What is the author's purpose in "A Performance to Remember"? to prove that Bonaly is braver and more determined compared to other skaters

to explain how Bonaly stands out from other figure skaters and why it matters

to entertain readers with a story about Bonaly's illegal skating trick

to help readers understand Bonaly's decision to become a figure skater

what does the teacher mean

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.

about 25% of a paper can be direct quotes.