Jackson and Crocker's Drive
In the United States during the early 1900s, most people thought of automobiles as a passing fad. Automobile enthusiast Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson, however, disagreed with this idea and believed that long-distance road trips were possible for everyone. On May 18, 1903, he made a $50 wager that he and his mechanic, co-driver, and driving instructor, Sewall K. Crocker, could drive across the U.S. in a used Winton car named the Vermont.
Jackson and Crocker began the first trans-U.S. automobile trip on May 23, 1903. They departed from San Francisco and traveled along the Oregon Trail toward their final destination of New York City. Their journey was fraught with setbacks. Only 15 miles into their journey, the Vermont lost a tire. Soon after they replaced the tire with their only spare, their cooking gear fell off the vehicle, and they were led 108 miles off-course after following poor directions. On June 6th, the car broke down, and a fuel leak drained their only available gasoline. Three days later, the Vermont's oil ran out.
During their journey, Jackson and Crocker adopted a young bulldog named Bud who wore thick driving goggles to protect his eyes from the road dust. Bud quickly adapted to life on the road and became the subject of many newspaper articles. Despite numerous problems and delays, the Vermont and its three passengers reached New York City on July 26, 1903. They had become famous due to newspaper coverage, and their inspiring journey helped to popularize the automobile in the United States. Today, the Vermont is preserved in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C., to honor Jackson and Crocker for their courage, fortitude, and vision for the future of automobiles in the U.S.
Which of the following best describes the purpose of the second paragraph of this passage?
A.
to contrast the numerous problems associated with early automobiles with the efficiency of modern automobiles
B.
to suggest that sabotage of the Vermont led to serious delays for the first trans-U.S. automobile trip
C.
to suggest that Jackson and Crocker's cross-country automobile trip was poorly planned and badly executed
D.
to acknowledge the problems associated with the first cross-country automobile trip in the U.S.