Praxis 5511 Practice Question

Scenario/Extract:

The following is an excerpt from John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath (1939), a novel depicting the plight of migrant workers during the Great Depression. In the passage, Tom Joad and his family have reached a government-sponsored tent camp where many migrant workers have settled. Tom is walking and surveying the camp in the early morning.
The ground of the street had been swept and sprinkled. From the tents came the snores of sleeping people. The whole camp buzzed and snorted. Tom walked slowly. He neared Number Four Sanitary Unit and he looked at it curiously, an unpainted building, low and rough. Under a roof, but open at the sides, the rows of wash trays. He saw the Joad truck standing near by, and went quietly toward it.
The tarpaulin was pitched and the camp was quiet. As he drew near a figure moved from the shadow of the truck and came toward him.
Ma said softly, “That you, Tom?”
“Yeah.”
“Sh!” she said. “They’re all asleep. They was tar’d out.”
“You ought to be asleep too,” Tom said.

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

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The author’s purpose centers on illustrating a setting through a character’s perspective, allowing readers to experience the environment as the character does. This approach enriches the narrative by providing a vivid backdrop that shapes the character's emotions and actions.

Option A focuses solely on feelings, which may be a part of the passage but does not encompass the broader setting context. Option B emphasizes relationships, which might be relevant but does not capture the primary focus on the setting. Option D, while discussing conflict, overlooks the essential role of setting in shaping that conflict through the character’s viewpoint.

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