Question

“Can't see it,” remarked Rainsford, trying to peer through the dank tropical night that was palpable as it pressed its thick warm blackness in upon the yacht. In this passage, the word palpable means A. thick and humid. B. rhythmic. C. eerie and frightening. D. something one can touch.

Answer 1

Answer:

In this passage, the word palpable means D. something one can touch.

Explanation:

The adjective palpable can literally refer to something one can touch, as in "The palpable scar on his face made him insecure". In the way it is used in the excerpt we are studying here, palpable still refers to something that can be touched but in a more figurative manner. Palpable refers to a feeling or a sensation so strong that it can almost be physically felt or touched.

In the excerpt, the dank night was palpable due to the strong feeling its darkness caused. It was warm and black, probably even a bit scary and mysterious, so it made a strong impression on the character.

Answer 2

Palpable means that something can be felt or touched. In the short story "the dank tropical night that was palpable as it pressed its thick warm blackness in upon the yacht". The answer is D.