Read the excerpt from "Tools of the Spymaster." General Gates's troops held their ground. Benedict Arnold, one of Gates's generals, argued for a counterattack that would smash the British force. Gates, outraged that Arnold would challenge his order, took away his command. But the rash Arnold saw a chance to strike a crucial blow. He galloped through the crossfire of both armies, inspiring his men. A bullet struck his leg, but he rode on, leading the final assault that shattered the British fortifications. If he had died of his wounds that day, Arnold would be remembered as one of the great heroes of the Revolutionary War.

The author’s main purpose in this excerpt is to

describe to the reader a brave act by a historical figure.
illustrate to the reader the dangers of questioning orders.
persuade the reader that challenging orders is heroic.
show the reader how violent the Revolutionary War was.

Describe to the reader a brave act by a historical figure

Explanation:

In the given excerpt, the author tells us about a heroic act of general Benedict Arnold, an important figure in the Revolutionary War. The purpose is not to show us how dangerous or heroic it is to question orders. Sometimes it is dangerous (like in this case), but sometimes it's not. The act of challenging orders is not heroic on its own, although, in this case, it turned out to be. There are some details showing us how violent the Revolutionary War was, but that is also not the point. All of these details are a part of Arnold's brave act.

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