Question

Which of the following best describes the author's purpose in the passage?

Excerpt from Blackbeard, or, The Pirate of Roanoke a Tale of the Atlantic Situated upon the broad bosom of the vast Atlantic Ocean, about two hundred leagues from the coast of Brazil, is a small but fertile Island, which has retained from the period of its first discovery, the familiar name of Trinidad. This beautiful Island, although a lovely and sequestered spot, has been for various general reasons, but rarely visited by the hardy mariners of the deep, and never permanently settled or inhabited by man. Its surface is agreeably diversified with high hills and low beautiful valleys, whilst its circumference is almost wholly surrounded by a chain of dark, rocky cliffs, which gives to this remote island a somewhat fantastic appearance to the eye of the beholder, as he approaches it from the sea. On this circumscribed but favored spot of earth, nature seems to have reveled in almost boundless profusion, scattering here and there throughout its valleys her choicest favors, in the shape of delicious tropical fruits, and ever green luxuriant herbage, whose fragrance as it mingled with the pure fresh breeze of the ocean, has proved to be a sweet balsam of health to many a sick and weary mariner as he sailed within reach of its Invigorating influence. Although this fair island possessed no convenient harbor for its vessels of any class, still there was upon its southern side, a small piece of white sandy beach, upon which a single boat might easily land, and here upon this same spot, a boat did land about an hour after sunrise, on the thirty first day of October,1717
A) to persuade the reader to visit Trinidad
B) to inform the reader that sailing is a worthwhile endeavor
С) to explain the beauty of Trinidad and to entertain with a story
D) to show how deserted the island of Trinidad is

Answer 1

The best description of the author’s purpose in the passage is to explain Trinidad’s beauty and to entertain with a story, as it vividly sets up a scene for a narrative without persuading the reader, discussing the value of sailing, or focusing on the island's desolation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The author's purpose in the passage from Blackbeard, or, The Pirate of Roanoke a Tale of the Atlantic is C) to explain the beauty of Trinidad and to entertain with a story. The passage vividly describes the island's topography, its lush vegetation, and the sense of respite it provides to mariners, setting up a scene for a narrative that follows the landing of a boat. There is no explicit persuasion for the reader to visit Trinidad, nor information about sailing as a pursuit, nor a focus on how deserted the island is, which rules out options A, B, and D.