Reread these two excerpts from “The Pony Express” Chapter 1 and answer the question that follows:

By 1860, then, war was inevitable. Naturally, the conflict would at once present intricate military problems, and among them the retention of the Pacific Coast was of the deepest concern to the Union. Situated at a distance of nearly two thousand miles from the Missouri River which was then the nation's western frontier, this intervening space comprised trackless plains, almost impenetrable ranges of snow-capped mountains, and parched alkali deserts. And besides these barriers of nature which lay between the West coast and the settled eastern half of the country, there were many fierce tribes of savages who were usually on the alert to oppose the movements of the white race through their dominions.

and

Yet it [the Pony Express] was of the greatest importance in binding the East and West together at a time when overland travel was slow and cumbersome, and when a great national crisis made the rapid communication of news between these sections an imperative necessity.

Which idea do both of these excerpts focus on?

The difficulties associated with travel to the West coast
The role the Pony Express played in starting the national crisis
The historical context around the country at the time of western expansion
The relationship between the military and the fierce tribes

Wichita mourning david matherne pipe organs—dusty and tarnished— bellowed the ancient song, as movers carried the pews for one last time. frozen branches—heavy with ice arms— 5 couldn’t perform their dance, as workmen shuffled inside the worn-out floors. sally richards—broken and mourning— watched while her father left, 10 as painters brought in their cans for the first time. stained-glass windows—buckled and broken— surveyed commotion’s cause as commerce won in the end 15 yet one more time. reverend richards—feeble and finished— cried as his exit was lost on christians who worshiped the dime; a change of the times. 20 which of these best summarizes the author's style in this poem? a) each of the five stanzas contains internal rhyme and consistent rhythm. b) each of the five stanzas contains an end rhyme describing a different character. c) each of the five stanzas contains assonance followed by a dash, then a description of the old church. d) each of the five stanzas introduces a character followed by a dash, then a description of that character. 3) in the first line of each stanza, the author follows the pattern of a noun followed by a pair of adjectives. what is the purpose of this pattern? a) the author hopes to create a peaceful feeling for the readers. b) the object and its adjectives are used to create a sense of progress. c) the author uses the pattern to create vivid pictures in the reader's mind. d) the author uses the pattern of man and nature to show the impact of this event.