Question

read the excerpt from enriques journey. moreover, the mara salvatrucha street gangsters, some deported from los angeles, always prowl the train tops looking for sleepers. many ms gangsters settle in chiapas after committing crimes in the united states and being expelled to their home countries in central america. the police in chiapas are more forgiving of gangs than those in el salvador or honduras. how does the meaning of the underlined word, prowl, support the author’s purpose in this excerpt? select two options. ☐ it illustrates that the police overlook the gangsters’ crimes. ☐ it shows what happens when police allow gangsters to operate. ☐ it indicates that the gangsters are looking for vulnerable people. ☐ it explains why the gangsters were sent back to their home countries. ☐ it supports the idea that the gangsters are involved in criminal activities.

Explanation:

1. Analyze "prowl": The word "prowl" means to move around stealthily, especially to hunt or look for prey. In the context, gangsters prowl train tops looking for "sleepers" (likely vulnerable people). So "It indicates that the gangsters are looking for vulnerable people" is correct.
2. Analyze the gangsters' actions: Gangsters prowling to find people to target supports the idea that they are involved in criminal activities (like assault, robbery, etc. against those they find). So "It supports the idea that the gangsters are involved in criminal activities" is correct.
3. Eliminate other options: The first option about police overlooking crimes isn't supported by "prowl". The second about police allowing gangsters to operate is not related to "prowl". The fourth about why they were sent back is unrelated to the meaning of "prowl".

Answer:

• It indicates that the gangsters are looking for vulnerable people.
• It supports the idea that the gangsters are involved in criminal activities.