Final answer:
The passage describing a ship in dense fog waiting for something to happen exemplifies foreshadowing, creating suspense and indicating imminent significant events.
Step-by-step explanation:
Among the excerpts provided, the one that best exemplifies foreshadowing is:
“Have you ever been at sea in a dense fog, when it seemed as if a tangible white darkness shut you in, and the great ship, tense and anxious, groped her way toward the shore with plummet and sounding-line, and you waited with beating heart for something to happen?...”
This passage creates a sense of anticipation and hints at the likelihood of a future event or climax. The mention of waiting for something to happen in a context filled with uncertainty and tension is a textbook example of foreshadowing, suggesting that the characters in the narrative are on the brink of a significant, potentially transformative experience. It subtly prepares the reader for upcoming events without revealing specific outcomes.