Read the following excerpt from journal of the adventures of a party of california gold-seekers by margaret frink:

here we again heard alarming and discouraging accounts of deeds of violence and bloodshed that had recently been committed on the plains, along the route that we were very soon to travel over.

which word best describes the mood of this passage?

a. pessimistic
b. formal
c. proactive
d. threatening

D. Threatening

Explanation:

The Threatening tone in this story is indicated by  the bad experience lived by the people the author has heard before about the place he is about to travel (alarming and discouraging accounts of deeds of violence and bloodshed that had recently been committed on the plains)

the word that best matches the meaning of the expression "went to the big ocean" is died.

the goldfish died, which is why the father looks at the children mournfully. the "big ocean" is the father's way of saying fish heaven. he could have just said that the goldfish died, but this way, the children imagine the fish in a bigger, better place instead of just picturing a dead fish.

explanation: