Water is usually a symbol for life because it is so vital to survival.
Ironically, being stranded at sea, you can't drink the boundless surrounding water.
I would say the answer is D. The character is not stranded by choice. They are stuck, unsure how to navigate a way out of the current situation.
I believe the linking verb is “will”. It’s linking the subject “the United States of America” and the predicate “be 300 years old!”
Commodore Perry of the US forced Japan to trade, which led to Japan opening its ports to more trade. MacGregor comments that this time signaled a shift toward greater economic power for Japan.
