Read the excerpt from "Object Lesson, Part 2."

"But this morning's little job," Ellery turned suddenly to the red-haired boy, "you pulled by yourself, Joey."

The thin boy quivered. "Who, me?"

"Yes, Joey, you."

"You got rocks in your skull," Joey whispered. "Not me!"

"I'll prove it, Joey. Hand me the dollar bill I found in your jeans when I searched you."

How is tension created in this scene?

a
It sped up the pacing of events.
b
It makes the reader wonder what happened before.
c
The sudden movement surprises the reader.
d
It created an uncomfortable situation for Joey.

I managed to find the complete exercise on the Internet, given that you haven't provided us with all options given to you. 1. cogitating = contemplatingTo cogitate means to think about something (cogito in Latin literally means 'to think). Contemplating means to mull over a couple (or a lot) of options which is what Mr. Gamefield is doing in the excerpt above - he is thinking of ways to pay his rent.
2. cudgeling = beatingA cudgel is a short stick which you can use as a weapon. So if you cudgel something or someone, it means that you are beating them with a cudgel, because it is a thick stick, almost like a bat. So this person was metaphorically cudgeling his brain, but literally cudgeling his donkey.
3. regaled = rewardedThe verb to regale has two meanings - it can either mean 'to entertain someone,' or it can mean 'to supply someone with something.' Here, the latter meaning is used - the donkey thought he would be given a cabbage-stalk or two for his hard work