RLA Author's Purpose and Tone 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A cookbook author writes: 'This recipe has been in my family for three generations, and every time I make it I am transported back to my grandmother's kitchen.' The author's tone is best described as:
- Instructional and impersonal
- Nostalgic and warm (Correct answer)
- Skeptical and cautious
- Urgent and alarmed
Correct answer: Nostalgic and warm
References to family tradition and being emotionally 'transported' to the past create a nostalgic and warm tone.
Question 2: A product review reads: 'This blender is adequate. It blends things. The lid stays on. There is nothing particularly wrong with it.' What tone does this convey?
- Enthusiastic praise
- Unenthusiastic indifference (Correct answer)
- Sharp criticism
- Deep regret
Correct answer: Unenthusiastic indifference
The minimal, lukewarm language ('adequate,' 'nothing particularly wrong') conveys that the writer is unimpressed but not outright negative—classic indifference.
Question 3: Which of the following best describes the difference between a persuasive and an expository text?
- Persuasive texts use facts; expository texts use opinions
- Persuasive texts aim to change the reader's beliefs or actions; expository texts aim to explain or inform (Correct answer)
- Persuasive texts are always shorter than expository texts
- Expository texts always include a narrative story
Correct answer: Persuasive texts aim to change the reader's beliefs or actions; expository texts aim to explain or inform
The core distinction is purpose: persuasion changes minds or behavior, while exposition explains or informs without promoting a viewpoint.
Question 4: An author uses short, punchy sentences and dramatic statistics to open an article about homelessness. This stylistic choice most likely serves to:
- Slow the reader down so they absorb complex data
- Create immediate impact and draw the reader into the issue (Correct answer)
- Signal that the article will be lighthearted and fun
- Indicate that the author is unsure of the facts
Correct answer: Create immediate impact and draw the reader into the issue
Short, punchy sentences and dramatic statistics at the opening are a rhetorical technique to grab attention and create emotional engagement.
Question 5: The phrase 'to be fair' at the start of a sentence typically signals that the author is about to:
- Introduce an opposing viewpoint or acknowledge a counterargument (Correct answer)
- State the most important fact in the passage
- Begin a humorous digression
- Summarize what has already been said
Correct answer: Introduce an opposing viewpoint or acknowledge a counterargument
'To be fair' is a transitional phrase authors use when conceding a point or introducing the other side of an argument.
Question 6: A poem repeats the line 'she will not be forgotten' at the end of each stanza. The author's purpose for this repetition is most likely to:
- Fill space to make the poem longer
- Emphasize and reinforce the central tribute to the subject (Correct answer)
- Create confusion about who 'she' refers to
- Show that the poet could not think of new lines
Correct answer: Emphasize and reinforce the central tribute to the subject
Deliberate repetition in poetry is a rhetorical device used to emphasize key ideas and reinforce emotional impact on the reader.
Question 7: A historical account states: 'The general's decision was controversial. Supporters argued it shortened the war; critics argued it violated international law.' What is the author's tone?
- Strongly in favor of the general's decision
- Strongly opposed to the general's decision
- Balanced and neutral, presenting both sides (Correct answer)
- Dismissive of the debate as unimportant
Correct answer: Balanced and neutral, presenting both sides
Presenting both supporters' and critics' views without favoring either reflects a balanced, neutral tone typical of historical writing.
RLA Author's Purpose and Tone 4
A cookbook author writes: 'This recipe has been in my family for three generations, and every time I make it I am transported back to my grandmother's kitchen.' The author's tone is best described as: