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Question

Difficulty: EasyInferring Author Purpose and Intent

When maintaining automotive cooling systems, mechanics remind vehicle owners not to substitute pure water for engine coolant, even during warm summer months. Although pure water can absorb heat effectively, it lacks the rust inhibitors and water pump lubricants formulated into commercial antifreeze mixtures. Furthermore, commercial coolant raises the boiling point of the fluid within the pressurized system, preventing the engine from boiling over during heavy operation. Relying solely on water rapidly corrodes internal metal passages and wears out moving pump seals.

Based on the passage, what is the author's primary purpose?

  1. A
    Highlight the fact that water absorbs heat effectively
  2. Explain why engine coolant is necessary instead of plain waterAnswer
  3. C
    Provide step-by-step instructions on replacing a broken water pump
  4. D
    Argue that all vehicle fluids must be flushed immediately before summer

Answer

The author's primary purpose is to explain why engine coolant is necessary instead of plain water.
The author focuses entirely on explaining the vital functions of engine coolant (lubricating pumps, preventing corrosion, and raising the boiling point) and contrasting them with the damages caused by using plain water.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the passage to identify the central topic and governing point
The text discusses automotive cooling systems, comparing commercial coolant to pure water and outlining the risks of omitting coolant.
Determining the overall message helps distinguish the author's primary objective from minor background details.
2
Evaluate the author's rhetorical intent across the entire text
The author presents multiple reasons why coolant protects engines—lubrication, anti-corrosion, and boiling-point elevation—to clarify why coolant is required.
An author's purpose is determined by how the overall argument or explanation is structured, not by a single sentence.
3
Select the choice that captures this overarching explanatory purpose
The option stating that the author explains why engine coolant is necessary instead of plain water matches the full scope of the text.
This statement accurately synthesizes the full paragraph without overgeneralizing or narrowing to a single detail.

Key Concept

Inferring Author Purpose and Intent
Estimated Time:45s
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Inferring Author Purpose and Intent

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