7th Reading Comprehension Author's Purpose

What is the most likely reason the author wrote this text?

• To highlight how traditional farming practices can address environmental challenges and influence others over time

• To describe the environmental conditions that led to widespread desertification in West Africa

• To illustrate the conflict between one farmer and his community during a time of drought

• To inform readers about different agricultural techniques used across Africa

How does the author organize the information in this selection?

• By introducing a challenge, explaining a method to address it, and then showing the long-term impact of that method

• By presenting a sequence of events that focus equally on multiple farmers’ experiences

• By describing the causes of desertification before comparing several possible solutions

• By explaining a scientific concept followed by detailed data supporting it

What is the author’s purpose for including the photo?

• To reinforce the credibility of the text by showing a real person connected to the events described

• To illustrate the environmental damage caused by drought conditions in the region

• To provide a visual comparison between successful and unsuccessful farming practices

• To emphasize the scale of desertification across West Africa

What is the author’s tone in this selection?

• Reflective, as the author considers both the failures and successes of farming methods over time

• Objective with an undercurrent of optimism, as the author presents facts while suggesting positive change is possible

• Skeptical, as the author questions whether one individual can truly impact a large environmental issue

• Urgent, as the author stresses the immediate need for widespread agricultural reform

What characteristics of the story help the reader identify it as nonfiction?

• The author’s use of descriptive language to create a vivid image of the setting and characters

• The inclusion of factual information about desertification and real farming practices

• The presence of imagined events and exaggerated outcomes that develop the plot

• The use of dialogue to show interactions between characters in the story