Question

Reread the climax of the story:

Sean positioned himself for the dive and then splashed in; in an instant, he was gliding through the water like a dolphin. He put plenty of distance between himself and the Raiders’ swimmer as they turned into the final lap. As Sean came down the stretch, it looked as though the water held out a hand and pulled him down the swim lane. He reached the wall first and immediately looked for his time on the screen.
Which description best explains how the climax functions in this passage?
A. It shows the resolution to the passage's conflict as Malik celebrates with his teammates after Cardinal Hill's victory.
B. It depicts the point of highest action in the story as Sean, with Malik's encouragement, leads Cardinal Hill to victory.
C. It introduces the conflict between Malik and Sean, both of whom would like to swim in the men's relay race.
D. It raises the tension in the story by delaying Malik's decision about whether or not to swim in the final race of the meet.

Answer 1

B). It depicts the point of highest action in the story as Sean, with Malik's encouragement, leads Cardinal Hill to victory.

Step-by-step explanation:

The climax is described as the peak stage of conflict or tension in the narrative plot that drives the story towards resolution and denouement. It is usually described as the most intense or dramatic phase of the plot for which it is also categorized as the 'turning-point' of the narrative as it heads towards the resolution of the conflicts and concluding the plot.

As per the question, option B best displays the function of the climax in the given passage as it correctly justifies the above definition. The 'highest or most intense stage of action' in the story is reflected through Sean and the motivation or encouragement provided by Malik acts as a turning point in the story that drives Cardinal Hill to attain victory('reached the wall first') by resolving his inner conflict that concludes the story. Therefore, option B is the correct answer.