Question

Read the following text from a historical novel. This excerpt is about Captain Robert Scott's expedition to the South Pole.

He spared no one, not even himself, and he drove us on by the sheer force of his will. And then Birdie spotted that black flag. . . .
Amundsen had beaten us to the Pole. We put up the tent right away. It was curious how we each reacted to the realisation that our fearful labours had been for nothing. Birdie was angry; the Norwegians were poor sports, sneaks, not worth bothering about. When the story came to be told our feat of manhauling would be seen as the greater triumph. Bill busied himself making a sketch of the cairn and the flag and hardly opened his mouth. Scott himself was surprisingly philosophical. I think the shock of disappointment was so severe he could scarcely take it on board.
The previous text suggested that Scott and his men were saddened. How does this historical novel build on or challenge that idea?
A. It suggests that Scott was less disappointed than his team.
B. It shows how each member of the team reacted differently.
C. It suggests that most of the team was angry at Amundsen.

Answer 1

B. The passage describes different reactions: Birdie is angry, Bill is silent and sketches, and Scott is outwardly philosophical but stunned by the disappointment.