what is the best way to describe the theme in this story?
a.
any problem can be solved with perseverance and patience.
b.
sailing the seas is a risky job and not for the faint of heart.
c.
working hard and gaining success and popularity can often cause a person to become proud and feel superior to others.
d.
it is only when you face a difficult situation that you learn not to underestimate others' efforts to perform a task.

story:

one day columbus was at a dinner that a spanish gentleman had given in his honor, and several persons were present who were jealous of the great admiral's success. they were proud, conceited fellows, and they soon began to try to make columbus uncomfortable.
"you have discovered strange lands beyond the seas," they said, "but what of that? we do not see why there should be so much said about it because anybody can sail across the ocean; and anybody can coast along the islands on the other side, just as you have done as it is the simplest thing in the world."
columbus made no answer; but after a while he took an egg from a dish and said to the company,
"who among you, gentlemen, can make this egg stand on end? "
one by one those at the table tried the experiment and when the egg had gone entirely around and none had succeeded, all said that it could not be done.
then columbus took the egg and struck its small end gently upon the table to break the shell a little and after that, there was no trouble in making it stand upright.
"gentlemen," he said, "what is easier than to do this which you said was impossible? it is the simplest thing in the world. anybody can do it—after he has been shown how! "