[Rwp] Basic track selection question

[onlineeagle]

I used to think I had a reasonable amount of intelligence, but then I started playing with Reaper, and I think I was very mistaken.

I am trying to make a selection on track one of a two track project, but when I make a selection and press delete, both tracks are having that selection deleted. Then, if I try to split an item, it only splits the item on track 2, even though I’m focused on track one. I have scoured the actions list to find out how to select a track. There seems to be nothing. Apparently, pressing shift up or down arrow will select that track, leaving other tracks selected. But I just want to select track one. Not to worry, I think, I have ReaConsole. I press alt and c and type in S1, with the s as an upper case S. This is the instruction to select only track one. However, when I split an item, or press delete, it  deletes the content both tracks two, or splits the item on track two. 

Then to add insult to injury, one of my other two track projects only plays the second track, unless I select an item on track one, in which case it will play track one. But then if I hit W to go to the beginning it will start playing track two again, witho