Final answer:
The author's purpose for writing the passage is to expose the neglect of the poor and inspire political activism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is asking about the author's purpose for writing a passage. In the context of the passage and writers discussed, such as Charles Dickens, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, and Honoré de Balzac, it's clear that their literary works often aimed to shed light on social issues, particularly the challenges faced by the lower classes and the stark differences between life in rural and urban settings. Given this information, the most suitable answer would be B) To expose neglect for the poor and inspire political activism. Dickens and others not only portrayed the difficulties of urban life for the less fortunate but also sought to inspire change through their realistic depictions of these conditions.