Question

5.1.2 exam: semester exam
fifty-four years ago to the day, a young jewish boy from a
small town in the carpathian mountains woke up, not far
from goethes beloved weimar, in a place of eternal infamy
called buchenwald. he was finally free, but there was no
joy in his heart. he thought there never would be again.
liberated a day earlier by american soldiers, he
remembers their rage at what they saw. and even if he
lives to be a very old man, he will always be grateful to
them for that rage, and also for their compassion. though
he did not understand their language, their eyes told him
what he needed to know — that they, too, would remember,
and bear witness.

a. he is giving the audience background information on the
holocaust.

b. he is trying to help the audience make a connection between his
experiences and his ideas.

c. he is providing an example of human indifference.

d. he is trying to convince the audience that american soldiers were
indifferent to the suffering of those

Explanation:

• Option A: The passage focuses on the author's personal experience, not general background on the Holocaust. Eliminate A.
• Option B: The author shares his liberation experience and how American soldiers' rage and compassion relate to his ideas (remembering, bearing witness). This connects his experience to his message.
• Option C: The soldiers showed rage and compassion, not indifference. Eliminate C.
• Option D: The soldiers were not indifferent; they were angry and compassionate. Eliminate D.

Answer:

B. He is trying to help the audience make a connection between his experiences and his ideas.