Question+24

=#24 "The Purpose of endnote 2 (line 45) is to..." =

The answer is C. Why?

The answer could not be A because of the wording used in the answer option. It says "directly quoting," but the author uses no quotation marks in the sentence, implying that the sentence is a culmination of knowledge gathered from the cited sources and put into the author's own words. This is also a silly option because the endnote cites three different sources. They couldn't have all said the same exact thing (they would be accused of plagiarism!) and if the author only used the exact words of one source, all three would not be listed under one endnote.

Answer B is the **distractor option.** Although it is a good alternative, it is really just stating the job of any endnote ever. Also, I was unsure of the word "forecoming," it has multiple definitions, some of which include "available when expected" and "about to appear, approaching in time." Endnotes go at the end of a sentence, that's why they are called end notes. As for being available when expected, does that mean the data ? Or the providing of reference materials?

It is applicable to this particular situation especially. It has the most detail. It is stating what the endnote is doing (documenting the sources) and what that applies to (the loans, scholarships, etc). It is the best answer.
 * The answer must be C because...**

The answer couldn't be D because it doesn't make sense. It talks about a link between the cost of higher education and the availability of loans, but that was never a topic that was really broached. The author mentioned them both at the end of the passage with no expansion on those subjects. They were added support for the main subject of the passage: that we should be worried about our education system. How can you refute a "link" that never really existed?

The answer is not E because the author of the passage would not support her argument with facts that supported opinions that differed from her own. It would weaken her narrative. Especially as this is the final sentence of the passage and the last thought the reader is left with, it would make the purpose of the author seem conflicted.

__**Why does this question exist?**__

 * It tests the understanding of the passage. It's checking on whether the reader has understood the author's message.
 * Comprehension of the author's purpose and subject and tone are necessary to identify which answer option coincides with the passage.
 * You need to know what an endnote is and what it is used for. It is just another literary tool that you need to be familiar with. You also need to be careful with your reading... Answer option A would have been correct (or more correct) without the use of the word "directly." Also, don't let yourself be convinced of things that just didn't happen, like in answer option D. Although both topics were mentioned in the same sentence, they weren't juxtaposed and no one ever elaborated on them. Don't let the test impose false ideas on you!