Question

Read the passage.

From "An Episode of War" by Stephen Crane The lieutenant was frowning and serious at this task of division. His lips pursed as he drew with his sword various crevices in the heap, until brown squares of coffee, astoundingly equal in size, appeared on the blanket. He was on the verge of a great triumph in mathematics, and the corporals were thronging forward, each to reap a little square, when suddenly the lieutenant cried out and looked quickly at a man near him as if he suspected it was a case of personal assault.
Which clause shows that the story’s events are changing?
A) Suddenly the lieutenant cried out
B) The lieutenant was frowning and serious
C) His lips pursed
D) The corporals were thronging forward

Answer 1

The clause indicating a change in the events of Stephen Crane's story is "Suddenly the lieutenant cried out," marking a shift from routine to surprise.

Step-by-step explanation:

The clause that shows the story’s events are changing in Stephen Crane's "An Episode of War" is "Suddenly the lieutenant cried out". This moment marks a shift from the routine division of coffee to an unexpected situation.

The sudden cry breaks the pattern of activity and introduces an element of surprise, which is a common literary technique to signal a change or escalation in the narrative. Every other option presented describes part of the ongoing scene, but it is the sudden cry that indicates a pivotal change that is about to take place in the story.

Answer 2

The clause "Suddenly the lieutenant cried out" from Stephen Crane's "An Episode of War" signifies a pivotal moment that changes the story's events.

Step-by-step explanation:

The clause that indicates a change in the story's events from "An Episode of War" by Stephen Crane is "Suddenly the lieutenant cried out".

This clause marks a shift from a methodical task of dividing coffee to an unexpected action that interrupts the lieutenant's concentration, suggesting a pivotal moment or alteration in the narrative.

This sort of shift often signifies a turn in the plot, transitioning from a state of normalcy to one involving conflict or surprise, which is a common literary device to keep the readers engaged and to advance the storyline.