As I drove through the Sonoran Desert, I was struck by how beautiful everything was. I was speeding down the highway, looking west across the desert, as the sun snuck up behind me. There was just enough light to give a reddish-orange glow to the valley walls. The saguaro cacti cast shadows across the brush dotting the desert floor, and I watched as the saguaros lifted their arms to the sky. All of a sudden, heavy rain began to fall, and when it ended 20 minutes later, the saguaros were left to greedily drink up what little water they could get. The sun rose higher in the sky, and waves of heat began rising off the desert floor. Those waves reminded me that the beauty I saw was the result of an unbelievably harsh climate. It's easy to forget how cruel nature can be when you're inside a climate-controlled vehicle.
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What is the author's purpose in writing this passage?
A.
to describe to the reader a scenic drive
B.
to persuade the reader to visit a desert
C.
to tell the reader how to live in a desert
D.
to inform the reader about saguaro cacti
1 answer
A. to describe to the reader a scenic drive
The passage focuses on the author's experience driving through the Sonoran Desert, highlighting the beauty of the landscape and the effects of the weather, thereby conveying the scenic aspects of the drive.
