You are looking at the HTML representation of the XML format.
HTML is good for debugging, but is unsuitable for application use.
Specify the format parameter to change the output format.
To see the non HTML representation of the XML format, set format=xml.
See the complete documentation, or API help for more information. 
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<api>
  <query-continue>
    <allimages gaicontinue="Forms_edit_criteria.png" />
  </query-continue>
  <query>
    <pages>
      <page pageid="55" ns="6" title="File:Arrow green down.gif" />
      <page pageid="54" ns="6" title="File:Arrow green up.gif" />
      <page pageid="23" ns="6" title="File:Assess list.png" />
      <page pageid="24" ns="6" title="File:Assess reports.png" />
      <page pageid="51" ns="6" title="File:Assess tabs.png" />
      <page pageid="43" ns="6" title="File:Assessments toolbar.png" />
      <page pageid="39" ns="6" title="File:Collections explained.png" />
      <page pageid="56" ns="6" title="File:Cross.gif" />
      <page pageid="44" ns="6" title="File:Edit.gif" />
      <page pageid="45" ns="6" title="File:Email.gif" />
    </pages>
  </query>
</api>