'Smoking damages nearly every organ in the body and causes numerous diseases. Quitting, even later in life, significantly improves health. There is no safe level of tobacco use.' The author's main purpose is to:

AUTHOR'S PURPOSE: The passage emphasizes smoking's harms and the benefits of quitting, with a strong claim ('no safe level'). The purpose is to PERSUADE readers that smoking is harmful and quitting helps. ASVAB strategy: identify whether the author aims to inform, persuade, describe, or entertain. The strong, one-sided health message ('damages nearly every organ,' 'no safe level') signals a persuasive purpose discouraging smoking — the opposite of 'encourage smoking.'