Expression: A weird combination

[Tom]

Hi

A story I recenly read started like this.

" He knew his chances of survival were the merest. The fire had spread throughout and the roaring flames were approaching him like hungry mad wolves, ready to relish his body. The atmosphere was getting stuffier by the second.The thick smoke almost blinded him and his reason. Not knowing what to do he remained in his place, frozen. A weird combination!The very thought of his plans dying prematurely was very painful."

Q1- Is the use of " the merest " correct?
Q2- Throughout what?????(second line)
Q3- What is " A WEIRD COMBINATION?"
Q4- What is : the very thought"?
Q5- I think there should be a comma after " not knowing what to do," What do you think?

A lot of thanks in advance

Tom

[Yankee]

Q1- Is the use of " the merest " correct? --> Somewhat unusual, but I'd say OK.

Q2- Throughout what?????(second line) --> throughout the place/building where he is.

Q3- What is " A WEIRD COMBINATION?" --> "fire" and "frozen"

Q4- What is : the very thought"? --> "Just thinking about the fact that..."

Q5- I think there should be a comma after " not knowing what to do," --> Yes, you could put a comma there (I probably would have), but English tends to be fairly flexible with its commas and if the sentence is understandable without a comma, it can sometimes be omitted.

Amy
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English