Big Water

Question

by Andrea Curtis

What I should be, really, is frightened. Everything about this situation is alarming. I can almost hear the opening strains of one of those melancholy operas Father likes to listen to with the door to his study closed. All the ominous parts are here—dark sky, turbulent lake, waves rising, my cousin Peter, the ship’s first mate though he’s barely older than me, insisting I get a life preserver and put it on.

I dig my nose into my collar and turn to the side. The wind still tears at my skin, but I’m not going to leave this spot at the front of the ship if I can help it. Even though the sky is getting darker by the second. Even though it’s only midmorning, and I can barely see the horizon. The lake is murky too, almost black, indistinguishable from the sky.

Excerpt from Big Water by Andrea Curtis. Printed with permission by Orca Book Publishers

Question
Use the excerpt from “Big Water” by Andrea Curtis to answer the question.

What best describes the mood implied by the story’s setting?

(1 point)
Responses which answer is correct and why

eerie and frightening
eerie and frightening

uplifting and cheerful
uplifting and cheerful

peaceful and relaxed
peaceful and relaxed

boring and disinterested
boring and disinterested
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Answer 1

The best description of the mood implied by the story's setting is eerie and frightening.

This conclusion is supported by various elements from the excerpt:

1. Dark Sky and Turbulent Lake: The description of a "dark sky" and a "turbulent lake" creates an ominous atmosphere that suggests danger.

2. Ominous Indicators: The mention of "ominous parts" reinforces the sense of foreboding, as does the reference to the melancholy operas that evoke a sense of dread.

3. The Character's Fear: The narrator mentions that they "should be, really, frightened," indicating a sense of anxiety and tension, which contributes to an overall mood of fear.

These elements combined create a scene that feels unsettling and loaded with a sense of impending threat, rather than any uplifting, peaceful, or disinterested feelings.