The idea being tested is that spiritual growth comes from nourishing yourself on God's Word. Believers are pictured like newborn babies who need milk to grow, so longing for pure spiritual milk means craving the truths of God—His Word and sound teaching—in its simplest, untainted form. When you crave that nourishment, you’re positioning yourself to grow in faith and ultimately live out the salvation you’ve received; the nourishment keeps you spiritually healthy and maturing. The phrase “pure spiritual milk” emphasizes that this nourishment is trustworthy, free from false teaching, and aimed at forming the life of a believer. That’s why this option fits best: it directly ties longing to growth toward salvation. The other choices describe physical desires or worldly pursuits that don’t provide the spiritual nourishment needed for growth in faith, so they don’t align with the imagery or purpose of this instruction.

In policy-focused writing, the central claim is the main position the author argues for about the policy issue. The best approach is to identify the thesis and examine the evidence supporting it. Finding the thesis tells you what the author is trying to convince you of, the stance they take, and the direction of the argument. Then evaluating the supporting evidence—data, examples, reasons, and trade-offs—lets you judge how strong the claim is and whether the proposed policy really holds up under scrutiny. The other options don’t target the core argument: counting graphs shows data rather than the main claim, reading only the introduction may miss the full argument, and relying on memory doesn’t engage with the text to verify its claims.

Understanding Ezra's role as a scribe. Ezra is described as a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which identifies his profession as someone who copies, studies, and interprets the Law and explains it to others. This fits the context of his work with the returned exiles in Jerusalem, guiding people in understanding and applying the Law. While he engages in teaching and religious leadership, the specific label given in the text is that of a scribe, making that the best fit for his occupation.

A sign of divine power used to authenticate Moses’ calling. When he pulled his hand from his cloak, it appeared leprous, white as snow—a startling, temporary condition meant to show that Moses spoke with God’s authority. In the biblical context, leprosy symbolized impurity and divine action, so this sudden transformation would make the people pay attention and trust that Moses was empowered by God. The following action—Putting the hand back in and withdrawing it again, restoring it to normal—demonstrates that God can both afflict and heal, reinforcing the messenger’s credibility.