GED Reasoning Through Language ArtsReading ComprehensionMedium
A student is researching the history of the American West. They encounter a passage that describes the challenges faced by early settlers, detailing 'the relentless sun, the unforgiving droughts, and the ever-present threat of famine and disease.' What is the primary purpose of this detailed description of hardships?
- ATo provide a neutral historical account of the geographical features.
- BTo romanticize the lives of the early settlers.
- CTo argue that the settlers should not have ventured west.
- DTo create a vivid and empathetic understanding of the immense difficulties and harsh realities faced by the settlers.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. To create a vivid and empathetic understanding of the immense difficulties and harsh realities faced by the settlers.
The specific and evocative language ('relentless,' 'unforgiving,' 'ever-present threat') is chosen to paint a vivid picture of extreme adversity, aiming to elicit empathy and a deeper appreciation for the settlers' struggles.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. The language used is far from neutral; it carries strong emotional connotations.
- B. The description of 'unforgiving droughts' and 'famine and disease' directly contradicts romanticizing their lives.
- C. While it highlights difficulties, the passage doesn't explicitly make an argument against the westward expansion, but rather describes the conditions.
Author's Purpose: Evoke Empathy
To use language and detail to make the reader feel compassion, understanding, or identification with the experiences of a character or group.
- Often uses descriptive language, emotional appeals, and specific anecdotes.
- Aims to bridge the gap between the reader's experience and the subject's experience.
- Common in narrative writing, historical accounts, and persuasive texts.
Memory trick: An author's emotional aim is to stir your soul with their words.