West B Test Reading: Author's Purpose/Point of View 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A newspaper editorial argues that the city council should increase funding for public libraries. What is the author's primary purpose?
- To entertain readers with stories about libraries
- To inform readers about library hours
- To persuade readers that libraries deserve more funding (Correct answer)
- To describe the history of public libraries
Correct answer: To persuade readers that libraries deserve more funding
An editorial that argues for a specific action has a primary purpose of persuasion.
Question 2: Which signal word most strongly indicates that an author is presenting their own opinion rather than objective fact?
- According to research
- Studies show that
- In my view (Correct answer)
- The data indicates
Correct answer: In my view
'In my view' is a first-person opinion marker that signals the author's personal perspective.
Question 3: An author writes a travel memoir describing her personal journey through Southeast Asia. Her point of view is best described as:
- Objective and impartial
- First-person and subjective (Correct answer)
- Third-person omniscient
- Authoritative and academic
Correct answer: First-person and subjective
A personal memoir is written from the author's own first-person, subjective perspective.
Question 4: A food company publishes an article claiming their product is the healthiest snack available. A critical reader should primarily consider:
- Whether the article uses colorful language
- The author's potential bias due to financial interest (Correct answer)
- Whether the article is well-organized
- The length of the article
Correct answer: The author's potential bias due to financial interest
A company promoting its own product has a financial interest that creates potential bias in the author's point of view.
Question 5: When an author uses rhetorical questions in a persuasive essay, the purpose is most likely to:
- Confuse the reader
- Encourage the reader to think and agree with the author's position (Correct answer)
- Provide factual information
- Introduce new characters
Correct answer: Encourage the reader to think and agree with the author's position
Rhetorical questions are a persuasive technique designed to guide readers toward agreeing with the author's viewpoint.
Question 6: A scientist writes a research report on climate change, presenting data and findings without recommending policy. The author's purpose is primarily to:
- Entertain readers with climate stories
- Inform readers about research findings (Correct answer)
- Persuade readers to change their behavior
- Argue against climate change policy
Correct answer: Inform readers about research findings
Presenting data and findings without advocating for action reflects an informative purpose.
Question 7: An author describes a historical battle using words like 'heroic sacrifice' and 'noble struggle.' This word choice reveals the author's point of view as:
- Neutral and balanced
- Critical of the soldiers
- Sympathetic and admiring toward the fighters (Correct answer)
- Focused on military strategy
Correct answer: Sympathetic and admiring toward the fighters
Emotionally positive language like 'heroic' and 'noble' reveals a sympathetic and admiring authorial perspective.
West B Test Reading: Author's Purpose/Point of View 2
A newspaper editorial argues that the city council should increase funding for public libraries.
What is the author's primary purpose?