Which of the following best describes the author’s exigence in the passage?

A. The tension between the author’s worldview and the worldview developed by Alice Walker in The Color Purple (paragraph 1, sentence 1)

B. The pressure on the author to “get involved in some of the big ideas of our time” (paragraph 3, sentence 1)

C. Growing indifference toward “the problems that plague our nation and our society” (paragraph 3, sentence 2)

D. The fact that the audience “clapped more for Ferris” than they did at the mention of President Bush (paragraph 6, sentence 1)

E. The question of how to lead a meaningful life “in a transitional period” (paragraph 9, sentence 1)

Answer

To determine the best description of the author’s exigence from the provided options, let’s analyze each option in relation to the context of the passage.

Exigence refers to the issue, problem, or situation that compels the author to write or speak about a topic.

2. Option B: The pressure on the author to “get involved in some of the big ideas of our time” (paragraph 3, sentence 1)

3. Option C: Growing indifference toward “the problems that plague our nation and our society” (paragraph 3, sentence 2)

4. Option D: The fact that the audience “clapped more for Ferris” than they did at the mention of President Bush (paragraph 6, sentence 1)

5. Option E: The question of how to lead a meaningful life “in a transitional period” (paragraph 9, sentence 1)

Among these options, Option C seems to best reflect a critical exigence the author is addressing—the growing indifference toward societal problems, which is a broader issue likely motivating their writing. The author seemingly aims to bridge this gap of indifference with their message.

Therefore, the best answer appears to be C. Growing indifference toward “the problems that plague our nation and our society” (paragraph 3, sentence 2).