Final answer:
The naval officer is disappointed in the boys' behavior upon rescuing them at the end of the novel, reflecting the disapproval of their savagery and the failures of civilization.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question pertains to the end of a novel where a naval officer rescues a group of boys. The correct option that describes the naval officer's reaction is: a. Is disappointed in the boys' behavior.
When he sees the state of the boys and grasps the extent of their savagery, the naval officer expresses disappointment and disapproval, signifying a collapse of the romantic view of boys’ innocence and a highlighting of civilization’s own failures.
The naval officer in the story is e. proud of their survival skills. At the end of the story, when the naval officer rescues the boys, he expresses admiration for their ability to survive and the order they maintained on the island.
This is evident when he says, "I should have thought that a pack of British boys...would have been able to put up a better show than that." The naval officer's statement indicates that he is proud of their survival skills and expected more from them.