This question is missing the excerpt. I've found the complete question online. It is the following:
If you are hungry, you might feel inclined to turn to poaching. But be careful: this is risky. Taking livestock is theft, and theft is a felony which carries the death sentence. Killing wild animals that live on another man’s land is also against the law; even taking a single fish from a river can result in a fine of a shilling or more. It is unlikely that you will be hanged for taking a wild animal such as a rabbit; but, even so, you will get a fine amounting to three times the value of the animal as well as three months in prison, and you will have to enter into a bond to guarantee your good behavior in the future; a second offense will be treated more harshly. If a gamekeeper attacks you and you defend yourself, you can be charged with assault. You may find yourself on the gallows if you injure him.
What is the author’s purpose in this excerpt?
A) to explain why many Elizabethans tried poaching
B) to explain why poaching was dangerous
C) to explain why landowners punished poachers
D) to explain why poaching often was forgiven
Answer:
The author's purpose in this excerpt is:
B) to explain why poaching was dangerous
Explanation:
The excerpt explains how poaching was punished during the Elizabethan era in England. It turns out that it was extremely dangerous to resort to poaching, even if you were really hungry. Poaching was punished in severe ways, unthinkable to the modern society. Killing a rabbit would not be punished with death, but would be expensively fined anyway. There was, however, the possibility of going to prison or being hanged, depending on what it is that you did or what animal you killed. As we can see, the author is mainly explaining why poaching was dangerous at that time. Therefore, the correct answer is letter B.
