Questions: What is the authors' purpose in this passage? to inform the reader that Louisiana had fewer enslaved people than other slave states did to inform the reader that Louisiana's hot weather hastened the sugar harvest to a few months to inform the reader that life for enslaved people improved when sugar mills became powered by steam to inform the reader that Louisiana's short harvest season meant that enslaved people were cruelly overworked

The answer is D: to inform the reader that Louisiana's short harvest season meant that enslaved people were cruelly overworked.

Explanation for each option:

A. To inform the reader that Louisiana had fewer enslaved people than other slave states did - This option is incorrect because the passage does not focus on the number of enslaved people in Louisiana compared to other states. Instead, it discusses the conditions and challenges faced by the enslaved population in Louisiana.

B. To inform the reader that Louisiana's hot weather hastened the sugar harvest to a few months - This option is incorrect because the passage specifically mentions cold snaps in Louisiana, not hot weather, as a factor that added pressure to the sugar harvest.

C. To inform the reader that life for enslaved people improved when sugar mills became powered by steam - This option is incorrect because the passage indicates that the introduction of steam-powered mills increased the pace of work, suggesting that life did not improve for enslaved people but rather became more demanding.

D. To inform the reader that Louisiana's short harvest season meant that enslaved people were cruelly overworked - This option is correct because the passage highlights the intense and demanding nature of the sugar harvest in Louisiana, particularly due to the short timeframe and the need to work quickly to keep up with the machines and weather conditions.