Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[jasonlulu_2000]

Seeing a volcano erupt is a wonderful experience, and you can really feel the beat by climbing to the summit of Pacaya for a close-up view. There are guided tours every day up this highly active volcano from Antigua. Giving travelers a chance to see Mother Nature at her most powerful.
Pacaya is an easy drive from Antigua, a beautiful city with many colorful houses along its old streets that are turned into art-works during its Holy Week festival. No matter when you come to Antigua, you won�t miss the Pacaya-tour companies.
But climbing Pacaya is no easy job: it is 2560 metres high, and reaching the summit takes two to three hours of seemingly one-step-forward and two-step-back movements. As you climb, you hear the dull sounds of eruptions high above. Steaming. Hot remains from recent eruptions begin to line the path as you near the active summit; the McKenney Cone. Just as though you were going to walk over to the edge of the cone, the road turns to the left and up to the relative safety of the old, inactive summit.
Many tours are timed so that you arrive at the cone of the volcano is plenty of time for sunset and the full contrast between the erupting red lava and the darkening sky. On a good day the view from the summit is extremely exciting. The active mouth boils, sending red lava over its sides, and once in a while shoots hot streams up to 100 metres into the air. There is a strong bad smell in the air even if you take care to be upwind of the cone.
As evening turns deeper into the night. the burning lava quietly falls down tae side of the volcano. For you, too, it is time to get down .
1. What is the main purpose of this passage?
A. To attract tourists to Pacaya.
B. To describe the beauty of Pacaya.
C. To introduce guided tours to Pacaya.
D. To explain the power of nature at Pacaya.

I am at a loss between A and C. Could you help me out with a good reason?

Thanks

Jason

[pugachevV]

I would say A. is the primary purpose, as it sounds like something out of a brochure, but you could say, B., or D.

[jasonlulu_2000]

Could I ask Why Answer C is wrong?

Thanks

[pugachevV]

If it's purpose were to promote tour companies it would focus on them more than it has. It seems to be mainly promoting the place as a tourist attraction and mentions the fact that tours are available, if you don't want to just go up the mountain yourself.

[jasonlulu_2000]

Thank u for your reply again.

Could you paraphrase answer C? As far as I am concerned, answer C doesn't seem to promote the tour company, but instead introduce guided tours to tourists.

Am i right? Sorry for my being a nag.

Jason