Question

What conflict, or struggle, is presented in this scene from “There Will Come Soft Rains”?

“Fire!” screamed a voice. The house lights flashed, water pumps shot
water from the ceilings. But the solvent spread on the linoleum, licking,
eating, under the kitchen door, while the voices took it up in chorus:
“Fire, fire, fire!” . . .

The house gave ground as the fire in ten billion angry sparks moved
with flaming ease from room to room and then up the stairs.
A. the conflict the house feels about whether or not to save itself from fire
B. the conflict between nature, the fire, and the human-made solvent
C. the conflict between the panicked house and the furious fire
D. the conflict the fire feels about destroying the house

Answer 1

C

The passage depicts the automated house battling the advancing fire: the house sounds alarms and pumps water while the fire spreads "from room to room" and the house "gave ground," framing it as a struggle between the panicked (automated) house and the furious fire.