The answer would be the lines that say: "In disjointed sentences the cook and the correspondent argued as to the difference between a life-saving station and a house of refuge". The lines mentioned are like the introduction to the excerpt, these best reflect the subject because it summarizes the topic discussed by the two characters in the excerpt, said topic is later discussed in detail with both opinions expressed.
Answer:
In disjointed sentences the cook and the correspondent argued as to the
difference between a life-saving station and a house of refuge.
The above sentence displays what the subject matter of this excerpt is. In short, they're arguing the difference of a life-saving station and a house of refuge.
Wind, water, tide and muscle - both animal and human - provided sources of energy that are still available to man and are still used to power simple machines in many parts of the world today.
