Question

What does the phrase ""grew thick and dense like river weed"" suggest about the port town?

A) It became prosperous and thriving.
B) It became overgrown and neglected.
C) It became polluted and unhealthy.
D) It became vibrant and lively.

Answer 1

The phrase suggests that the town has become overgrown and neglected, similar to how river weeds grow unchecked, contributing to a depiction of a polluted and unhealthy environment.

Step-by-step explanation:

The phrase "grew thick and dense like river weed" about the port town suggests that the town became overgrown and neglected. This imagery alludes to an environment that is untended and has allowed for unchecked growth, much like weeds in a river.

Given the context provided, where the human inhabitants suffer from an air "saturated with fog and grease and soot," it does not suggest a thriving or vibrant community, but rather one that has been allowed to deteriorate or become polluted and unhealthy. The description of the river being "dull and tawny-colored" and "tired" of the cargo it carries further paints a picture of a place that has been tainted by industrialization and is in decline.