Reading Comprehension — Narrative Passages — quick quiz

Read the passage and answer the question. The old fisherman cast his net into the sea one last time. For forty days, he had caught nothing, and the other fishermen mocked him. But today felt different. The weight on his line told him something big had taken the bait. He pulled with all his strength, his weathered hands gripping the rope. Hours passed. The sun burned overhead, but he would not let go. This fish was his redemption, his proof that he was still a fisherman worth his salt. Which of the following best describes the fisherman's motivation?