Which of the following molecules would have a carbon-halogen bond most susceptible to nucleophilic substitution?

The compound $A$ (major product) is

Identify the compound $(C)$ in the following reaction sequence:
$\gamma$-butyrolactone $\xrightarrow[(ii) SOCl_2]{(i) HCl} (A)$ $\xrightarrow[AlCl_3]{Ph-H} (B)$ $\xrightarrow{KOH/MeOH} (C)$

Identify the product $B$ in the following reaction sequence:
$1$-bromo-$4$-chlorobenzene $\xrightarrow[\text{Dry ether}]{Mg (1 \text{ equivalent})} (A)$ $\xrightarrow{HO-CH_2-CH_2-Cl} (B)$

Assertion : Benzyl bromide when kept in acetone water,it produces benzyl alcohol.
Reason : The reaction follows $S_{N}2$ mechanism.

Given below are two statements $:$
Statement $(I) :$ $cis-1,2-dichloroethene$ is more polar than $cis-1,2-dibromoethene$.
Statement $(II) :$ Boiling point of $trans-1,2-dibromoethene$ is lower than $cis-1,2-dibromoethene$ but it is more polar than $cis-1,2-dibromoethene$.
In the light of the above statements,choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below $:$