Question 6 - Reading and Writing Practice Test for the SAT Exam

The passage describes a scene from Mark Twain’s Life on the Mississippi, where the author recounts his experiences as a young steamboat pilot. The river, with its shifting channels and sandbars, presents a constant challenge to those navigating its waters. Twain writes:

As the river bends, the water’s surface is a tapestry of swirling eddies and currents, reflecting the moonlight in a dance of silver and shadow. Pilots must read these signs as one would a book, deciphering the river’s hidden depths and treacherous shallows. Navigating the Mississippi requires a blend of skill, intuition, and respect for nature’s power—qualities that define the steamboat pilot’s craft.

As used in the passage, what does the word “Navigating” most nearly mean?

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