Final answer:
The analogy on page 2 supports the author's purpose by making complex brain development concepts more accessible through familiar comparisons and by appealing to readers' emotions to create a sense of responsibility towards cognitive growth and critical thinking.
Step-by-step explanation:
The underlined analogy on page 2 likely supports the author's purpose by drawing a comparison between a familiar process and the concept being discussed, which in this case seems to relate to cognitive development and the workings of the brain. Analogies are powerful rhetorical tools that can help readers understand complex ideas by relating them to something within their existing knowledge base. In this context, the analogy might compare the brain's ability to learn new skills, such as speaking a language or riding a bicycle, to its ability to perform daily activities and make inferences, emphasizing the brain's evolutionary adaptation to plan ahead and its role in survival and reproduction.
Given the mention of pathos, the analogy may also appeal to readers' emotions, perhaps by making them feel a sense of responsibility or urgency regarding the development of children's cognitive skills, therefore aligning with the chapter's focus on understanding how our brains process information and how we can improve our critical thinking abilities.