Which statement best explains the effect of the word
"firmly" in this excerpt?

It directs the reader's attention back to the squat pen.
It suggests that the spade is too heavy for the father.
It emphasizes the speaker's distaste for hard work.
It shows that the father works with skill and control

This question is missing the excerpt. I've found the complete question online. It is as follows:

The coarse boot nestled on the lug, the shaft Against the inside knee was levered firmly.

Which statement best explains the effect of the word "firmly” in this excerpt?

A. It directs the reader’s attention back to the squat pen.

B. It suggests that the spade is too heavy for the father.

C. It emphasizes the speaker’s distaste for hard work.

D. It shows that the father works with skill and control.

The word firmly is best explained by:

D. It shows that the father works with skill and control.

Explanation:

This excerpt is from the poem "Digging" by Seamus Heaney. The speaker of the poem is describing how skilled his father and grandfather are when it comes to digging, to working the soil to grow potatoes. They do it deftly, with precise movements, as the excerpt shows: the shaft Against the inside knee was levered firmly.  The purpose of the adverb "firmly" here is to cause in readers this impression of ability, of competence. The father's movements are powerful and accurate.

its everything except for telling nonfiction and using first person

"the monkey's paw" is a rare story in that the theme is actually stated in the story. sgt. maj. morris tells the whites that the old fakir who put the spell on the paw said, "fate rules people's lives and those who interfere with fate do so to their sorrow." the message is a warning, but mr. white doesn't believe it. even though sgt. maj. morris makes it clear that he tried wishing with unfortunate results and he tries to throw the paw on the fire,   mr. white makes a wish for 200 pounds only to find that he receives the money when herbert dies in a factory accident. according to the fakir, then, because mr. white had wished for something he should not have had, his son lost his life.

the second wish that mrs. white encourages him to make is for herbert's return--one week after his death. when the strange knocking begins at the door during the windy night, mr. white panicks, believing that the previously dead but still mangled herbert could have walked home from the cemetary and is now at the door. because he fears what his wife will find if she opens the door, mr. white makes his third wish--for the noise to stop.

therefore, he uses his three wishes and to his sorrow, loses his son and disappoints his wife, who fervently believed that their son was at the door. she wanted him back, regardless of his condition.

explanation: