Final answer:
When a narrator wants attention diverted from an umbrella, it means they want people to turn away from the umbrella, shifting focus to something else. This aligns with the tactic of diversion, which aims to redirect someone's attention away from the original subject. Option b is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term diverted, derived from the Latin dis-, meaning "away from", and vertere, meaning "to turn", indicates the action of turning attention away from something. In the context of a narrator stating that she wants attention diverted from the umbrella, we have to consider what that means based on the etymology and typical use of the word in English. It suggests an intentional effort to redirect focus or interest away from the umbrella to something else. This could be to emphasize a different aspect of the situation, to downplay the significance of the umbrella, or perhaps to avoid a certain line of questioning or thought that the umbrella might provoke.
Fallacies of diversion rely on the tactic of redirecting someone's attention away from the original topic or argument to avoid addressing the topic directly, often by introducing a new topic or by trivializing the original subject. Thus, when the narrator expresses a desire to have attention diverted from the umbrella, they are employing a tactic commonly seen when someone wants to shift focus from one object or subject to another. This could be for various reasons, such as the object in question may be controversial, embarrassing, incriminating, or simply to change the focus of a conversation.
The correct option that reflects the meaning of the narrator wanting attention diverted from the umbrella is:b) She wants people to turn away from the umbrella.
Options (a), (c), and (d) are inconsistent with the meaning of diverted, as they suggest, respectively, directing attention towards the umbrella, concealing the umbrella, and acquiring a new umbrella. The mention of the correct option answer in the final answer confirms that the desired action is for people to turn their attention away from the umbrella entirely.