16Hit1600
Craft and StructureMediumMain purpose of a passage about a name

Craft and Structure practice question

The 'Spanish' flu of 1918 did not begin in Spain. Wartime censors in the countries at war suppressed reports of the illness, while neutral Spain's newspapers reported it freely; the name records where the news was allowed to appear, not where the disease arose.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

  1. A. To explain why the disease acquired a misleading name.Correct
  2. B. To describe the symptoms of the 1918 flu.
  3. C. To argue that Spain should have censored its newspapers.
  4. D. To identify the country where the flu began.

Answer: A. To explain why the disease acquired a misleading name.

Not from Spain; named for Spain because Spain reported it. The passage explains the misnomer.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. To describe the symptoms of the 1918 flu.
No symptoms are given.
C. To argue that Spain should have censored its newspapers.
The text makes no such argument.
D. To identify the country where the flu began.
The text says where it did NOT begin, not where it did.

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