Read this passage carefully, and then answer the question that follows it: Hardy: One and Two, it’s with Maud and Lou; Three and Four, two girls more; Five and Six it’s with – hm – hm – hm – Seven, Eight, Clara and Caroline – [He lapses into an indefinite humming, and finishes with a lively burst]: Tick! – Tock! – wind up the clock, And we’ll start the day over again. [A man’s legs appear in the moonlit trench above, and a tall, thin man comes slowly down the dugout steps, stooping low to avoid the roof. He takes his helmet off and reveals a fine head, with close-cropped, iron-grey hair. He looks about forty-five – physically as hard as nails.] Hardy [looking round]: Hullo, Osborne! Your fellows arriving? Osborne [hitching off his pack and dropping it in a corner]: Yes. They’re just coming in. Hardy: Splendid! Have a drink. Osborne: Thanks. [He crosses and sits on the left-hand bed.] Hardy [passing the whisky and a mug]: Don’t have too much water. It’s rather strong today. Osborne [slowly mixing a drink]: I wonder what it is they put in the water. Hardy: Some sort of disinfectant, I suppose. Osborne: I’d rather have the microbes, wouldn’t you? Hardy: I would – yes – Osborne: Well, cheero. Hardy: Cheero. Excuse my sock, won’t you? Osborne: Certainly. It’s a nice-looking sock. Hardy: It is rather, isn’t it? Guaranteed to keep the feet dry. Trouble is, it gets so wet doing it. Osborne: Stanhope asked me to come and take over. He’s looking after the men coming in. Hardy: Splendid! You know, I’m awfully glad you’ve come. Osborne: I heard it was a quiet bit of line up here. Hardy: Well, yes – in a way. But you never know. Sometimes nothing happens for hours on end; then – all of a sudden – ‘over she comes!’ rifle grenades – Minnies – and those horrid little things like pineapples – you know. Osborne: I know. Hardy: Swish – swish – swish – swish – BANG! Osborne: All right – all right – I know. Hardy: They simply blew us to bits yesterday. Minnies – enormous ones; about twenty. Three bang in the trench. I really am glad you’ve come; I’m not simply being polite. Osborne: Do much damage? Hardy: Awful. A dugout got blown up and came down in the men’s tea. They were frightfully annoyed. Osborne: I know. There’s nothing worse than dirt in your tea. Hardy: By the way, you know the big German attack’s expected any day now? Osborne: It’s been expected for the last month. Hardy: Yes, but it’s very near now: there’s funny things happening over in the Boche country. I’ve been out listening at night when it’s quiet. There’s more transport than usual coming up – you can hear it rattling over the pavé all night; more trains in the distance - puffing up and going away again, one after another, bringing up loads and loads of men – Osborne: Yes. It’s coming – pretty soon now. Hardy: Are you here for six days? Osborne: Yes. Hardy: Then I should think you’ll get it – right in the neck. (from Act 1) How does Sherriff make this such a dramatically effective opening to the play for you?

1. How does Sherriff make this such a dramatically effective opening to the play for you?[25]