Short-response prompt (15 points) Read the following excerpt from How to Prepare for a Road Trip: What Route to Take?

Short-response prompt (15 points)

Read the following excerpt from "How to Prepare for a Road Trip":

What Route to Take? Once you've come up with a destination, it's time to plot the course. The United States is crisscrossed with highways that take you across the country from north to south and east to west. For example, on Interstate 80, it's a straight shot from Teaneck, New Jersey, to San Francisco, California; and on Interstate 5, you can cruise all the way from the Canadian border to Mexico, passing through the capital cities of Washington, Oregon, and California. The interstate highway system is great if you just want to get from point A to point B quickly, and only want to stop to refuel and grab snacks on the way.On the other hand, taking scenic back roads can allow you to see unique and memorable parts of the country that you can't see from the interstates. The Blue Ridge Parkway winds through 469 miles of the Appalachian Mountains; Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park tops out at over 12,000 feet in Colorado; and Highway 101 cruises along the Pacific coast beaches, cliffs, and towns for over 1,500 miles. Not to mention the delightfully bizarre attractions you can find off the beaten path, such as:

• Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo, Texas
• The gum wall in Seattle, Washington
• The world's largest ball of twine, in Cawker City, Kansas
• Life-size chocolate moose in Scarborough, Maine
• Foamhenge in Natural Bridge, Virginia
• World's Largest Catsup Bottle, in Collinsville, Illinois

State the purpose of this excerpt in your own words. Then explain how the author's choice of details and text features support that main idea. Use specific examples from the passage to support your answer.