Question

read the excerpt from chapter 7 of night. when at last a grayish light appeared on the horizon, it revealed a tangle of human shapes, heads sunk deeply between the shoulders, crouching, piled one on top of the other, like a cemetery covered with snow. in the early dawn light, i tried to distinguish between the living and those who were no more. but there was barely a difference. my gaze remained fixed on someone who, eyes wide open, stared into space. his colorless face was covered with a layer of frost and snow. which statement best describes the atmosphere the author creates? ∘ it is an atmosphere of relief. ∘ it is an atmosphere of hesitation. ∘ it is a skeptical atmosphere. ∘ it is a nightmarish atmosphere.

Explanation:

The excerpt from Night describes human shapes tangled, piled like a snowy cemetery, with little difference between the living and dead, and a frost - covered face. A “nightmarish atmosphere” fits as the scene is horrifying, surreal, and filled with death - like imagery. “Relief” is incorrect as there's no relief here. “Hesitation” doesn't match the grim, horrifying tone. “Skeptical” is also wrong as the focus is on horror, not doubt.

Answer:

D. It is a nightmarish atmosphere.