Relative dating is the science of determining the relative order of past events, without necessarily determining their absolute age. In geology, rock or superficial deposits, fossils and lithologies can be used to correlate one stratigraphic column with another.
The question is from James Baldwin's book, Notes of A Native Son and same-titled essay in the book. The author gives the details of his father's death and writes that his mother gave birth to one his sisters just before the father passed away. Therefore, the correct option is C.