From Midnight Rescue
by T. Herlinger
It was just before midnight on Sunday, April 14, 1912, and the RMS Carpathia was sailing from New York City to Rijeka, Croatia, when it received the distress call from the great ship Titanic, which was on its maiden voyage. The ship had hit an iceberg and was sinking fast. As Carpathia steamed through the ice fields to Titanic's aid, Mrs. Shaw and her teenage daughter Annie sat on deck chairs unable to sleep in their cabin—and unaware of the tragedy taking place just 60 miles away. It was the mother and daughter's first sea voyage, and neither was taking to it well.
"Dear, can you run and get my smelling salts?" Mrs. Shaw asked her daughter. "I'm feeling a bit unsteady again."
Annie had just gotten situated comfortably on her deck chair, but she did as her mother requested and walked back to their cabin. Just as she reached the door to their room, a ship steward brushed past her, nearly knocking her down. Annie grunted in dismay, as the young man hadn't even stopped to apologize. Then she called after him, "What's your big hurry?"
"It's the Titanic, miss," the young man answered excitedly. "She's smashed into a berg and is going down fast. We're headed there now at top speed to rescue all the passengers we can."
Annie gasped at the news, gripping the door handle for support. Then she went inside the cabin and sat heavily on her bed to gather her thoughts. But everyone said that ship was unsinkable, she thought to herself as a chill ran through her. She imagined those poor souls on the Titanic, especially the young people, and her heart thumped wildly. There must be some way I can help them, she thought, getting up now and pacing the small room. Suddenly, she raced over to the little closet and threw open the door. There, in a neat row, were her sweaters and shawls, warm enough to get her through a New York winter. She began yanking them off their hangers and piling them on the bed. Those Titanic passengers are bound to be cold and frightened, Annie thought, and they'll need these clothes a whole lot more than I will.
How does the interaction between Annie and the steward develop the plot of the passage?
A. It builds the characters' points of view.
B. It brings out a resolution to the problem.
C. It helps to build the climax of the story.
D. It describes the problem in the story.