Read the following passage carefully:
Silas did not look at the words as they formed under his pen. To him, the telegraph was not a bearer of human destiny, but a rhythm—a series of sharp, metallic clicks that had to be translated into ink before the sound faded from the room. He worked with a dry, mechanical precision, his wrist moving in the same neat arc it had traced for thirty years. Across the cramped wooden desk, Julian leaned forward, his fingers white where they gripped the edge of the table. With every stroke of Silas’s pen, Julian’s eyes darted to the page, his breath catching at the mention of a missing vessel or a sudden fever. "We must send word to the harbor master immediately," Julian whispered, his voice trembling as he read the transcribed line about the listing schooner. Silas did not pause his hand. "Our duty is to receive, Julian, not to rescue," he said, his voice flat and even, matching the steady hum of the wires. "If you weep for every ship that loses its rudder, you will have no tears left for your own life."
Which of the following best describes the primary narrative function of the contrast between Silas’s detachment and Julian’s empathy?
- AIt demonstrates the author’s perspective that modern communication technology is inherently hostile to human relationships.
- BIt foreshadows that Julian will eventually leave the office to seek adventure on the listing schooner.
- It emphasizes the emotional self-preservation required by Silas's profession by contrasting his rigid detachment with Julian’s vulnerable empathy.Answer
- DIt portrays Silas as a malicious antagonist whose primary motivation is to hinder Julian's professional growth.
- EIt suggests that Silas's indifference is a sign of sensory decline rather than a deliberate psychological defense.