What did McCandless's parents learn from the investigator?

• A. He had given away college funds and abandoned a car and confused them
• B. He had joined a cult
• C. He had bought a house
• D. He had married

Answer: (A)

The main idea tested here is recalling what the investigator told McCandless’s parents about his actions and mindset. The investigator described that Chris had given away his college funds and abandoned a car, details that shocked his parents and left them puzzled about his whereabouts and intentions. This reflects the abrupt break from family expectations and the fictionalized myth of a simple, conventional life versus Chris’s radical, nomadic pursuit. The other options—joining a cult, buying a house, or marrying—do not match what the investigator conveyed, so they aren’t the events described to the parents.