Question

this time there was no murmur in the air, no warning of approaching danger. even the watchful press, that knows so much before it ever happens, slumbered quiet and deep, till the hissing wires shrieked the terrifying word—galveston. then we learned that, as at port royal, the sea had overleaped its bounds and its victims by thousands were in its grasp. in all the land no one slept then. to us it was the clang of the fire-bell, and the drop of the harness. the red cross clans commenced to gather. read the excerpt from a story of the red cross. why does the author most likely include this description? to show the contrast between the peaceful silence and the devastation to show that journalists know more about what happens than anyone to show the quick response of firefighters and rescue workers to show the power of nature in dangerous situations

Explanation:

The excerpt describes a peaceful silence before a disaster (the sea's devastation). The author includes the quiet scene to contrast with the subsequent destruction. Other options: B is incorrect as it's about the sea's event, not journalists' knowledge; C is about firefighters/rescue workers, but the text focuses on the sea's devastation and the quiet before, not their response; D is about nature's power, but the contrast of quiet and devastation is more about showing the contrast. So the best reason is to show the contrast between peaceful silence and devastation.

Answer:

A. to show the contrast between the peaceful silence and the devastation