The story most likely takes place at night. The Option A is correct.
In the given passage, several clues point to the time of day. The mention of "owls hooting" suggests that it is nighttime as owls are nocturnal birds. Also, Rowena uses the light from her cell phone to guide herself which is a common behavior in low-light or dark conditions which are encountered at night.
The eerie silence and the description of waves striking jagged rocks also contribute to the nighttime ambiance because the ocean is often more audible at night due to reduced ambient noise.
Overall, the combination of these elements strongly indicates that the story is taking place during the night.
Full question:
Rowena climbed the spiraling, rickety staircase, holding out her cell phone, and, though there was no network, she was glad she could at least use the light from her phone to guide herself. In the eerie silence, all she could hear was the hooting of owls and the sound of waves striking the jagged rocks. She felt frightened as she moved cautiously up the stairs, not knowing what lay in store for her. The railing was covered with dust, a sure indication that no one had visited the place for some time. As she reached the landing, she tried to look out the window to see if she could see any signs of life. Suddenly, she screamed loudly when something fell on her shoulder. She heaved a sigh of relief when she realized that it was a bird who had probably become scared of her invading its territory. All of a sudden, her attention was caught by a twinkling light in the distance. Hurriedly, she waved her arm, the light from her phone shining and twinkling. She switched it on and off, again and again, hoping that she was successfully conveying her predicament. The answering blinking light from far away put her mind at ease.
During what time of the day is the story most likely taking place?
A. evening
B. night
C. afternoon
D. morning