Answer:
The plot element exemplified by this passage is climax.
Step-by-step explanation:
The plot in a story has three main elements: exposition, climax, and resolution.
Exposition is the beginning of the story where important information is introduced (background, setting, and information related to characters).
The climax is where all amotion or drama is developed. It is the most intense part of the sequence of a story.
As its name suggests, the resolution is the moment in a story where the drama or conflict from the climax is solved or clarified. It also works as the closing of the story.
In the passage, the situation described is where the drama and intense situations take place. A terrifying situation leads Declan to think about big actions and decisions he’ll have to make. That's why this passage is representative of the climax.