Question

The Biography of Adeline Ruiz
Adeline Ruiz grew up in a small town about seventy-five miles outside Dallas. Like much of West Texas, the landscape was overwhelmingly flat and sparsely populated. Ruiz was an only child who was raised by her father after her mother tragically passed while giving birth to Adeline. By all accounts, he was a doting father and did everything he could to give Adeline the best possible life.

For her tenth birthday, Adeline's father negotiated with a local pilot who agreed to take them up for a private flight. Adeline often recalls the surprise with laughter during interviews, explaining that her father was terrified of flying and spent the entire flight with his eyes closed. Nevertheless, she wanted to get in the air, and he was right by her side. This flight marked the first of many to come, setting Ruiz on a trajectory to become one of the first female pilots to graduate the NASA space program.

As a teenager, Adeline focused all her attention on obtaining a pilot's license so that she could fly aircraft on her own. Opportunities were sparse in rural Texas, but she managed to complete flight training at about the same time that her classmates were finishing up driving school. By the time she was a senior, Adeline had logged enough hours to fly solo.

Ruiz had remarkable tenacity, which caught the attention of local Air Force recruiters. They convinced Adeline to join the service, telling her that pilots in the Air Force have the chance to fly planes that most pilots only ever dream about. That was enough to catch her attention, and Adeline promptly signed up to enter the Air Force Academy as soon as she graduated high school.

During her time in the Air Force, Adeline again caught the attention of those around her. She was more than just a passionate pilot; she had a deep understanding of every aircraft she piloted and maneuvered them with expert precision. She set herself apart as one of the best active pilots, but her ambitions wouldn't stop there.

Adeline had no real interest in becoming a fighter pilot. Instead, she had her eyes on the space program. Unbeknownst to her, NASA had eyes on Adeline, too. Near the end of her contract with the Air Force, recruiters approached Ruiz and asked her to consider the space program. The rest, as they say, is history.

Question
How does the author's purpose in the passage effectively target specific audiences?
Responses
A By providing technical details about aircraft and space missions to appeal to readers interested in aviation technologyBy providing technical details about aircraft and space missions to appeal to readers interested in aviation technology
B By discussing the challenges faced by Air Force pilots to encourage military recruitment among young readersBy discussing the challenges faced by Air Force pilots to encourage military recruitment among young readers
C By focusing on the personal life of Adeline Ruiz to engage readers interested in celebrity gossip and private livesBy focusing on the personal life of Adeline Ruiz to engage readers interested in celebrity gossip and private lives
D By narrating Adeline Ruiz’s personal journey and achievements to inspire aspiring pilots and space enthusiasts with a story of perseverance and successBy narrating Adeline Ruiz’s personal journey and achievements to inspire aspiring pilots and space enthusiasts with a story of perseverance and success

Answer 1

D

The passage centers on Ruiz's personal journey — childhood, training, Air Force service, and recruitment by NASA — highlighting perseverance and achievement to motivate aspiring pilots and space/aviation enthusiasts. Options A, B, and C are incorrect because the passage lacks technical details, does not focus on military recruitment messaging, and is not written as celebrity gossip.