Passage 3 Probably the most important factor governing the severity of forest fires is weather. Hot, dryweather lowers the moisture content of fuels. Once a fire has started, wind is extremely criticalbecause it influences the oxygen supply and the rate of spread. Forest type and forest conditions arealso important factors. For example, fire is more likely to occur in conifers than in hardwoods;slash-covered or brushy areas are especially hazardous because the rate at which combustionconsumes fuel is proportional to fuel volume and surface area.   Some fires are caused by lightening; others are caused by people. Those caused by people maybe accidental or intentional (incendiary). The causes of fire in the United States show large regionaldifferences. In the Rocky Mountains more than 70 percent of the fires are caused by lightning,whereas incendiary fires amount to only about 1 percent. In contrast, more than 40 percent of thefires in the South are incendiary, whereas lightning causes only 1 percent.
41. In this passage the author’s main purpose is to
(A)Argue
(B) inform
(C) persuade
(D) entertain