How to enhance the probability of comprehension for the audience?

Read this excerpt from “stephen crane’s own story.” what type of external conflict does it describe? now the whistle of the commodore had been turned loose, and if there ever was a voice of despair and death, it was in the voice of this whistle. it had gained a new tone. it was as if its throat was already choked by the water, and this cry on the sea at night, with a wind blowing the spray over the ship, and the waves roaring over the bow, and swirling white along the decks, was to each of us probably a song of man's end. it was now that the first mate showed a sign of losing his grip. to us who were trying in all stages of competence and experience to launch the lifeboat he raged in all terms of fiery satire and hammerlike abuse. but the boat moved at last and swung down toward the water. a. person versus person b. person versus nature c. person versus society d. person versus self