Read the passage below carefully:
The harbor master folded the telegram thrice before slipping it into his coat pocket. He walked past the eager crowd of merchants waiting on the pier, refusing to meet their eyes. When his assistant handed him the sea forecast, he merely shook his head and ordered the red warning lantern to be hoisted to the top mast.
What can be logically deduced about the harbor master's situation from his actions in the passage?
- He has received distressing news regarding maritime danger which he is hesitant to announce directly to the waiting merchants.Answer
- BHe is hostile toward the merchants for gathering on the pier without prior authorization.
- CHe intends to personally navigate a ship out to sea immediately despite the forecast.
- DHe folded the telegram because he misread the text and needed time to decipher it.
Answer
The harbor master has received distressing news regarding maritime danger which he is hesitant to announce directly to the waiting merchants.
The combination of avoiding eye contact with merchants expecting news, hiding the telegram, shaking his head at the sea forecast, and signaling danger via the red lantern logically leads to the deduction that the harbor master received bad news about sea conditions that he is reluctant to break to the crowd.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Drawing Inferences and Deductions from Unseen Passages
Estimated Time:1m 15s