Question

Read the excerpt from Heart of a Samurai. As the boats rounded the tip of the island, the fishermen gasped. An enormous bird with many huge, white wings sat upon the water. But, no, it was a ship, bristling with masts, slung with dozens of sails, and alive with movement. Many strange foreigners scurried about on deck or crawled up the ropes that were strung all over the vessel like spiderwebs. What does the phrase "the fishermen gasped" help readers infer? The fishermen have never seen a large sailing ship before. The fishermen are surprised to see Japanese sailors. The fishermen cannot believe that they have been rescued. The fishermen recognize the sailing ship as one from home.

Answer 1

Answer: The fishermen have never seen a large sailing ship before.

Step-by-step explanation:

The phrase "the fishermen gasped" help readers infer that the fishermen have never seen a large sailing ship before.

To gasp means to lose ones breath and from the excerpt, we are informed about how enormous the ship was and that as the boats rounded the tip of the island, the fisherman gasped.