Answer:
One central idea that helps the author achieve their purpose is the harsh living conditions that forced the "boxcar boys and girls" to make difficult choices. The author describes how the children lived in abandoned train cars, lacking proper sanitation and basic necessities such as food and clean water. The text states, "The boys and girls were crowded together in unsanitary shack-camps, begging, stealing, and digging through garbage to get enough to eat." This depiction of their living conditions highlights the desperate situation they were in and helps the reader understand why they had to make difficult choices.
The development of this idea is further enhanced by the author's exploration of the economic factors that contributed to the children's decisions. The essay explains that during the Great Depression, many families lost their jobs and homes, leading to widespread poverty. The author states, "When workers were thrown out of their jobs in cities...they piled into railway cars...anything for a bed and a meal." This shows that the economic downturn forced families to resort to extreme measures just to survive, which in turn influenced the choices made by the "boxcar boys and girls."
These two central ideas of harsh living conditions and economic factors interact and build upon each other to expand the reader's knowledge. The author uses the depiction of the children's living conditions to create empathy and understanding for their situation. By understanding the dire circumstances they were in, the reader can better comprehend the difficult choices they had to make. Additionally, the exploration of the economic factors provides a broader context for the children's decisions. The reader learns that the Great Depression had a significant impact on many families, and the "boxcar boys and girls" were just one example of the hardships faced during this time.
Overall, the author effectively presents and develops the central ideas of harsh living conditions and economic factors to explain the decisions made by the "boxcar boys and girls." These ideas work together to expand the reader's knowledge and provide a deeper understanding of the difficult choices these children had to confront.