Author's Purpose Quiz

Get the Point

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. Its main materials are soybean oil and latex.

The Author’s main purpose for writing this passage is to

• 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.

The Miracle Cream

Merc Corporation has just completed trials on its new facial cream, No Age. No Age will soon hit the shelves at all major retailers. This product has the promise to be one of the best creams to prevent wrinkles. Hopefully people will discover its amazing abilities to make skin look better. Give it a shot. It just might turn you into your old self.

The Author’s main purpose for writing this passage is to

• Inform readers that Merc Corporation made a new cream.

• Persuade readers that No Age cream will make them look younger.

• Entertain readers with a story about how No Age cream made a woman look younger.

• Persuade readers that Merc Corporation is the best place to work.

Don’t Destroy the Park

At the upcoming city council meeting, the council will vote on whether or not to destroy Pilla Park and turn it into a shopping mall. I am writing to tell you this is a bad idea. Hundreds of kids and families in Eudora use the park each week. Also, it is a great place to hang out in the summer because of the full- grown trees all throughout. Please think about the advantages of having a great park close to downtown before making your vote.

The Author’s main purpose for writing this passage is to

• Persuade readers that a shopping mall should be built.

• Inform readers that the city council will vote on building a new shopping mall soon.

• Persuade readers that Pilla Park is a great place and should not be destroyed.

• Inform readers that Pilla Park is a lovely park.

Short For

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.

Eating in Egypt

Suppose you lived thousands of years ago in Ancient Egypt. What would you have eaten? Like all Ancient Egyptians, you would eat bread with every meal. Garlic bread, raisin bread, and nutbread were three favorites. Egyptians also ate a lot of fruit including figs, dates, and pomegranates. Vegetables were also part of their diet. Lettuce, beans, onions, cucumbers, and leeks were all popular. How do you think you’d like your Egyptian meal?

What is the author’s purpose for writing this passage?

• To persuade readers that Egypt is the best place for a vacation.

• To Inform readers about what Ancient Egyptians would have eaten.

• Persuade readers that Ancient Egyptians ate better than anyone else in the world.

• Entertain readers with a story about dinner time in Ancient Egypt.

Spaceship

As the spaceship raced toward Earth, my heart pounded. Never before had I seen the planet of our forefathers. This was the place that they had left when they started the colony on Pluto. That was long before they came to Star System XPA. The mother planet had not been exposed until a year ago. I am so lucky to have been chosen to return!

Captain Zekot asked for me by name, because of my understanding of history. I was thrilled that he would ask me on such an important mission with the group of scientists. To be asked on the Great Dig, to find the remains of the homes of our forefathers, is a huge favor.

As we neared Earth, we came in view of Mars. “Should we stop, sir?” asked the pilot to Captain Zekot.

“I don’t think so,” said the captain. “There is no water on that planet and only a few carts and other objects from the Early Explorations. We need to stay on schedule to reach Earth.”

What is the author’s purpose for writing this passage?

• Persuade readers to travel in space.

• Inform readers that space travel is difficult to do.

• Entertain readers with a story about a boy going back to Earth.

• Entertain readers with a story about a boy visiting Mars.

Queen Emma

It was the day of the school Halloween party. Emma got up early to get ready. She put on the yellow tights, purple dress, and pink hair clip that she had set out the night before on her yellow, striped armchair. She looked in a drawer and took out a big, pink plastic ring and four yellow stretch bracelets. After she put on the jewelry, she got down on the floor and looked under her canopy bed. She took out a pair of high-top running shoes that were light purple. She had added pink and yellow flower decals to the sides of the shoes. She laced these up and looked at herself in the mirror on the back of the closet door. Then she ran downstairs for breakfast.

Her mother was buttering toast. She glanced at Emma. “Isn’t today the day of the Halloween party?” she asked.

“It is,” said Emma, reaching for some orange juice.

“Why aren’t you wearing a costume?” asked her mother.

“I am,” said Emma. “I’m going as myself, Queen Emma of Wild Color

World!”

What is the author’s purpose for writing this passage?

• To entertain readers with a funny story about a girl dressing up for Halloween.

• To Persuade readers that you should try to match your clothes when getting dressed.

• To Persuade readers that your mother should help you get dressed, otherwise you might look goofy.

• To entertain readers with a story about a girl who was almost late for the Halloween party.

If the author is trying to get the reader to buy, do, or believe something, what is the author’s purpose?

• Persuade

• Inform

• Entertain

• Tattletale

If the author is trying to share true facts and information with the reader, what is the author’s purpose?

• Persuade

• Inform

• Entertain

• Goof off

If the author is telling a story, sharing a poem, or writing a play, what is the author’s purpose?

• Persuade

• Inform

• Entertain

• Meh