Question

as expedition leader chris turney blogged on january 3, safe and snug aboard the aurora australis, \the aae team have been fantastic. everyone held together to the end, supporting one another and keeping good humour under very trying conditions... providing leadership when needed, continuing the science work when possible, giving talks, providing lessons in all manner of skills, and being available for a quiet chat at almost any hour.\ which statement best expresses why the author chose to end with this quote from a passenger? in the interest of fairness, it is important to share the reasons the passengers give in defense of their actions, even if the author disagrees. the account of the incident by the passengers presents a counterargument, which should be included in any piece of persuasive writing. the words of the passengers themselves present the strongest evidence to support the claims the author makes about their attitude toward the incident. the author wants to make sure that the reader feels sympathy for the passengers and so ends the essay with a quote that puts them in the best light.

Explanation:

To determine the correct answer, we analyze each option:

• The first option mentions the author disagreeing, but the quote is positive about the team, not a defense the author disagrees with. Eliminate.
• The second option says it's a counterargument, but the quote supports the author's view (likely positive about the team's attitude), not a counter. Eliminate.
• The third option: A passenger's (team member's) quote directly shows their attitude (supportive, good humour, continuing work, etc.), which would strongly support the author's claims about their attitude toward the incident. This makes sense.
• The fourth option implies the author is manipulating for sympathy, but the quote is more about showing the team's positive actions/attitude, not just making them look good for sympathy. Eliminate.

Answer:

The words of the passengers themselves present the strongest evidence to support the claims the author makes about their attitude toward the incident.