Question

Read the excerpt from the essay "Bread."

What stopped you? You don't want to know whether the brend is real or whether it's just a hallucination I've somehow duped you into seeing. There's no
doubt that you can see the bread, you can even smell it, it smells like yeast, and it looks solld enough, solid as your own arm. But can you trust it? Can
you eat it? You don't want to know, Imagine that.
How does the author's use of questions contribute to the meaning of the paragraph?
The questions help the reader draw conclusions about the important role bread plays in their own lives.
The questions help set up the neutral, informative answers that the author then gives about the importance of the bread.
The questions engage the reader and challenge the reader's assumptions about the importance and availability of bread.
The questions are a stylistic choice (author's craft) that do not contribute to the meaning of the essay but serve to entertain the reader instead,

Answer 1

The author's questions in the excerpt engage readers, stimulate critical thinking, and challenge assumptions about bread, making the questions a key feature in contributing to the essay's meaning.

Step-by-step explanation:

The author's use of questions in the excerpt from the essay "Bread" serves to engage the reader and challenge their assumptions about the importance and availability of bread. Rather than providing straightforward information or conclusions, the questions stimulate critical thinking and encourage readers to reflect on their personal experiences and beliefs regarding the subject of bread.

This interactive style is a common literary device that adds depth to the reading experience by prompting introspection and analysis, contributing significantly to the essay's meaning. While most recognize the enjoyment of freshly-baked bread, with its light and fluffy texture thanks to yeast fermentation, artisanal bread-making historically was a complex process with many failed attempts due to the unpredictable nature of capturing wild yeasts.