Question

their faces turned eastward, looking to the mother country for help, and watching europe, and later england herself, as a quarter from which danger might come, as indeed it did in the war of the revolution and that of 1812.
5 during the last few years, however, various events have happened to change this attitude. through its success in the late spanish war the united states gained confidence in its own powers, while the people of the old world began to realize that the young republic of the western hemisphere, since it did not hesitate to make war in the interests of humanity, would not be apt to allow its own rights to be imposed upon. the coming of the philippine and hawaiian islands under the protection of the united states, the russo-japanese war, which opened the eyes of the world to the strength of japan and the wisdom of securing its trade, and the action of the united states in undertaking the building of the panama canal, are indications that the pacific will in the future support a commerce the greatness of which we of today cannot estimate.
6 with danger from european interference no longer pressing closely upon the nation, president roosevelt in 1907 took a decided step in recognizing the importance of the pacific when he sent to that coast so large a number of the most modern vessels of the navy. in fact, the nation may now be said to have faced about, california becoming the front door of our country.
the main purpose of this passage is
a to explain how the gold rush began.
b to describe the landscape of california.
c to explain how california was discovered.
d to describe the growing importance of california.

Explanation:

The passage discusses events like the US gaining confidence from the Spanish - American War, the acquisition of the Philippines and Hawaiian Islands, the Russo - Japanese War, and the building of the Panama Canal. It also mentions President Roosevelt sending a large number of modern navy vessels to the Pacific coast and California becoming the "front door" of the country. These details indicate a focus on the increasing significance of California (as part of the Pacific region's growing importance). Options A (Gold Rush), B (landscape), and C (discovery of California) are not the main focus of the passage.

Answer:

D. to describe the growing importance of California.