How did McCandless and Franz meet, and what area did McCandless show Franz?

• A. Franz picked up McCandless, met at Salton City—hot springs
• B. McCandless met Franz in Seattle and showed him the mountains
• C. They met in Alaska and explored Denali
• D. They met at a library and discussed the desert area of Salton City

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is remembering a specific early scene in McCandless’s travels: how he first connected with Ron Franz and where that meeting happened. McCandless is hitchhiking in southern California when Ron Franz, an older man living in the desert town of Salton City, stops and gives him a ride. That encounter takes place in Salton City, and McCandless uses the moment to show Franz the area of interest to him—the hot springs in that desert region. This moment is important because it sets up the mentor-like dynamic Franz would develop with Chris and highlights the kinds of rugged, remote places Chris was drawn to. The other scenarios—Seattle, Alaska, or a library discussion—do not match the actual meeting or location described in the story.