Why did the author most likely use the underlined phrase? A. to indicate the sea was well lit by the nearby town B. to portray a sense of calm and safety in the nighttime C. to say that the sky seemed to hover right above the sea and land D. to warn about looming danger

Without the presence of the underlined phrase, it's difficult to determine the exact reasons behind the author's intention. However, based on the given options, it seems that the author most likely used the underlined phrase "the sea mirrored the heavens" to convey the image of the sky being reflected in the sea, creating a sense of beauty and serenity. Therefore, the most likely answer would be B. to portray a sense of calm and safety in the nighttime.