Nelson-Denny Reading Test Reading Comprehension: Determining Author's Purpose 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An author writes a passage describing the life cycle of monarch butterflies using vivid imagery and sensory language. What is the PRIMARY purpose of this passage?
- To entertain readers with a story about butterflies (Correct answer)
- To inform readers about butterfly migration patterns
- To persuade readers to protect endangered species
- To describe the scientific classification of butterflies
Correct answer: To entertain readers with a story about butterflies
Vivid imagery and sensory language are hallmarks of writing meant to entertain or engage readers emotionally rather than to inform or persuade.
Question 2: A passage states: 'Studies show that students who read for 20 minutes daily score 50% higher on comprehension tests. Therefore, schools must mandate daily reading time.' What is the author's purpose?
- To entertain with stories about reading
- To explain how reading improves skills
- To persuade schools to require daily reading (Correct answer)
- To compare reading habits across school districts
Correct answer: To persuade schools to require daily reading
The word 'must' and use of statistics to support a specific policy action indicate the author's purpose is to persuade.
Question 3: Which clue in a passage BEST indicates that an author's purpose is to inform rather than persuade?
- The passage uses emotional appeals to the reader
- The passage presents only one side of an issue
- The passage includes balanced facts and avoids opinion words (Correct answer)
- The passage ends with a call to action
Correct answer: The passage includes balanced facts and avoids opinion words
Informational writing presents balanced, objective facts without pushing the reader toward a particular viewpoint or action.
Question 4: A travel magazine article describes the bustling markets, colorful festivals, and friendly locals of a foreign city. What is the MOST LIKELY purpose of this passage?
- To warn travelers about dangerous conditions abroad
- To persuade readers to visit that city (Correct answer)
- To explain the history of the city's founding
- To compare the city to other tourist destinations
Correct answer: To persuade readers to visit that city
Travel magazine articles that highlight positive attributes of a destination are typically written to persuade readers to visit.
Question 5: An author writes a humorous short story about a dog who tries to cook dinner for his family. What is the PRIMARY purpose?
- To inform readers about dog behavior
- To persuade readers to adopt dogs
- To entertain readers with an amusing scenario (Correct answer)
- To explain the dangers of leaving pets unsupervised
Correct answer: To entertain readers with an amusing scenario
A humorous fictional scenario with no factual claims or persuasive argument is designed primarily to entertain.
Question 6: A passage about climate change presents data, expert quotes, and opposing viewpoints without recommending any specific policy. What is the author's purpose?
- To persuade readers that climate change is serious
- To entertain with dramatic weather stories
- To inform readers about the climate change debate (Correct answer)
- To argue that scientists disagree about climate change
Correct answer: To inform readers about the climate change debate
Presenting multiple viewpoints with data and expert quotes without advocating for a position is characteristic of informational writing.
Question 7: An editorial in a newspaper argues that the city council made a mistake by cutting the public library budget. The author lists consequences and demands reversal of the decision. What is the purpose?
- To inform readers about library services
- To entertain readers with a story about libraries
- To explain how city budgets are created
- To persuade readers and the council to restore library funding (Correct answer)
Correct answer: To persuade readers and the council to restore library funding
An editorial that lists negative consequences and demands a specific action is written to persuade its audience.
Nelson-Denny Reading Test Reading Comprehension: Determining Author's Purpose 2
An author writes a passage describing the life cycle of monarch butterflies using vivid imagery and sensory language.
What is the PRIMARY purpose of this passage?