15. 8R5 – Paragraph 2 contributes to the reader’s understanding of the “Excerpt from The Open Boat” by –

A. creating suspense about the sailors’ future.
B. creating an image in the reader’s mind of the sailors in a small boat in a vast and angry sea.
C. including humor about the situation the sailors have found themselves in.
D. connecting facts about the open ocean to sailing information.

B.

Explanation:

"The Open Boat" is a short story penned by Stephen Crane. The story is about the real-life experience of Crane when he was shipwrecked to Florida while on his way to Cuba.

The second paragraph of the story appeals to the sight of the readers. This paragraph helps the reader visualize a boat that is smaller than a 'bath-tub' and fighting its coarse with the rough and tall waves. The sea appears to be angry and creating barbarously rapid and tall waves that is tossing the small boat.

So, the correct answer is option B.