Read this passage from kurt vonnegut's “report on the barnhouse effect”: at ten minutes before h-hour the general came in, shepherding the professor before him. the professor was comfortably attired in sneakers, gray flannels, a blue sweater, and a white shirt open at the neck. the two of them sat side by side on the love seat. what is the function of this description and how does it influence the development of the characters and the plot in the story?

a - the placement of the characters on the love seat and the professor’s relaxed attire represents dramatic irony and the characters’ uncertainty about future events.
b - the description of the time as “h-hour” and the general “shepherding” in the professor reveals the seriousness of the impending situation.
c - the contradiction between the general’s seriousness and the professor’s indifference show how professor barnhouse is a static character in the story.
d - the professor’s casual attire and the characters sitting on a love seat just before the critical “h-hour” creates an ironic contrast and a playful mood.