Question

read the passages.
(from two years before the mast
in a short time every one was in motion, the sails loosed, the yards braced, and we began to heave up the anchor, which was our last hold upon yankee land. i could take but little part in all these preparations. my little knowledge of a vessel was all at fault. unintelligible orders were so rapidly given and so immediately executed; there was such a hurrying about, and such an intermingling of strange cries and stranger actions, that i was completely bewildered.
(from two years before the mast by richard henry dana, jr.)
from twenty years at sea
the bombay was, for those days, a good sized ship of about six hundred tons register, but she would seem a mere tender by the side of the marine monsters of the present time. her crew included twelve men and two boys, with captain, two mates, carpenter, cook, and steward. the men had been, as usual, divided into two watches, and i had fallen into the mates, or port watch. . . .

ow look here, you bob,\ said the mate one fine afternoon when i was barely convalescent, \youve been playing seasick passenger about long enough. its time you began to be of some use on board and to earn your grub.\
(based on twenty years at sea by frederic stanhope hill)
both passages feature a crew member who fails to contribute to the work aboard a ship.
which statement best explains the main difference in emphasis between the passages?

1. in two years before the mast, a crew member pretends inexperience to avoid helping.
2. in two years before the mast, a busy crew refuses help from an inexperienced crew member.
3. in twenty years at sea, a frustrated mate demands that a crew member begin helping.
4. in twenty years at sea, a crew member considers the ship too small to require his help.

Explanation:

• In Two Years Before the Mast, the crew member pretends inexperience to avoid helping.
• In Twenty Years at Sea, a crew member is considered too small to require his help.
• The key difference is the reason for not contributing: pretense vs. size - related perception.

Answer:

1. In Two Years before the Mast, a crew member pretends inexperience to avoid helping.
2. In Twenty Years at Sea, a crew member considers the ship too small to require his help.