A science fiction story is set in a new colony on Mars, except for brief flashbacks at the beginning of each chapter. Those flashbacks take place on Earth in large empty meeting rooms, dark alleys, and underground bunkers. They feature powerful people making choices about the Mars project. In the present-day part of the story on Mars, there is a rebellion brewing against the leaders of the colony. The leaders have grown very rich and have hoarded all the limited resources on Mars for themselves.

How does setting contribute to the story’s meaning? (1 point) Responses The flashback settings highlight the major differences between life on Earth and life on Mars. The flashback settings highlight the major differences between life on Earth and life on Mars. The present-day setting highlights how hard people will fight for what they believe in. The present-day setting highlights how hard people will fight for what they believe in. The present-day setting reinforces the theme that new adventures do not always go as people hope or plan for them to go. The present-day setting reinforces the theme that new adventures do not always go as people hope or plan for them to go. The flashback settings reinforce the idea that big choices were made without the input of the people they would affect.

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The flashback settings reinforce the idea that big choices were made without the input of the people they would affect. This contrast between the opulent, controlled environments of Earth’s powerful elite and the harsh, resource-scarce conditions of the Mars colony serves to highlight the disparity in power and privilege. The decision-making happening in dark alleys and underground bunkers speaks to secrecy and exclusivity, creating a sense of betrayal among the colonists who find themselves struggling under the oppressive rule of leaders who prioritize their wealth over the needs of the community. This setting choice underscores the overarching themes of exploitation, rebellion, and the consequences of decisions made from a position of power, revealing the depth of the colonists' struggles for autonomy and justice in a newly settled world.