Test - Text Structures and Author's Purpose

Is your closet filled to the brim with toys you don’t play with anymore and clothes that no longer fit? Follow these tips to clear your closet of items you do not need any longer. First, get three large boxes. Label one box “KEEP”, one box “DONATE”, and the last box “TOSS”. Then, go through each item in your closet and place it in one of the boxes. Once your closet is completely empty, take the items in your “KEEP” box and decide if the closet is the best place for it. If the answer is yes, back it goes, but now that there are fewer other items, you should be able to find it more easily!

• to entertain readers by imagining they are organizing their closet.

• to explain to readers how to organize their closet.

• to persuade readers to organize their closet.

• to persuade readers to donate items they no longer use.

You have just read a post online about a person’s recent visit to a newly-opened restaurant in town. He goes into great detail about his experience there, starting with his first step into the restaurant and finding a tastefully decorated dining room with dim and calm lighting, and soft romantic music playing. He then tells of the beauty, aroma and superb flavor of the meal he enjoyed there.

• to inform readers of the menu at the new restaurant.

• to persuade readers to try the new restaurant.

• to describe to readers the author’s experience at the restaurant.

• to inform readers what makes a new restaurant worth trying.

With each step, Hannah could more strongly detect the scent of fresh paint. Her mother’s hands and voice guided her up the stairs and down the hall. The blindfold was loosened and removed from Hannah’s face. The bedroom she saw in front of her had bright pink walls and crisp white furniture. The curtains were pulled back to allow the warm sunshine to blanket the space. Her newly redecorated room was even better than she dreamt it would be!

• to describe Hannah’s experience seeing her newly decorated room.

• to describe Hannah’s experience being blindfolded.

• to inform readers what was done to redecorate Hannah’s room.

• to persuade readers to ask their parents to have their room redecorated.

While waiting in the lunch line, you see a poster that shows a dinner plate with chicken, rice, and vegetables on it, and a glass of milk just above the plate. The poster’s headline reads “A Balanced Meal”, and there is a line coming from each food item that states the food group it belongs to and a healthy serving size for one meal.

• to entertain readers while they are waiting in the lunch line.

• to describe a balanced meal.

• to inform readers of foods that should be eaten every day.

• to inform readers what makes up a balanced meal.

You and your mom have decided to train for your first 5K road race. You google “How to train for your first 5K” and arrive at a website that shows correct running form, breathing guidelines, nutritional tips, and a complete 9-week training schedule.

• to explain to readers how to train properly for their first 5K.

• to inform readers about 5K races.

• to persuade readers to eat right while training for a 5K.

• to persuade readers to try training for a 5K

What better way to spend an early fall evening than to enjoy it in front of a crackling bonfire. As the autumn sun sets, the light in the sky is replaced by the intense yellow and orange glow of the burning flames. The scent of burning wood, the sight of rising smoke, and the sound of crackling flames ignite the senses while the warmth from the burning embers warm not only the body, but the soul as well.

• to persuade readers to have a bonfire.

• to describe a bonfire to readers.

• to explain to readers how to enjoy a bonfire.

• to inform readers of what to expect if they go to a bonfire.

Your parents just bought a new family vehicle. Before they left the dealership, the salesperson showed them all the features and how everything worked. However, they were shown so many new features that they cannot remember how to operate the DVD player! Your mom pulls out the car’s owner manual and finds the chapter that includes information about the DVD player. Within minutes, the DVD player is showing your favorite movie.

• to explain how to operate various things in the vehicle

• to persuade readers to understand every single feature of their vehicle.

• to entertain readers with a complete listing of their vehicle’s features.

• to inform parents of the importance of knowing how to operate the vehicle’s DVD player.

You have just read a story about a family that went on their first camping trip together. As soon as they arrived at the campground, they put up their tent and then set off on a hike. However, when a sudden thunderstorm came over the mountain, they ran back in the pouring rain to the campground to find their tent blown over in the storm.

• to persuade readers to watch the weather forecast when camping.

• to describe a family’s camping trip.

• to persuade readers to never go camping.

• to entertain readers about a family’s camping experience.

Our environment has weakened due to the invention of the automobile. Vehicles emit toxic gases into the air we breathe. One solution to this alarming problem is to ride a bike whenever possible. A four-mile bicycle trip will result in fifteen fewer pounds of pollutants in our air. Riding a bike also reduces water pollution since bikes don’t use antifreeze, brake fluid, or transmission fluid. Riding a bike is an environmentally friendly thing to do!

• Description

• Sequence / Chronological Order

• Cause and Effect

• Problem and Solution

• Compare and Contrast

Smokey Bear is a fictional character that has educated generations of Americans about how they can help prevent human-caused wildfires. He was created in 1944 and his original catch phrase was “Smokey says- Care will Prevent 9 out of 10 Forest Fires”. In 1947, the phrase was shortened to “Only YOU can prevent Forest Fires”. It was changed once again in 2001 to “Only You Can Prevent Wildfires” because of the large number of wildfires in natural areas other than forests. Smokey Bear’s message is still as important today as ever.

• Description

• Sequence / Chronological Order

• Cause and Effect

• Problem and Solution

• Compare and Contrast