Nobody could understand what was wrong with shireen. she was one of the happiest girls anybody ever knew. when shireen stopped laughing, playing, and singing, her father became concerned for his only daughter. “is there something that would make you happy, my child? ” ali, shireen’s father, asked tenderly. “yes, father,” shireen replied. “but, it might be difficult and too much trouble.” she continued to rest her head on the pillow and look out the window. shireen had not even got out of the bed for the last two days. as ali looked at the pale face of his child, he decided he would do whatever is needed to make her feel better. after all, the doctors had told him something beyond medicine was bothering little shireen. “try me,” ali asked, kissing his ailing daughter’s forehead. “papa, i want to play with a baby elephant. can you bring one to me? ” shireen asked, still facing the window. “yes, darling,” ali said in a cheerful voice. i will talk to a zookeeper and bring a baby elephant across town, he thought. but how can i get it up the stairs? what a strange request my daughter makes, but i will think of a way to make her happy again. the author's purpose in writing this passage is to a. entertain the reader with a story about a girl with a strange wish. b. instruct the reader on how to get an elephant to a child's bedroom. c. inform the reader about a family that is facing a strange problem. d. persuade the reader to fulfill little children's wishes and desires.