West B Test Reading: Author's Purpose/Point of View 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A passage describes the same government policy using words like 'fiscally responsible cuts' in one text and 'devastating budget slashes' in another. This difference reflects:
- Factual inaccuracies in one of the texts
- Different authors' points of view and rhetorical choices (Correct answer)
- Different intended audiences based on reading level
- One text being fiction and one being nonfiction
Correct answer: Different authors' points of view and rhetorical choices
Different word choices for the same event reveal contrasting authorial points of view and rhetorical framing.
Question 2: An author writing a memoir about growing up in poverty is most likely to use which point of view?
- Second-person ('you')
- Third-person limited
- First-person ('I') (Correct answer)
- Third-person omniscient
Correct answer: First-person ('I')
Memoirs are personal narratives written in first-person because the author recounts their own lived experiences.
Question 3: To evaluate whether an author's argument is credible, a West B test taker should primarily assess:
- How long the text is and whether it uses headers
- Whether the evidence supports the claims and whether the author has relevant expertise (Correct answer)
- Whether the text is published in print or online
- Whether the author uses first-person or third-person voice
Correct answer: Whether the evidence supports the claims and whether the author has relevant expertise
Credibility depends on the quality and relevance of evidence and the author's qualifications, not format or length.
Question 4: A historical novel presents the American Revolution from the perspective of a British loyalist. The author's choice of perspective primarily serves to:
- Prove that the British were correct during the Revolution
- Offer an alternative viewpoint that challenges the typical patriot-centered narrative (Correct answer)
- Inform readers about British military tactics
- Entertain readers with battle scenes
Correct answer: Offer an alternative viewpoint that challenges the typical patriot-centered narrative
Choosing an unconventional perspective challenges readers to consider alternative viewpoints and complicates a familiar narrative.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes how connotation affects an author's point of view?
- Connotation refers to grammar rules that authors must follow
- Words with positive or negative connotations reveal the author's attitude toward the subject (Correct answer)
- Connotation only matters in poetry, not in nonfiction
- Connotative words always signal that a text is fiction
Correct answer: Words with positive or negative connotations reveal the author's attitude toward the subject
Connotation — the emotional associations of words — is a key tool authors use to reveal and shape their point of view.
Question 6: A public health brochure lists symptoms of flu, explains transmission routes, and advises readers to wash hands. The author's purpose is best described as:
- Persuading readers to buy a specific hand sanitizer brand
- Entertaining readers with health trivia
- Informing readers to help them protect their health (Correct answer)
- Arguing that flu vaccines are ineffective
Correct answer: Informing readers to help them protect their health
Providing symptoms, transmission facts, and health advice without a sales pitch or opinion reflects a primarily informative purpose.
Question 7: A student reads two articles about standardized testing — one written by a teacher's union and one by a testing company. To identify each author's point of view, the student should first:
- Check which article is longer
- Consider each author's stake in the issue and how it may shape their perspective (Correct answer)
- Determine which article uses more statistics
- Identify which article was published first
Correct answer: Consider each author's stake in the issue and how it may shape their perspective
Understanding who the author is and what they stand to gain or lose helps a reader identify potential bias and point of view.
West B Test Reading: Author's Purpose/Point of View 5
A passage describes the same government policy using words like 'fiscally responsible cuts' in one text and 'devastating budget slashes' in another.
This difference reflects: