Question

White Fang landed from the steamer in San Francisco. He was appalled. Deep in him, below any reasoning process or act of consciousness, he had associated power with godhead. And never had the men seemed such marvelous gods as now, when he trod the slimy pavement of San Francisco. The log cabins he had known were replaced by towering buildings. The streets were crowded with perils—wagons, carts, automobiles; great, straining horses pulling huge trucks; and monstrous cable and electric cars hooting and clanging through the midst, screeching their insistent menace after the manner of the lynxes he had known in the northern woods.
All this was the manifestation of power. Through it all, behind it all, was man, governing and controlling, expressing himself, as of old, by his mastery over matter. It was colossal, stunning. White Fang was awed. Fear sat upon him. As in his cubhood he had been made to feel his smallness and puniness on the day he first came in from the Wild to the village of Grey Beaver, so now, in his full-grown
The author’s purpose in writing this excerpt is to—
A
explain how modern cities were built during the early 1900s
B
entertain readers by showing White Fang’s emotional struggle as he encounters a human-controlled world that is powerful and overwhelming
C
persuade readers to treat animals kindly so they do not become fearful or aggressive
D
inform readers about the dangers animals face when traveling long distances

Answer 1

B

The passage focuses on White Fang’s emotional reaction—his awe and fear—when confronted with the powerful, man-made city. It’s descriptive and character-focused, aiming to engage the reader with his struggle rather than explain city construction, argue for animal welfare, or discuss travel dangers.