Question

What is the author’s purpose in this excerpt?

to explain why many Elizabethans tried poaching
to explain why poaching was dangerous
to explain why landowners punished poachers
to explain why poaching often was forgiven

Answer 1

I can't tell from here — you didn't paste the excerpt. Could you paste the passage?

If you want to decide it yourself, use this quick checklist:
- Read the first and last sentences and the topic sentence of each paragraph to find the main idea.
- If the passage lists reasons people poached (poverty, lack of food, tradition) the purpose is: "to explain why many Elizabethans tried poaching."
- If it focuses on risks (injury, traps, violence, danger of being caught) the purpose is: "to explain why poaching was dangerous."
- If it describes the legal consequences, landowners' actions, punishments, and the rationale for those penalties, the purpose is: "to explain why landowners punished poachers."
- If it emphasizes mercy, pardons, or social tolerance and gives reasons those offenses were often forgiven, the purpose is: "to explain why poaching often was forgiven."

Paste the excerpt and I’ll pick the best answer.