Read the excerpt from "A Difficult Path."

Now, as I write this on a pirate ship whose red sails paint the sky, I ride the vast ocean. The wind is wild, and the waves are endless, and the shore is so distant it is hard to imagine that it even exists. But my head is raised and I can't help but smile. For while the path before me might be difficult, it will be my own.

How does this excerpt contribute to the story?


A. It foreshadows Lingsi's future adventures living at sea.

B. It is the moment in which Lingsi understands the importance of learning to read.

C. It resolves the story and establishes that Lingsi's ability to read has given her a chance at a new life.

D. It establishes the conflict in the story as Lingsi must adjust to life as a prisoner of pirates.