Final answer:
The correct active voice conversion of the sentence is 'The captain put a new crew in charge of the huge ship.' Active voice involves the subject performing the action of the verb, creating a stronger, clearer sentence.
Step-by-step explanation:
To convert the sentence "A new crew was put in charge of the huge ship" into active voice while keeping the meaning the same, the correct option is d) The captain put a new crew in charge of the huge ship. This sentence changes the passive construction to active by identifying who is performing the action (the captain) and then stating the action (putting a new crew in charge) and the object (the huge ship).
Active voice creates stronger, clearer, and more concise sentences by making the subject do the action rather than receive it. For instance, in the sentence 'Jose argued that his house was no place for a dance party', the subject (Jose) performs the action (argued) which makes it in active voice.
In literature, authors might use active or passive voice strategically. For example, in shipwreck narratives, active voice can add a sense of immediacy and agency, as in 'The captain directed the cook to take one oar at the stern'. This direct action contrasts with the uncontrollable external forces depicted through the passive voice, such as in 'The ship was beset with difficulty'.