Why did Ponyboy recite the poem at this point un the novel? Etc.

Read the following passage "you're not here to read books, you're here to learn! " the childwrangler's voice screeched as we kept our picks moving rhythmically against the school walls. we had all heard about a time, back in the dark ages, when children read books at school. they say school was even a building above ground. but that was obviously dangerous. how could society thrive if all the children sat around reading all day? when would they have time to learn about veins of coal, processing fuel, and all that stuff? school was important.what two central ideas in this story are most closely related? a. the importance of literature and the dangers of miningb. humankind's basic survival needs and independence c. the nature of learning and societal dysfunctiond. the powers of rumors and abuse of authority

What is the meaning of the word checking as it is used in this sentence from the second paragraph of the passage?

Amy tried to write her essay but she was distracted by the phone ring the sentence above combines a. an independent clayse and a dependent clause b. two independent clauses c. a dependent clause d. none if the above