Over the past ten years more than two dozen athletes have died from the medical condition known as heatstroke. Heatstroke occurs when the body’s internal temperature becomes so elevated that its cooling system begins shutting down. Who is most at risk? Surprisingly, it is younger athletes. They often either do not recognize or ignore the warning signs until it’s too late. To make matters worse, children's bodies are much less efficient than adults at cooling themselves. A promising new product hopes to end the all too common heatstroke trend. It is called a thermometer pill.
2 While it doesn’t look much different than the average vitamin capsule, the work it does inside the body is truly amazing. Once ingested these capsules send an internal body temperature reading to a portable device that is like a Palm Pilot. A coach or professional trainer monitors the device during practices or events held when temperatures and heat indexes are particularly high. If an athlete’s body temperature reaches a dangerous level, the monitor immediately transmits an alert. The player is then rushed indoors and placed in an ice bath to rapidly decrease his or her body temperature. This is important, since internal organs can begin shutting down at 105 degrees Fahrenheit.
3 While these tiny lifesavers have proven to be effective, they are quite expensive. On average the cost is $50.00 per pill. However, many parents of young athletes say that it is a small price to pay for the piece of mind it gives them on a hot, sultry day.
The purpose of this passage is
A)to convince readers that thermometer pills are beneficial.
B)to explain the dangers of heatstroke and the advantage of the pills.
C)to inform readers about how they might obtain this marvelous device.
D)to persuade readers that all young athletes are most at risk for heatstroke.
B
By writing this article, the author seems
A)to be trying to sell a product based on fear.
B)to show the tremendous expense associated with thermometer pills.
C)to explain to athletes the signs and symptoms associated with heatstroke.
D)to inform the public about the use of thermometer pills to prevent heatstroke in young athletes.
D
I think you are correct.
To determine the purpose of the passage, you can look for the main point or message that the author is trying to convey. In this case, the passage is primarily focused on informing readers about the dangers of heatstroke and the advantage of using thermometer pills to prevent it, as mentioned in option B. The passage discusses the frequency of heatstroke-related deaths in athletes, the higher risk for younger athletes, and the benefits of using thermometer pills to monitor and prevent heatstroke. Therefore, option B, "to explain the dangers of heatstroke and the advantage of the pills," is the correct answer.
To determine the author's intention or motive for writing the article, you can analyze the overall tone and content. The author provides information about the effectiveness and benefits of thermometer pills, without any obvious attempt to sell the product based on fear or exaggeration, as mentioned in option A. The author also does not focus extensively on the expense associated with the pills, eliminating option B. Additionally, the passage does not primarily focus on explaining the signs and symptoms of heatstroke, ruling out option C. Therefore, the most accurate answer is option D, "to inform the public about the use of thermometer pills to prevent heatstroke in young athletes."