What did McCandless buy in Topock, Arizona, and where did he get the money?

• A. An old metal canoe; money from Westerberg
• B. A new motorboat; money from his savings
• C. An old wooden kayak; money from a loan
• D. A used canoe; money from his parents

Answer: (B)

The key idea here is recognizing how McCandless funded and equipped his travels in the Southwest. In Topock, Arizona, he bought a new motorboat, using money from his own savings. This fits his pattern of self-reliance—he earned and set aside his funds rather than relying on family money, a loan, or help from friends like Westerberg. The other possibilities don’t align with the story’s details: he didn’t purchase an old canoe or a wooden kayak, and he didn’t obtain the purchase money from parents or a loan, nor from Westerberg.