Read the excerpt from "Bone Detective," by Lorraine Jean Hopping.

The Hunley recovery team planned to display Diane’s casts in a museum that was about to be built. But did the casts belong in a public exhibit? Some people objected to displaying soldiers' remains—even though they were plastic replicas. Diane saw nothing wrong with it. In fact, she had no qualms about showing the real bones.

"If people want to really learn about the soldiers,” she said, "you have to show the bones. The bone is a record of a person’s life, especially the last part—the circumstances of death.”

How and why did the Hunley sink? What can we learn about the lives—and deaths—of its ill-fated crew? Scientists will likely be investigating the answers for years to come, thanks in part to Diane’s casts.

Which statement best describes Hopping’s viewpoint and purpose in this excerpt?

A ] The author believes Diane France should not display soldiers’ remains, and she writes to persuade readers to avoid visiting the museum.

B ] The author thinks a Union warship caused the submarine to sink, and she writes to inform readers about the war.

C ] The author thinks stories about the Civil War are interesting, and she writes to entertain readers with true war stories.

D ] The author believes Diane France’s work in making bone casts has helped many scientists, and she writes to give details about her experiences.