B. Haq
The boats docked in the bay bobbed up and down with waves crashing ferociously at the old pier. The old wooden pier stood stubborn and unyielding without budging under the thrashing force. Ashore, the gray skies dampened everyone’s spirits and muffled out the screeching gusty wind for days on end. Even the lively multihued buildings appeared unobtrusive in the cold, wet, and blustery afternoon.
Sebastian noticed there was not much going on around him. Tourists mustn’t have liked the chill in the air and gone downtown to traverse the mall, museum, or movie theater or whatever fancied their imagination.
What would become of us if the business didn’t pick up? thought Sebastian, huddled over a thick hot cup of cocoa as he warmed his gaunt fingers numbed from the cold. His scrawny face simultaneously showed signs of indifference and anxiety. He needed three more rounds to the island with a full load to keep afloat.
“Hey!” A loud voice jolted him out of his thoughts. Sebastian jumped to his feet and turned around, spilling the now lukewarm drink over his faded green parka and fake Sherpa blanket. He sheepishly attempted to wipe the brown mess from his sleeves, but it became messier in his awkward but sincere efforts. He let it go and turned his focus on the loud voice.
“Can you take us down to the island and back?” asked the man, stepping out from a clamorous group of ten or so people. “Hi! My name is Ray Bearden. I am the head of a science expedition team from the Marine Research Institution.”
“We need to get there as soon as possible! There’s more of us coming soon,” shouted a tall woman from the crowd, without giving the perplexed Sebastian a chance to reply. She was carrying massive apparatus in her hands and quite naturally appeared irritated and impatient.
“Yes, sir… I mean, ma’am…” replied Sebastian impatiently, half forgetting who he was responding to in this exchange.
The crowd ripped out a peal of hearty laughter that rang through the dim skies like a dazzling ray of sunlight wiping out all the grayness from the horizon, even though just momentarily. At least, this is what Sebastian felt, alert and spirited from the prospect of keeping up his revenue and making some extra. He rubbed the sticky brown stain on his jacket a little more fervently. His dull eyes gleamed with delight, and his face didn’t appear so scrawny after all.
Question
Based on the story, what can the reader infer about Sebastian’s occupation?
Responses
A He owns a small shop in a quiet town.He owns a small shop in a quiet town.
B He is a hot drink peddler near the bay.He is a hot drink peddler near the bay.
C He is a porter helping tourists carry their luggage.He is a porter helping tourists carry their luggage.
D He is a boat driver in a tourist city.He is a boat driver in a tourist city.
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Based on the context of the story, the best inference about Sebastian’s occupation is:
D. He is a boat driver in a tourist city.
This is indicated by his role in assisting a group of people who are seeking transportation to the island, suggesting that he operates boats as part of his job.
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