Answer:
The prisoners were particularly hopeful this time because they had received a coded message.
The answer is option ⇒c
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement mentions that the prisoners had heard similar rumors in the past, indicating that they had been hopeful before. However, this time their hope was heightened because they received a coded message. Here's why this would make them particularly hopeful:
1. Coded message: The fact that the prisoners received a coded message suggests that it contained important information. Codes are often used to transmit secretive or strategic messages. Therefore, the prisoners may believe that the coded message contains news of a significant development that could potentially lead to their freedom or improved conditions.
While the other options, such as seeing allied forces nearby, anxious guards, or overhearing a radio broadcast, could also contribute to the prisoners' hopefulness, the statement specifically mentions that they were particularly hopeful because they received a coded message. Therefore, option C, receiving a coded message, is the most direct and relevant reason for their heightened hope in this context.
The answer is option ⇒c