How does the narrator in "exhalation" most clearly change from the beginning to the end of the story? a. at first, he is heartbroken, but at the end, he becomes hopeful for the future. b. at the story's beginning, he is egotistical, but by the end, he becomes humble and friendly. c. at first, he is indifferent to the human species, but at the end, he becomes tolerant of them. d. at the story's beginning, he is a methodical thinker, but by the end, he becomes more introspective.

The correct answer is D. The narrator in "Exhalation" most crearly changes from the beginning to the end of the story in the sense that at the story's beginning, he is a methodical thinker, but by the end, he becomes more introspective.

The narrator begins the story scientifically analizing why a number of clocks  appear to be running fast simultaneously but not malfunctioning per se. He decides to dissect their own brain and studies it methodically. By the end of the story, however, he is pondering the possible existence of other universes and marvelling at the importance of equilibrium, which is less methodical and scientific and more philosophical and abstract, hence, introspective.

the word that best matches the meaning of the expression "went to the big ocean" is died.

the goldfish died, which is why the father looks at the children mournfully. the "big ocean" is the father's way of saying fish heaven. he could have just said that the goldfish died, but this way, the children imagine the fish in a bigger, better place instead of just picturing a dead fish.

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