Question

review the passage. the allusion is shown in bold.
picard: there was no way to save him.
lily: you didnt even try. where was your evolved sensibility then?
picard: i dont have time for this.
lily: oh! hey! im sorry. i didnt mean to interrupt your little quest. captain ahab has to go hunt his whale.
picard: what?
lily: you do have books in the twenty - fourth century?
picard: this is not about revenge.
lily: liar!
picard: this is about saving the future of humanity.
from star trek: first contact. copyright 1996 by paramount pictures
what is the effect of the allusion on the passages meaning or tone?
it creates a tense atmosphere.
it suggests a motivation for picards actions.
it underscores the urgency of picards mission.

Explanation:

The allusion to Captain Ahab (from Moby - Dick) who is obsessed with hunting the whale (for revenge) is used by Lily. Picard says "This is not about revenge", but Lily's allusion implies that there might be a hidden motivation (like Ahab's revenge - driven quest) behind Picard's actions.

Answer:

It suggests a motivation for Picard's actions.