Explanation
Correct answer: B.
Choice B is the best answer because it most accurately describes the function that the three underlined portions serve in the text as a whole. The text states that Ah Boon’s nets contained only one kind of fish and explains that he is unsurprised because the waters are “temperamental.” The three underlined portions name different types of catch yielded by the waters on different occasions, demonstrating how the catch varies unpredictably. Thus, taken together, the three underlined portions illustrate the changeable nature of the waters where Ah Boon fishes.
Why the other choices are wrong
Choice A
Choice A is incorrect because the text does not indicate which types of catch are most frequent; it describes the waters as unpredictable and varying over time. Instead of illustrating frequency, the underlined portions that mention different kinds of sea creatures illustrate variability.
Choice C
Choice C is incorrect because the text states that on this particular trip, Ah Boon caught only one kind of fish—black pomfrets. The other two underlined portions refer to catches from other occasions, not from the present trip. Instead of emphasizing variety on one trip, the underlined portions illustrate the unpredictability of the waters over time.
Choice D
Choice D is incorrect. Although the text notes that Ah Boon is unsurprised by his catch of black pomfrets, only one of the three underlined portions—“colorful varieties of fish”—refers to creatures not usually found in the region. The underlined portions collectively convey the range of what Ah Boon has caught while fishing in the waters, illustrating their changeable nature rather than underscoring Ah Boon’s emotional response.