Your answer is 2. Look at the surrounding text for clues about that idiom
Since you aren't saying "the officer", it is specifically referring to one officer. Capitalize, officer.
Answer:
well whats the story about?
Explanation:
This passage uses metaphor.
Specifically, Orwell is using a metaphor to describe the effect of the British Empire. Wood is passing -- the speaker sees it but does not realize at first that the wood is being carried by old women. When he finally does see them, he realizes how old and crushed they are beneath the weight of the wood.
The Empire is much the same. It passes -- it moves along -- but as it does so, it crushes beneath it the oppressed, whose lives make it possible for the Empire to run smoothly.
I would believe that the answer is compares because i think that it fits best in the sentence. Hope this helps
