Question 15·Hard·Text Structure and Purpose
Historians long assumed that the abrupt cancellation of the 1907 transcontinental balloon race was motivated solely by safety concerns, citing newspaper editorials condemning the event as reckless spectacle. Recently unearthed correspondence between the race’s chief organizer, Clara Diehl, and several Senate committee members, however, reveals a different impetus: industrial lobbying. Diehl’s letters detail meetings in which railroad executives pressed legislators to withdraw federal logistical support, arguing that the highly publicized race would highlight the inefficiency of rail freight. Though the official decree canceling the race mentions only “hazardous conditions,” the letters suggest that political pressure, not peril, determined the outcome.
Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?
For main-purpose questions, first read the entire short passage, then summarize it in one simple sentence (e.g., “The author shows that X people were wrong because new evidence shows Y”). Look for contrast words like "however," "though," and phrases like "recently unearthed" or "reveals" that signal the author’s main move. Then eliminate answer choices that are too narrow (only one detail), too broad (bring in topics not in the passage), or that reverse the author’s stance. Finally, choose the option that best captures the overall contrast or claim the author is making, not just an interesting detail.
Hints
Start with the first and last sentences
Ask yourself: What belief or idea does the first sentence set up, and how does the last sentence change or comment on that idea?
Look for contrast words
Pay attention to signal words like "however" and "though." What is being contrasted with what, and why does that matter for the author’s overall point?
Separate what people thought from what the letters show
Make a quick note: what did historians and newspapers say, and what do Clara Diehl’s letters suggest instead?
Check each answer against the whole passage
Ask whether each option describes the entire passage, not just one detail. Eliminate choices that are too narrow (only one piece of evidence) or too broad (turning the passage into a general lesson).
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the topic and the old explanation
Focus on the first sentence: it tells you what people used to think. Historians "long assumed" the 1907 balloon race was canceled because of safety concerns, supported by newspapers calling it a "reckless spectacle." That sets up the commonly cited explanation the passage is about.
Notice the shift signaled by contrast words
Look at the second sentence: "Recently unearthed correspondence ... however, reveals a different impetus." The word "however" shows a contrast with what came before. The author is introducing something new that disagrees with the old explanation.
Understand what the new evidence shows
The passage explains that Clara Diehl’s letters describe railroad executives lobbying senators to stop federal support for the race because it would make rail freight look inefficient. The last sentence reinforces this: even though the official decree cites "hazardous conditions," the letters suggest political pressure, not peril, determined the outcome. So the new evidence challenges the safety-based explanation.
Match the overall purpose to the correct choice
The whole passage contrasts the traditional safety explanation with newly found letters that point to political and industrial lobbying as the real cause. Therefore, the main purpose is to present newly discovered evidence that challenges the commonly cited explanation for the race’s cancellation.