Author's Purpose Pre-Test (CFA)

Read the following passage.

Today was the most humiliating day of my life! I was in a play in school, and I totally forgot my lines! There I was, in front of the whole school, and I just stood there! But wait—it gets worse. Not only did I forget my lines—I was so nervous that I started giggling. The audience started laughing at me. I just wished the stage floor would open up and swallow me whole!

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

• to persuade cast members to study their lines

• to describe how to put on a student play

• to entertain readers with a personal story

• to inform readers about how to perform in a play

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.6

CCSS.RI.6.9

CCSS.RI.7.6

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

Read the following title and excerpt from an article.

Five Reasons You Should Vote for Stephanie Hill

Our school deserves a class president with experience, vision, and tons of school spirit. That's why you should vote to re-elect our current class president, Stephanie Hill!

Need more specific reasons why? Here are five to remember as you cast your vote next Friday. . . .

What is the author's main purpose for writing this article?

• to inform people about Stephanie Hill's policies

• to persuade voters that Stephanie Hill is the best candidate

• to entertain people with stories about Stephanie Hill's career

• to explain how to vote in a school election

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.6

CCSS.RI.6.9

CCSS.RI.7.6

CCSS.RI.7.9

CCSS.RL.6.6

If the author's purpose is to inform, then...

Choose all that apply.

• you will learn something from the selection

• the text is always entertaining to read

• the purpose is to share information with readers

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.6

CCSS.RI.6.9

CCSS.RI.7.6

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.6

Examples of an informative texts include:

(Check all that apply)

• Textbooks

• comic strips

• news stories

• research report

• how-to articles

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.5

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

If the author’s purpose is to persuade, then the author's is trying to...

• share information with readers

• to tell a story or to describe characters, places or events (real or imaginary).

• get you to believe his/her position

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.6

CCSS.RI.6.9

CCSS.RI.7.9

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

Read this passage.

"Seeing an anaconda up close for the first time changed my life," says animal expert Rowena Lewis. Anacondas are some of the biggest snakes in the world. On average, they are at least 20 feet long and weigh 300 pounds. Members of the boa constrictor family, these reptiles make their homes in the wet jungles of the Amazon in South America.

What is the author's main purpose for writing this passage?

• to inform you about Rowena Lewis's life

• to entertain you with snake stories

• to inform you about anacondas

• to persuade you to study anacondas

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.6

CCSS.RI.6.9

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

Take another look at this passage.

"Seeing an anaconda up close for the first time changed my life," says animal expert Rowena Lewis. Anacondas are some of the biggest snakes in the world. On average, they are about 20 feet long and 300 pounds. Members of the boa constrictor family, these reptiles make their homes in the wet jungles of the Amazon in South America.

Why do you think the writer included the quotation by Rowena Lewis?

• to tell a story about anacondas

• to get readers interested in anacondas

• to persuade readers to become animal experts

• to describe the life of an animal expert

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.6

CCSS.RI.6.9

CCSS.RI.7.9

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.6

Read the following passage.

Quesadillas are a delicious Mexican treat. They are toasted tortillas filled with melted cheese and any other fillings you like. Here's how to make a quesadilla: 1) Heat some oil or butter in a skillet. 2) Put in a flour tortilla and flip a few times until you see bubbles. 3) Add shredded cheese, chopped tomatoes, mushrooms, or other fillings, and cook until the cheese melts. 4) Fold the tortilla in half; serve with shredded lettuce, salsa, and guacamole.

What is the author's main purpose for writing this passage?

• to describe the delicious taste of a quesadilla

• to convince readers to make quesadillas

• to explain the history of quesadillas

• to inform readers how to make quesadillas

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.6

CCSS.RI.6.9

CCSS.RI.7.9

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.6

Examples of an persuasive texts include:

(Check all that apply)

• Advertisements

• Research Paper

• Opinion pieces

• how-to articles

• Election pamphlets

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.8

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.6.8

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.7.8

If the author’s purpose is to entertain, then the author...

• wants readers to enjoy what he or she has written

• is informing readers as their primary purpose

• wants to convince readers to think a certain way

• will always write a how-to article

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.6

CCSS.RI.6.9

CCSS.RI.7.6

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.6