Read the passage from “i know why the caged bird sings.” i have tried often to search behind the sophistication of years for the enchantment i so easily found in those gifts. the essence escapes but its aura remains. to be allowed, no, invited, into the private lives of strangers, and to share their joys and fears, was a chance to exchange the southern bitter wormwood for a cup of mead with beowulf or a hot cup of tea and milk with oliver twist. when i said aloud, "it is a far, far better thing that i do, than i have ever done . .” tears of love filled my eyes at my selflessness. what is the most likely reason author maya angelou included this passage? to entertain the reader with references to books to explain her viewpoint on the wonders of reading to provide actions that show her personality traits to persuade the reader of the benefits of the classics

The answer is: to explain her viewpoint on the wonders of reading.

In the passage from "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," Maya Angelou makes reference to "Beowulf," "Oliver Twist" and Shakespeare and expresses that reading makes her feel as if they invited her to hang out together. She perceives herself welcome into their personal histories to share their joys and fears and a drink or a cup of tea.

the correct answer is video games and fast food.

hope this (:

21 balloons is the story of professor william sherman's travels.

in 1883, he set off from san francisco for a balloon ride over the pacific and was found a month later floating with 21 balloons in the atlantic ocean. this seemed an astounding feat and everyone wanted to know what had happened.    

professor sherman was loyal, however, and said he would tell his tale first to the western american explorers club in san francisco, of which he was a member. this built up suspense for several chapters before he began to tell of the wonders of his adventures and the amazing island of krakatoa, an island which had just been blown up by a volcano.  

the residents of krakatoa are all millionaires who live under a "gourmet government" of their own devising. we get to see all the incredible adventures that creative people with unlimited resources would create according to the author.