Read the passage. Rescue Mission

I’ve got the clips, bungee cord, vests, and basket, and the rest of the equipment is onboard. I have to get my head in the zone because this chopper is heading into stormy conditions, and it will feel as though things are happening at supersonic speed when we get to the site. This storm blew in unbelievably fast, so I can see how those poor fishermen were marooned. They were out there just trying to make a living on a Monday afternoon, and along comes a life-threatening situation. I hope they’re both unharmed and conscious, and that they will be able to help me give them assistance.

I’m going to try and get a visual of the fishermen as soon as possible because it’s critical to know what I’m going into. I have to be cognizant of every detail at the site so that I can work in an accurate and expeditious manner. Oh, here it comes: the Wave of Doubt. Why can’t I just concentrate on the task at hand in these situations? Here’s a better question: Why didn’t I go into public relations or web design like everyone else in my class so that I would have been able to stay on dry land seven days a week?

It was the summer of sophomore year when Maceo, Tim, and I went out on Uncle Jack’s boat and witnessed the rescue mission that determined my fate. As much as I wanted to know what was going to happen to the people on that boat, I was just as captivated by that amazing rescue team. That team could never have anticipated the exact circumstances it would encounter—the direction of the wind, the quickly disappearing ship, and the angle at which it had capsized—and yet every maneuver was executed as if the mission had been planned and choreographed. That’s the moment I decided what I would do with the rest of my life. Of course, I could have decided to be a dispatcher for the Coast Guard, and I still would have been close to the action, but I had to go for the glory.

It’s all about the adrenaline rush; the only problem with that rush is that there are lives at stake. Those poor fishermen got swept off track and stranded by this storm, and I’m the one they are relying on to extricate them from a treacherous situation and bring them home to their families. Okay, I have to snap out of this because I know that the captain wouldn’t assign me to these missions if I couldn’t handle them. I have received years of elite training for missions like this, and I have a spotless track record for at-sea rescues. Why do I always have to convince myself that I am capable of this?

Okay, I can see the area where these guys must be stranded, so I’ll get my gear together and be ready to go. This wind is unbelievable, but if I’m heading into a storm, it’s certainly in my favor to have Thao as my pilot. He’s the best pilot I’ve ever worked with, and he can keep a helicopter steady in a monsoon. I wonder whether Thao ever doubts himself or whether he questions his ability the way I do mine. Is that something I can ask someone who has a high-pressure occupation, or will he think I’ve lost my edge?

It looks like we’re going to circle around and wait for the most judicious opportunity for rescue. I know that Thao does not want to repeatedly attempt this approach; he wants to be confident that when he makes his descent, it is at the most favorable time to carry out the rescue. I can see exactly how these fishermen got stranded here, and it looks like they did everything right once they realized they were going to get stuck. That will make the rescue much easier.

I shouldn’t think of this as easy. I know what I need to do here, but I could lose one these men if just one thing goes wrong. I’ll hear my petty officer who’s here in the chopper through my earpiece, and he’ll be acting as a second pair of eyes alerting me about anything he thinks I do not see coming. While that’s reassuring, it’s up to me to get those men into this helicopter.

Here we go; Thao is making his descent. I’m going to be in a perfect position as I leave the chopper, and I can visualize just how this is going to go. Every move will be deliberate and meticulous, just like that rescue from sophomore year. I’m close enough to see the relief in the fishermen’s faces. I’ve got this.

Part A

How does the author of this passage create tension?

A. The author praises the skill and bravery of the characters within the story.

B. The author uses flashbacks to present the main character’s motivations for helping others.

C. The author explains the process that rescuers must go through to be safe.

D. The author presents a situation in which the main character is going to risk his life to save the lives of others.