I think it might be “It introduces the story and sets up the coming events.” I’m not sure so take this with a grain of salt...
Answer: I would contend that the right answer is actually "to fake."
Explanation: Just to elaborate a little on the answer, it can be added that one of the meanings of the verb to affect is to feign, which can be translated as to pretend or to give a false appearance of something. If the character was trying to "conceal certain inconvenient emotions" which, nevertheless, "seemed inclined to assert themselves" by affecting high spirits, he was, therefore, faking those high spirits, in order to hide his true feelings from the people who had just arrived.
A.) Continental glaciers are much larger and thicker
Answer:
They were meant to instruct the people.
Explanation:
These plays were about the bible, saints, or sometimes just about a situation where it's shown the correct path to be taken when choices seem ambiguous. Those plays were meant to teach others how to act and how to be moral and good.