Select the correct answer. What important naturalist theme is reflected in this excerpt from Stephen Crane's "The Open Boat"? The birds sat comfortably in groups, and they were envied by some in the dinghy, for the wrath of the sea was no more to them than it was to a covey of prairie chickens a thousand miles inland. Often they came very close and stared at the men with black bead-like eyes. At these times they were uncanny and sinister in their unblinking scrutiny, and the men hooted angrily at them, telling them to be gone. ... the captain gently and carefully waved the gull away. After it had been discouraged from the pursuit the captain breathed easier on account of others breathed easier because the bird struck their minds at this time as being somehow gruesome and ominous. his he seagulls are an omen of bad luck that create a feeling of dread in the crew. B. The seagulls symbolize the subconscious fears and anxieties of the crew. C. The seagulls are a sign that nature will not protect the crew from drowning. D. The seagulls are indifferent, yet the crew believes they are mocking them.

To analyze the excerpt from Stephen Crane's "The Open Boat," we can identify the naturalist themes present in the text. 1. **Indifference of Nature**: The seagulls are depicted as indifferent to the struggles of the men in the dinghy. They are comfortable and unaffected by the wrath of the sea, which highlights the theme of nature's indifference to human suffering. 2. **Symbolism of the Seagulls**: The seagulls are described as having a sinister and uncanny presence, which reflects the crew's feelings of dread and anxiety. This suggests that the birds symbolize the subconscious fears of the crew rather than being direct omens of bad luck. 3. **Human Perception vs. Nature**: The crew's reaction to the seagulls—envy, anger, and feelings of being mocked—illustrates how humans project their emotions onto nature, interpreting the indifferent actions of the birds as a form of mockery. Given these points, the most fitting answer is: **D. The seagulls are indifferent, yet the crew believes they are mocking them.** This choice encapsulates the theme of nature's indifference and the crew's emotional response to it.