The correct answer should be locate basic information.
When you are doing the preliminary research, you are just reading through a bunch of sources and information that you may or may not use while writing. You still aren't deciding which exact sources you are actually going to use, but rather just trying to find them and later on make that decision during another stage of writing.
Something interesting like an event in history
the reverend is always critical of him.
In the passage, the boy knows the reverend always assumes the worst.
hope this helps
