In this excerpt, what was the author's purpose in describing the study of the winner's thinking process? \( \begin{array}{l}\text { Winners tend to avoid goals that are too easy } \\ \text { because they feel there is just no sport in it. } \\ \text { Moreover, would-be winners have a tendency to } \\ \text { avoid long shots, demonstrating an instinct to stay } \\ \text { away from those areas where there is no hope of } \\ \text { success or those that are dependent on luck rather } \\ \text { (A) to show that winners avoid competitions they know } \\ \text { they will lose } \\ \text { (B) to demonstrate that most people think of themselves as } \\ \text { winners } \\ \text { (C) to point out that winners have an unrealistic view of } \\ \text { their abilities } \\ \text { (D) to illustrate that winners like to participate only in easy } \\ \text { competitions }\end{array} \)

To determine the author's purpose in describing the study of the winner's thinking process, let's analyze the excerpt provided. The excerpt states that winners avoid goals that are too easy because they find no challenge in them. It also mentions that would-be winners tend to avoid long shots, indicating a preference for realistic goals rather than those that rely on luck or have little chance of success. Now, let's evaluate the answer choices: (A) **to show that winners avoid competitions they know they will lose** - This is partially true, but the excerpt emphasizes avoiding easy goals and unrealistic long shots rather than focusing solely on losing. (B) **to demonstrate that most people think of themselves as winners** - This is not supported by the excerpt, which focuses specifically on the behavior of winners rather than the general perception of people. (C) **to point out that winners have an unrealistic view of their abilities** - This does not align with the excerpt, as it suggests that winners are strategic in their goal-setting rather than having an unrealistic view. (D) **to illustrate that winners like to participate only in easy competitions** - This is incorrect because the excerpt states that winners avoid easy competitions. The best interpretation of the excerpt is that it highlights the strategic mindset of winners, who prefer challenges that are neither too easy nor reliant on luck. However, none of the provided options perfectly encapsulate this idea. Given the choices, the closest option is (A), as it reflects the idea that winners are selective about the competitions they engage in, but it does not fully capture the essence of the excerpt. Thus, the most appropriate answer is: **(A) to show that winners avoid competitions they know they will lose.**