How long did authorities say work would be available again at the end?

How long did authorities say work would be available again at the end?

• A. One month
• B. Three months
• C. Six months
• D. A year

Answer: (B)

The key idea here is how the timeline given by authorities creates a concrete window of anticipation for the characters. When the text states that work would be available again after a three-month period, it establishes a definite, finite pause—long enough to affect plans and survival, yet short enough to keep hope alive and the sense of temporary disruption. That three-month horizon matters because it reflects the seasonal and precarious nature of migrant labor in the story. Workers face a lull in opportunities, so choices about where to camp, how to stretch scarce resources, and when to move all hinge on that stretch of time. It’s a detail that grounds the characters’ actions in a tangible cycle of work and wait, rather than leaving them in an indefinite state. The other timeframes don’t fit the scene as well. A shorter span would minimize the impact of the delay on decisions and mood, while a longer stretch would alter the stakes and rhythm in a way that isn’t supported by the narrative moment. A year would imply a much longer disruption than the context suggests. So the three-month period best captures the balance of hope and hardship the scene is illustrating.

The key idea here is how the timeline given by authorities creates a concrete window of anticipation for the characters. When the text states that work would be available again after a three-month period, it establishes a definite, finite pause—long enough to affect plans and survival, yet short enough to keep hope alive and the sense of temporary disruption.

That three-month horizon matters because it reflects the seasonal and precarious nature of migrant labor in the story. Workers face a lull in opportunities, so choices about where to camp, how to stretch scarce resources, and when to move all hinge on that stretch of time. It’s a detail that grounds the characters’ actions in a tangible cycle of work and wait, rather than leaving them in an indefinite state.

The other timeframes don’t fit the scene as well. A shorter span would minimize the impact of the delay on decisions and mood, while a longer stretch would alter the stakes and rhythm in a way that isn’t supported by the narrative moment. A year would imply a much longer disruption than the context suggests.

So the three-month period best captures the balance of hope and hardship the scene is illustrating.