Read the excerpt from Panic in Washington Square Park. Cassandra let her head fall back as she soaked up the warm rays of sunshine from her spot on the bench. Nothing felt quite like a warm, summer day in New York City, she thought. Sighing, she opened her eyes and gazed at the impressive Washington Square Arch. Water in the Washington Square Park Fountain glittered in the sun like thousands of diamonds. The cries and laughter of children filled the air as they waded through the fountain, avoiding the different spouts of water. University students wandered through the park, while others lounged on the grass or played musical instruments. Jazz swept through the park from an unseen saxophone. Within this rectangular green space, Cassandra almost felt peaceful.

The only obstacle keeping Cassandra from fully enjoying the beauty of this glorious day was her mother's absence. Every Wednesday afternoon, Cam, their golden retriever, joined the Doggy Daycare group for an afternoon in Washington Square Park. During that time, Cassandra and her mother spent time together by seeing a Broadway performance, munching on delicacies from a food truck, or walking through a public park. Afterward, Cassandra waited for five minutes by the fountain, while her mother, Carol, picked up Cam from the dog run. She always took this time to enjoy the beautiful day and watch all of the interesting people. Cassandra's brow furrowed as she looked at her watch. Her mother had departed to retrieve their furry pet over twenty minutes ago, an unprecedented amount of time, even for her mother.

How does the author use these paragraphs to prepare the reader for the rest of the chapter?

A By introducing the owners of different dogs
B By introducing the setting and characters
C By showing Cassandra interacting with her friends
D By showing the major events that lead to a climax