What was William doing in the south while Harold decided his path?

• A. Terrifying townspeople in the south
• B. Negotiating with English nobles
• C. Building a fortress on the south coast
• D. Retreating to Normandy

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is how William used intimidation and rapid action to secure the south as Harold weighed his next move. When William landed on the south coast, his forces moved through towns and along the coastline, spreading fear and making organized English resistance harder. This use of the population's fear helped to ensure Norman control in the region while Harold decided whether to march south for a confrontation or head somewhere else. That sense of psychological pressure and swift occupation is why terrorizing southern towns is the best fit for what William was doing at that moment.