Select the correct answer. (No links please.) Read this excerpt from Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. How do the Ghost of Christmas Present’s words affect Scrooge?

“If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, none other of my race,” returned the Ghost, “will find him here. What then? If he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.”

Scrooge hung his head to hear his own words quoted by the Spirit, and was overcome with penitence and grief.

“Man,” said the Ghost, “If man you be in heart, not adamant, forbear that wicked can’t until you have discovered What the surplus is, and Where it is. Will you decide what men shall live, what men shall die? It may be, that in the sight of Heaven, you are more worthless and less fit to live than millions like this poor man’s child. Oh God! to hear the Insect on the leaf pronouncing on the too much life among his hungry brothers in the dust!”

Scrooge bent before the Ghost’s rebuke, and trembling cast his eyes upon the ground. But he raised them speedily, on hearing his own name.

Answer choices that were given:

A. They make Scrooge more open and understanding of other people’s needs and wants.

B. They teach Scrooge that human life is fickle and insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

C. They rewind Scrooge of his earlier harsh behavior and make him feel regret and shame.

D. They cause Scrooge to feel pity for Bob Cratchit’s family and their humble way of life.