5. It is better to be influential than rich?​

This is just an opinion answer but depending on how you influence others, I think it could bring you wealth.

There are activists like Martin Luther who were influential but weren't really rich.

Then are big boys like Steve Jobs and so on who influences the world and it brings them lots of money.

"the sandy walls seemed to collapse in on themselves"

and

"the bloodshot waters seemed to have no bottom"

i don't know sorry i cannot read a novel in 30 min.

explanation:

but just in case i think the answer is b.