Because in a liquid they have more space to move. Imagine if you were in a big field verses a crowded little room. In a crowded room you would bump into everyone, which would slow you down.
Antony is most likely an adolescent who lives in a traditional culture
This is because a traditional culture is more likely to involve taking care of the extended family that includes grandparents, uncles and aunts. This differs from the developed world culture that involves the nuclear family
His muckraking novels continued with King Coal (1917), which is about the poor working conditions in the mining industry. With The Brass Check (1919), Sinclair tackled the financial interests and supposed "free press" principles of major newspapers and the "yellow journalism" they often engaged in to attract readers.