Which sentence from the passage BEST explains why Thoreau

chose to live in the woods?

Answer: Thoreau went to the woods to learn about life from nature.

Explanation:

Thoreau connects the practical interest in a place of residence and the philosophical thought about the meaning of life. Hence, the expression "the essential facts of life" can apply to both material needs such as food and shelter, and the essence of human life.

In his famous phrase "to live deliberately", Thoreau seems to be referring to a cabin in the woods, when he's really pondering on the transcendent purpose of human existence.