Final answer:
The evidence presented in the excerpts supports the conclusion that the author's purpose is to teach a moral to children through various literary techniques and critical thinking skills.
Step-by-step explanation:
The evidence that supports the conclusion that the author's purpose is to teach a moral to children can be found in the various excerpts provided. For example, in one excerpt, it is mentioned that one of the goals of a book is to empower students to independently check more authoritative sources, much like 2+2 = 4 can be personally verified. This suggests that the author intends to teach critical thinking and the importance of relying on reliable sources of information. Furthermore, another excerpt discusses the misconception that literature contains hidden messages and emphasizes that great works cannot be summed up in pithy moral statements. This indicates that the author intends to challenge the readers' preconceived notions and encourage them to think beyond simplistic moral truisms.
Additionally, in a different excerpt, the author mentions the fallacy of appealing to a higher authority as a technique employed to justify unethical behavior. This suggests that the author aims to educate children about different logical fallacies and the importance of moral reasoning. Overall, the evidence presented in the excerpts supports the conclusion that the author's purpose is to teach a moral to children through various literary techniques and critical thinking skills.