Author's Purpose Benchmark 3

When you’re scribbling a note with a pencil, do you ever wonder what this handy tool is made from? To get right to the point, a pencil is made of a number of materials. The inside is made of graphite that is made stronger with clay. Its wooden outside comes from cedar trees. The yellow paint on the wood is made from minerals, while the metal brand at one end is aluminum. Should you make a mistake while writing, use the eraser. It's main materials are soybean oil and latex. 
What is the author's purpose?

• Inform readers  about how clay can be used to write with.
• Persuade readers that the best tool to use for writing is a pencil.
• Inform readers of what a pencil is made out of.
• Entertain readers with a story about a pencil. 

You know that Mr. is short for mister, but do you know what CEO means? It stands for chief executive officer. Not all abbreviations stand for people. For example, Pk. means park, Rd. stands for road, and Mt. represents mountain. The abbreviation Dr. stands for two different words-doctor and drive. Units of measure also have abbreviations. Teaspoon is often shortened to tsp. and gal. stands for gallon. 
The Author's main purpose for writing this passage is to...

• Entertain the reader with a story about a person trying to become CEO.
• Inform the reader that abbreviations are used for a variety of words.
• Entertain the reader with a funny story about a teaspoon at a park.
• Inform the reader that Mr. is short for Mister. 

Ever wondered which pet is a better pet - a dog or a cat? In my opinion, it isn’t even close. A dog is much better than a cat. To start with, a dog will be very loyal to you for life. As soon as you walk in the door, your dog will be waiting with a tail wagging. The cat will be hiding behind a curtain. Dogs also help to keep you healthier because they love to walk. Taking a dog on a walk once or twice a day will keep your dog happy, and get you exercising. Try taking a cat on a walk. You won’t make it down the block until your cat refuses to go any further and you end up carrying the cat back to your house. Trust me - stick with a dog when getting a new pet. 
What is the author's purpose for writing this passage?

• Persuade the reader to buy a new pet soon.
• Persuade the reader to get a dog instead of a cat as a pet.
• Entertain the reader with a story about a dog and cat living in the same house.
• Entertain the reader with a story about trying to walk a cat. 

Benjamin was running as fast as he could. He had to dodge between people on the street-women carrying market baskets, men with their walking sticks and white wigs. His own legs, in pants and knee-high white stockings, flashed like the spoke of a wheel as he ran. At first, he had heard his mother trying to call him back. “Benjamin! Stop right now!” But her voice had grown distant as he raced down the road. He had to get there in time...he just had to. He had to tell his dad to vote against the British rule. 
What is the author's purpose for writing this passage?

• Entertain readers about a story of a boy trying to find his dad.
• Inform readers of how the British started the war.
• Persuade readers to think the British were to blame for the war starting.
• Entertain readers with a story about a boy running a race. 

Next week, citizens of the United States of America will go to the polls and vote for the future President of the United States. The candidate that should win is Frank Stalone. Frank is a family man that looks out for all types of people. He is good at problem-solving, and has proven to be strong when dealing with the economy. Finally, Frank has a military background. These good traits are why you should vote for Frank Stalone for the next President of the United States. 

• Inform the reader that we will soon be electing a new President.
• Inform the reader that Frank Stalone is running for President.
• Persuade the reader to vote for Frank Stalone in the upcoming Presidential election.
• Entertain the reader with a funny story about a silly man running for President.