Question

When I was 25 I got testicular cancer and nearly died. I was given less than a 40 percent chance of surviving, and frankly, some of my doctors were just being kind when they gave me those odds. Death is not exactly cocktail-party conversation, I know, and neither is cancer, or brain surgery, or matters below the waist. But I’m not here to make polite conversation. I want to tell the truth. I’m sure you’d like to hear about how Lance Armstrong became a Great American and an Inspiration To Us All, how he won the Tour de France, the 2,290-mile road race that’s considered the single most grueling sporting event on the face of the earth. You want to hear about faith and mystery, and my miraculous comeback, and how I joined towering figures like Greg LeMond and Miguel Indurain in the record book. You want to hear about my lyrical climb through the Alps and my heroic conquering of the Pyrenees, and how it felt. But the Tour was the least of the story.

Source: Armstrong, Lance and Sally Jenkins. It’s Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life. New York: Putnam, 2000. 2-3. Print.



Which statement describes the author’s perspective and purpose in this excerpt?

The perspective is personal and serious-minded; the purpose is to inform.
The perspective is distant and matter-of-fact; the purpose is to entertain.
The perspective is irreverent; the purpose is to entertain and persuade.
The perspective is sarcastic and humorous; the purpose is to self-reflect.

Answer 1

The perspective is personal and serious-minded; the purpose is to inform.

Answer 2

The perspective is personal and serious-minded; the purpose is to inform.

Step-by-step explanation:

From the beginning to the end of the excerpt, Armstrong talks about himself and his own experiences, and frequently uses first personal pronouns, which shows that the perspective is personal. It is serious-minded as well because he does not make any attempt to be humorous while talking about his problems and accomplishments. Regarding the purpose of it, the author clearly states it when he says “I’m not here to make polite conversation. I want to tell the truth” meaning that he wants to inform, communicate facts.