Answer: b. stage directions that set the scene
Step-by-step explanation:
Elements of drama help paint a picture of the scene in the reader's mind so that they can be more immersed in the writing.
In this excerpt, the author decides to use stage directions to set the scene. The author talks about the things in the scene and even the light progression which allows for a person reading this to picture what the stage looked like and thus be more immersed in the reading.