Question

It’s a familiar image in the lore of the Old West: the dauntless Pony Express rider bent over the neck of his horse, its mane and tail whipped back by the wind of its own speed. Across deserts, mountains, and lonesome country, horse and rider fly, come blizzard or high water, to deliver the mail. Yet, the Pony Express was a mere blip in United States history. It was in operation for a scant 18 months, from April 1860 to October 1861, and was a financial disaster. Why, then, is the service remembered so prominently in the story of American westward expansion? Why does it hold such an exalted place in the American imagination?



Which statement BEST describes how the underlined sentences advance the author’s purpose?

The sentimental language expresses the author’s longing for how life was in the Old West.


The heroic imagery contrasts with matter-of-fact historical information about the Pony Express.


The focus on a single individual emphasizes the first-hand experiences of actual Pony Express riders.


The description of the harsh landscape of the Old West helps answer the author’s concluding questions.

Answer 1

The heroic imagery contrasts with matter-of-fact historical information about the Pony Express.

Explanation: The romanticized opening sets up a mythic picture that the author then undercuts with factual details (18 months, financial failure), highlighting the contrast between legend and reality and prompting the question why the service is so exalted in memory.