Question #N296
The following text is from Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel Dracula. The narrator is being driven in a carriage through a remote region at night. The baying of the wolves sounded nearer and nearer, as though they were closing round on us from every side. I grew dreadfully afraid, and the horses shared my fear. The driver, however, was not in the least disturbed; he kept turning his head to left and right, but I could not see anything through the darkness.
What is the most likely purpose of the sentence, "The driver, however, was not in the least disturbed; he kept turning his head to left and right, but I could not see anything through the darkness."?
A. To provide a vivid description of the driver's actions.
B. To contrast the driver's calmness with the narrator's fear.
C. To introduce the driver as a new character in the story.
D. To suggest that the driver is not paying attention to his surroundings.
Correct Answer is: B
The sentence directly contrasts the driver's calmness with the narrator's fear. The narrator is "dreadfully afraid," while the driver is "not in the least disturbed." This contrast highlights the driver's composure in a dangerous situation.