Which line from daly's "sixteen" best conveys the narrator's feeling of longing?

What is the meaning of the word checking as it is used in this sentence from the second paragraph of the passage?

Which detail from the text best demonstrates the effect of totalitarianism on the animals? "progress was made in the dry frosty weather that followed." "it had been decided to build the walls three feet thick." "they were always cold, and usually hungry as well." "for a long time the quarry was full of snowdrifts and nothing could be done."

Amy tried to write her essay but she was distracted by the phone ring the sentence above combines a. an independent clayse and a dependent clause b. two independent clauses c. a dependent clause d. none if the above