Question

adapted from \a chapter of fish\ by arthur ransome
sometimes in spring, when the big river flooded its banks and made lakes of the meadows, and the little river flowed deep, old peter spent a few days selling fish, but in summer he sat night after night in the little river just far from where it left the forest. and as it happened that one day he sat in the warm sunshine mending his net, mending his nets and making floats for them; not only floats he made, but also tons of the silver bark of the birch trees.
and while he sat there yevsey and marusya watched him, and sometimes even helped, holding a piece of the net between them, while old peter fastened on the white glistening rind of bark that were to keep it up in the water. and all the time old peter mended, he told them stories about fish.
once he told them what happened when the first pike was born, and how it is that so few little fish are not eaten by the great pike with his huge greedy mouth and his sharp teeth.
on the night of ivans day (that is the midsummer) there was born the pike, a huge fish, with such teeth as never were. and when the pike was born the waters of the river foamed and raged, so that the ships in the river were all but swamped, and the young girls who were playing on the banks ran away as fast as they could, frightened, they were, by the roaring of the waves, and the wind and the foam on the water—terrible was the birth of the sharp - toothed pike.
and when the pike was born he did not grow up by months or by days, but by...
question how do paragraphs 18 and 19 (not fully shown) develop the theme of the story?
a the arshs (likely a typo, maybe \eels\ or other character) sporadic words to the other fishes represent his need for strong friendship in a group.
b the eels strict leadership over the other fishes illustrated the way to command a crowd.
c the eels bold plan contrasts with the other fishes plans because it could be used successfully in any river.
d the eels earnest suggestion for the other fishes to work together shows how a strong enemy can be defeated.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option by relating to the text (though the full context of paragraphs 18 - 19 is partially visible, we use the given story elements):

• Option A: The text shows old Peter (the eel? Or a character) interacting with other fishes, sharing stories and working together (like making nets). The "earnest suggestion to work together" and the story of the pike (a strong enemy) could link to defeating a strong enemy via unity. But wait, re - evaluating: The original text (from "A Chapter of Fish") has themes of cooperation. Wait, no—let's check the options again. Wait, the question is about how paragraphs 18 - 19 develop the theme. Let's re - assess each option:

• Option B: There's no "strict leadership" shown; old Peter is sharing and working with others, not leading strictly. Eliminate B.
• Option C: The eel's plan (if that's the case) isn't said to work in "any river"—the text is about a specific river setting. Eliminate C.
• Option D: The eel (or old Peter) suggests working together, and the story of the pike (a strong predator) implies that by working together, such a strong enemy can be defeated. This matches the theme of unity against a strong foe.
• Option A: The text isn't about "strong friendship in a group" but about cooperation to face a threat (the pike). So A is less accurate.

Answer:

D. The eel’s earnest suggestion for the other fishes to work together shows how a strong enemy can be defeated.