Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
radioactivity. Still, it doesn’t take so very much radioactivity door. “You awake, Eddie?” man, broad-shouldered and still thin-waisted. Eddie found it easy to believe the stories he had heard about his father being an outstanding “Then—then you mean whoever stole it were spies!” Eddie exclaimed breathlessly. “That’s entirely possible,” his father said. “In fact, it’s the only logical explanation I can “You may use the Geiger counter any time you want, Eddie,” Mr. Taylor said, “as long as you take good care of it. You figured out where radioactive isotopes without a mighty important During dinner Eddie wasn’t sure just what the block. Teena answered his knock. “Come on in, Eddie,” she invited, seeming surprised to see him. “Mother and I are just finishing dinner.” “Oh, I figured you’d be through by now,” Eddie apologized, following her inside. 35 “Hello, Eddie,” Mrs. Ross said, but she didn’t seem as cheerful as usual. “Good evening, Mrs. Ross,” Eddie said. “I—I hope I’m not making a pest of myself.” He looked around for Mr. Ross, but Teena’s Acme Aircraft yet. There wasn’t a place set for him at the table, either. “You’re never a pest, Eddie,” Mrs. Ross assured him. “I was going to call your mother in a little while about that newspaper write-up.” said. “Maybe we could understand more of what it’s all about if you could explain what a radioisotope is, Eddie.” 36 along the way. Eddie knew that a radioisotope was a material which had been “cooked” in an radioisotope. Much of his father’s work at Oceanview College was of a secret nature. Eddie had learned not to ask questions about it. His father usually volunteered any information he wanted known, so Eddie stuck to questions which could and would be answered. “Well, they know just how to do it,” Eddie replied. “Aren’t the rays dangerous?” Mrs. Ross asked. “I’ll say they’re dangerous,” Eddie said. It took Eddie over an hour to sort out the over his hasty retreat. “What are you going to do?” “Think I’ll do a little prospecting,” Eddie “I would,” Eddie said. “Everyone is carefully protected. They see to that. Well, anyway, wants to go,” Eddie answered casually. He tried to make it sound as though he would be doing Teena Ross a big favor. After all, she was only a girl. Eddie didn’t figure a girl stoop to stealing isotopes more than likely soaks up water.” 40 “My, that’s interesting, Eddie,” Mrs. Ross said. “I’ve seen them do it,” Eddie said proudly, then added, “from behind a protective shield, “Oh, hi, Eddie,” Teena greeted him, appearing at the screen door. “I was hoping you’d come over.” “Well, I—I just happened to be going by,” Eddie said. “Thought you might want to watch me do a little prospecting with the Geiger counter. But maybe you’re too busy.” That’s how to handle it, Eddie thought. Don’t act anxious. Let Teena be anxious. Then maybe she’ll even offer to bring along “Dad didn’t say exactly,” Eddie answered, “except he did say that if whoever took it didn’t know what he was doing and opened up talk so long.” Eddie nodded. It was even more serious than its threat of danger to anyone who lighter in the summer. Eddie couldn’t tell deep summer tan simply made her hair look lighter by contrast. Maybe both. “Hello, Eddie,” Mrs. Ross said, coming into the kitchen. “Looks like Teena put you to work.” “She always does, Mrs. Ross,” Eddie said, pretending great injury. “Don’t know why I keep coming over here.” it depended on how they were used. Eddie assumed that anyone who would could do either Eddie knew she was right. They were friends—good friends. They had been ever since Eddie’s family had moved to Oceanview and his father had become head of the college’s “Oh, we’re glad you did, Eddie,” Mrs. Ross said. “I’m afraid too few of us know anything about this atom business.” 43 “That’s right, Mrs. Ross,” Eddie agreed. manufacturing concerns. “Well, I’ll be glad to finish them, Eddie,” “People should talk more and read more about Mrs. Ross offered. “I know how boys detest doing dishes.” “Oh, I don’t really mind, Mrs. Ross,” Eddie atom is.” Mrs. Ross smiled. “I guess you’re right, Eddie,” she said, “but I wouldn’t quite know how to go about feeding an atom.” “Or greasing one,” Teena added. Eddie laughed. “I sure wouldn’t want the “Three million billion is a lot of something,” a man’s voice spoke behind him. “What are we talking about, Eddie?” “Oh, hello, Mr. Ross,” Eddie said, turning around and standing up. “I didn’t hear you come in.” You know the rules.” “We sure do, Mrs. Ross,” Eddie assured counter. “And stick near the main roads. Ross cautioned, as Eddie picked up the Geiger her. “And we’ll be back early.” table, leaned over, and gave both Teena and Mrs. Ross a kiss on the cheek. “Eddie was telling us about atoms,” Teena’s but Eddie knew these indicated no more than “How many in a comma?” Mr. Ross said to Eddie, then added quickly, “forget it, Eddie. It wasn’t very funny. I—I’m afraid I don’t feel very funny tonight.” on a recent birthday. Then Eddie said good-by and went on down the street toward his After putting Sandy on his long chain and filling his water dish, Eddie went in the back too.” room and glanced into the den. His father sat stiffly behind his homemade desk, talking rapidly into the telephone. Eddie caught only “Don’t go too far out from town,” Mrs. placed the telephone in its cradle, glanced up, and saw Eddie. the last few sketchy words. Then his father in Eddie’s mind about something being wrong, it vanished now. Mr. Taylor looked If there had been even the slightest doubt whether Eddie had discovered any uranium ore that day. Always before, he had shown genuine interest in Eddie’s prospecting trips. “Dad,” Eddie said anxiously, “what—what’s the matter?” wrong, Eddie,” he said, “and I guess there’s no reason why I shouldn’t tell you. It’ll be in the evening papers, anyway.” “Eddie, you remember me mentioning this morning about that radioisotope shipment I was expecting today?” “It did—and it didn’t,” his father said. “What does that mean, Dad?” Eddie asked, puzzled. “Disappeared?” “The radioisotope was stolen, Eddie,” his CHAPTER TWO At the moment, Eddie didn’t pry for further think it was any kid, Eddie. Not by a long shot. The whole thing was carefully planned and carefully carried out. It was not the work Eddie read the newspaper account. The in the crime. 31 “Dad,” Eddie asked, looking up from the walk around without attracting any undue attention.” “But, Dad,” Eddie continued, “how would the men know that the delivery truck would a radioisotope,” Eddie said. “Maybe they figured food, or even as a source of power.” “Power?” Eddie said. “Boy, it must have been a strong isotope.” He knew that the strength of radioisotopes could be controlled

<question>:
How does Eddie’s interest in radioactivity affect the story’s plot?

<options>:
A It causes major holes for the reader when Eddie doesn’t explain his scientific jargon.
B It provides a basic subject matter for Eddie to use to get closer to Teena.
C It provides basic subject matter for the story and informs the brunt of Eddie’s characterization.
D It is used as a way of putting Eddie in contact with the story’s antagonist: Mr. Ross

<answer>:

C