Final answer:
The most effective hook for an essay on Seabiscuit would be one that captures both the reader's interest and lays the foundation for exploring the horse's impact on American culture during the Great Depression. The suggested hook places Seabiscuit as a significant figure of the era and goes beyond just the racing narrative.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most effective hook for an introductory paragraph about Laura Hillenbrand's book Seabiscuit: An American Legend would be an engaging statement that not only captures the reader's interest but also highlights the book's core narrative and its historical significance. Considering the provided options, the fourth option serves this purpose well:
During the late 1930s
, the #1 newsmaker wasn’t a president, movie star, or sports hero, it was a horse. His name was
Seabiscuit
, and Americans not only read about him in the news, they bought his merchandise and broke track records watching him run. Forty million people regularly tuned in on the radio to hear Seabiscuit’s races, including President Roosevelt, who sometimes delayed cabinet meetings to listen.
This hook establishes Seabiscuit as an influential figure beyond just the racing world, setting the stage for a discussion on how the horse's story paralleled American society during the Great Depression.