GED Reasoning Through Language ArtsReading ComprehensionMedium
A student is researching the history of the American West. They encounter a passage that describes the harsh realities faced by early settlers: 'The unforgiving land, the relentless sun, the constant threat of starvation and disease — these were the daily companions of those who dared to chase the setting sun, their dreams often turning to dust against the vast indifference of the frontier.'
- ATo provide a romanticized view of frontier life.
- BTo evoke empathy for the hardships endured by settlers.
- CTo inform readers about the geographical features of the West.
- DTo argue for the environmental preservation of the region.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. To evoke empathy for the hardships endured by settlers.
The vivid and negative descriptions ('unforgiving,' 'relentless,' 'constant threat,' 'starvation and disease,' 'dreams turning to dust,' 'vast indifference') are designed to make the reader feel the suffering and difficulty of the settlers' experience, thereby evoking empathy.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. The language used emphasizes difficulty and struggle, not romance.
- C. While geographic elements are mentioned, the focus is on their impact on human experience, not just description.
- D. The passage is about historical human experience, not a current environmental argument.
Author's Purpose: Evoke Empathy
To write in a way that makes the reader feel or understand the emotions, experiences, or suffering of others, fostering a sense of connection or shared feeling.
- Often uses descriptive language and narrative techniques.
- Aims to create an emotional response in the reader.
- Can be achieved through vivid imagery, personal anecdotes, or appeals to shared human experience.
Memory trick: P.I.E.S. helps you see the writer's goal.