For some time past, though at intervals only, the unaccompanied, secluded White Whale had haunted those uncivilized seas mostly
frequented by the Sperm Whale fishermen. But not all of them knew of his existence; only a few of them, comparatively, had knowingly seen him; while the number who as yet had actually and knowingly given battle to him, was small indeed. For, owing to the large number of whale-cruisers; the disorderly way they were sprinkled over the entire watery circumference, many of them adventurously pushing their quest along solitary latitudes, so as seldom or never for a whole twelvemonth or more on a stretch, to encounter a single news-telling sail of any sort; the inordinate length of each separate voyage; the irregularity of the times of sailing from home; all these, with other circumstances, direct and indirect, long obstructed the spread through the whole world-wide whaling-fleet of the special individualizing tidings concerning Moby fick.
Which choice provides the best objective summary of the passage?
A.
The White Whale has been haunting the region for many years. But most who encounter it do not survive. Therefore, most fisherman do not know how dangerous it is.
B.
There are many large whale-cruisers but only a few that have ventured to distant, solitary latitudes. So, only a few have ever encountered the White Whale; but as they rarely make it back, the whale’s reputation seems unrealistic and false.
C.
The White Whale has been around for a while. But due to the long, solitary voyages of fishermen and little contact among them, the whale’s behavior has not been widely known, let alone witnessed.
D.
There are very few fishermen who have encountered the White Whale. It requires sailing whale-cruisers long distances to reach the area where the whale lives. Due to being so far from civilization, the whale’s reputation has not spread.
