Pavel stood in the dim light of steerage, the lowest section of the boat. It was a foul place, filled with the stench of his fellow passengers, who hadn't been able
to bathe since boarding the ship two weeks ago. His only escape came from the
words of a letter, long memorized now, from his uncle. The letter contained no
information about the difficulty of the journey-only praise for the destination ...
Trying to maintain his balance as the boat suddenly lurched, Pavel moved toward
the soup pot. Pavel's progress was thwarted by Miklos, who blocked his way,
"Pardon me," Pavel said, hoping Miklos would stand aside...
Miklos looked down at Pavel with scornful amusement. "Pardon you?" he bellowed.
How does the setting influence the plot of the story?
F. The conditions on the boat contribute to the conflict Pavel experiences.
G The letter from Pavel's uncle introduces an important character.
H The man standing in front of the soup pot provides comic relief.
J Pavel's fellow passengers encourage him to remain hopeful about
purchasing land.
STAAR 2013, #27