Read the passage from Comprehending the Calamity No lights were allowed in the Park, and all was soon quiet except the wail of a baby, the clang at an ambulance, and the incessant roll of wheels and tramp of feet. People were all about us in
huddled groups, sleeping the sleep of exhaustion on the lawns and under the shrubbery
Late in the night I heard a cry, "Bakers wanted Bakers wanted over and over--the first cry of a stricken people for bread. Later came another through the silent night"Union telegraphers
wanted to tell the world our awful plight.
How does the author develop the idea that people are struggling after the earthquake?
Commending the Calamity
The author shows differences between the people who can help and the people who need to be helped.
The author shows that people are living in grim conditions and are in great need of help
The author describes how ordinary activities, such as sleep and baking, go on despite the tragedy
The author describes shouting at night, which shows why people are unable to sleep, despite their exhaustion

Read this passage: many manufacturers prefer plastic as a material for containers because it can be molded into many shapes. but plastic is not very strong. it must be fused with glass or steel for strength. it is also not very durable. even the strongest plastic can break under enough pressure. the biggest disadvantage to using plastic is that it does not decompose. while plastic can be recycled, doing so is tedious and difficult. while it may be more expensive and difficult to work with, aluminum is a much stronger building material with far greater tensile strength. it conducts electricity because it is metal. best of all, aluminum is very easy to recycle. even if it is thrown away, it decomposes much more quickly than most manufacturing materials. how does the compare-and-contrast organizational pattern of the passage support the author's purpose? a. the passage gradually leads up to the point about decomposition to inform the reader about the importance of recycling plastics. b. the passage lists the advantages and disadvantages of each material to make a case for the use of plastic and not aluminum in containers. c. the passage begins with a description of plastic's problems in order to call attention to the good qualities of aluminum. d. the passage shows the superiority of aluminum in order to make a case for the production of stronger plastics.