SAT English Practice Question

It had been a long time since they had seen one another. The two friends had grown apart over the years, and the once-close bond that they shared had faded. They both knew that it was time to reconnect, to rediscover what had been lost. So, they decided to meet at the same place where they had met for the first time. And as they sat there, reminiscing about the past, they realized that their friendship had not been extinguished but merely dormant. It was a friendship that was waiting to be rekindled. What part of the passage most likely led to the writer’s decision to use the word "dormant"?

1. A.emphasize the idea that the two friends were no longer close.
2. B.suggest that the two friends had lost their friendship permanently.
3. C.highlight the idea that the two friends’ friendship was inactive but could be revived.
4. D.describe the feelings of the two friends as they reminisced about the past.