving Service guided the flying machine out of its shed. John Lee could feel the excitement in the air, as if it were he that would be aboard that flying machine! The men guided the contraption to the edge of the tracks. John Lee had to remind himself not to hold his breath.

Then, much to his surprise and delight, Wilbur came over and handed John Lee a watch, telling him he would be one of the timekeepers for the trials today.

Orville strode over to the machine and then climbed aboard, positioning himself between the wings; the engine throbbed to life. To John Lee, it seemed as if everything was in slow motion as the flying machine glided across the tracks and then began to slowly ascend. For twelve glorious seconds, Orville was airborne. Dixon heard the other men whooping; applause filled the air.

Then, all too soon, it was over. The flying machine skimmed back into the soft dune sands; the men cheered and clapped Orville on the back, while another man pumped Wilbur's arm so hard that it looked like he was trying to pump water. Sampson barked as if he understood that something very exciting had happened. John Lee was in a daze; it was turning out to be a most unexpected day—a day he would never, ever forget.

How does the author of "History in the Making" develop the setting in the final two paragraphs of the passage?

A: by explaining how the strong winds and clear weather contributed to the success of the Wright Brothers' first flight.

B: by emphasizing that the flight could only take place if the weather conditions were mild

C: by explaining the effect of the sand dunes on the quality of the plane's landing

D: By describing the sights, sounds, and feelings around the Wright Brothers' first flight