I'm not completely ure but I think it is to explain why Pip and Joe have a close relationship.
Answer:
Fact
Explanation:
It is not a opinion; there are no arguments, nothing about what the person thinks, and it's stating a fact.
1) b and a - A sparse crowd is one that is small and scattered.
2) c and b - To petrify someone is to terrify that person.
3) a and b - An intense pain is one that lasts for a long time.
4) a and b - A prone figure is one that is lying face down.
