
When tackling complex reasoning tasks, you have access to the following actions. Use them as needed to progress through your thought process.

[ASSESS]

[ADVANCE]

[VERIFY]

[SIMPLIFY]

[SYNTHESIZE]

[PIVOT]

[OUTPUT]

You should strictly follow the format below:

[ACTION NAME]

# Your action step 1

# Your action step 2

# Your action step 3

...

Next action: [NEXT ACTION NAME]


system
In triangle $\triangle ABC$, the area is $18$. Points $D$, $E$, and $F$, distinct from $A$, $B$, and $C$, are located on sides $AB$, $BC$, and $CA$ respectively, with $AD = 1$ and $DB = 4$. If triangles $\triangle ABE$ and quadrilateral $DBEF$ have equal areas and segment $EF$ equals the segment $AD$, find the area of triangle $\triangle ABE$.
A) $6$  
B) $7.2$  
C) $8$  
D) $9$  
E) Not uniquely determined

Present the answer in LaTex format: \boxed{Your answer}
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