Answer: It reveals Ahab’s commitment to his mission for revenge.
In this passage, the speaker is describing the impact that Ahab caused when meeting him for the first time. He describes his white, whalebone leg, and how he fashioned it out of a sperm whale's jaw. He also describes how there was an auger hole on the deck, upon which Ahab would steady his leg. He would stand there and look out beyond the prow for hours on end. The speaker also describes his attitude of determination and wilfullness. All of these elements contribute to showing how commited Ahab was to his mission.
The Hot Zone by Richard Preston, describes somewhat a medical panic into the story due to a new virus that set out to wipe out humanity. It narrates the procedures that doctors and researchers go through in search for the cure. He also describes how dedicated these professionals are, in order to escape death.
I believe the answer is D since it is using exclamation marks , which is used to show astonishment or anger the person is feeling. I hoped this helped.
