Answer:
This excerpt can be found in the rising action part of the plot.
Explanation:
The moment of rising action in a story is the sequence of several events or incidents that create suspense and the increasing interest in the reader for knowing that is going to happen at the end, it is the prior step to the climax which is the highest point of all the events presented in rising action and follow the decisions of the characters.
I believe the answer is: c. question
The word 'ponder' mean thinking about a certain thing carefully, even if it took a lot of time to do it. This word is often used in a situation when someone trying to find an answer in an unfamiliar situation. Because of this, it think the word 'question' has a similar meaning with ponder.