WorksheetsAuthor's Purpose and Central Idea
Total questions: 17
Worksheet time: 17mins
Do you carpool to school? Do you take a bus? It should be a requirement for everyone to either share a ride or walk to school every day. If we are serious about saving the planet, we must take steps to conserve energy and reduce fossil fuel emissions. What is the author's purpose?
to persuade the reader to share a ride or walk to school in order to conserve energy
to inform the reader to share a ride or walk to school in order to conserve energy
to entertain the reader with a story about energy conservation
Do you want to be an artist? Just enroll in "The Awesome Artists" program. Don't let this opportunity or your talent slip away. We guarantee you will be painting like the masters in two weeks for a low cost of $59.95.
What is the author's purpose?
to entertain you with a story about artists
to teach you how all artists become famous
to persuade you to attend an art program
to explain how to paint a sunset
Today, it is not uncommon to see women wearing high-heeled shoes. However, the first high-heeled shoes were actually made for men back in the 1500s. The heels helped soldiers keep their feet in the stirrups of their saddles as they rode into battle. What is the author's purpose?
to inform the reader about the history of different kinds of shoes
to inform the reader about the history of high heels
to entertain readers with a story about high heels

Have you ever wished you could contact all of your friends at once? Wouldn’t it be convenient to send a note to all your friends at the same time, rather than contacting each person individually? Download the FriendChat app today for your smartphone! In just minutes, you’ll be able to send messages to all your friends simultaneously. For only $1.99, you can save yourself a lot of time! What is the author's purpose?
to persuade the reader to buy Friendchat
to inform the reader about Friendchat
to entertain the reader with a story about chatting with friends
Sarah knew time travel was impossible. Everything she’d learned in science told her it couldn’t be done. But as she looked around the street, noting the horse-drawn carriages and the women dressed in long dresses and hats, she realized she was in the nineteenth century. What is the author's purpose?
to persuade the reader to believe in time travel
to inform the reader about time travel
to entertain the reader with a story about Sarah, a girl who travelled to the nineteenth century
I was very concerned by the school board's recent announcement that lunch breaks will be shortened next year. This may seem like a good idea now, but in the long run it will only hurt students.
The current lunch break gives students a chance to exercise and breathe fresh air. More importantly, it lets them take a break from their hard work. Shorter lunches don't give students enough time for a real break. For the sake of all students, contact the school board today and let them know that breaks matter! What is the author's purpose?
To persuade the reader to speak out against shorter lunch breaks
To inform the readers about why lunch breaks are being shortened
Hellen Keller was born in 1880 and died in 1968. Despite being deaf and blind, Keller was a political activist, a lecturer, an author, and a tireless advocate for those with disabilities. What is the author's purpose?
to persuade the reader to read more about Hellen Keller
to inform the reader about Hellen Keller
to entertain the reader with a story about Hellen Keller
Many people buy vegetables in the grocery store without knowing where they were grown or how they arrived at the store. Supermarkets should be required to label each fruit or vegetable with a sign telling shoppers where and when the food was grown and how far it traveled to the supermarket. What is the author's purpose?
to persuade the reader to believe that supermarkets should have to tell their customers where their produce is from
to inform people about where their produce is from
to persuade people to shop local
Before preparing food, clean all kitchen surfaces thoroughly and wash your hands with very warm water and antibacterial soap. Be sure to pull back your hair, and make sure your clothing has no straps or strings that could fall into a hot stove. What is the author's purpose?
to persuade people to clean their kitchens
to inform people what they should do before preparing food
to persuade people to cook food
Ted was anxious to try out for the basketball team. He had practiced and knew he was ready. Tryouts made him a little nervous, but when he found out he made the team he knew that all the work had paid off.
What is the author's purpose?
to entertain you witha story about a boy who worked hard
to teach how to play basketball
to persuade you to try out for the basketball team
to explain the rules of basketball
Most people think that Johann Sebastian Bach played the piano, but this is not true. The piano was not invented until just two years before he died. Bach's main instrument was the organ. He was a great organist. He wrote a lot of wonderful music for that instrument. He also played other keyboard instruments that were ancestors of the piano. Among these instruments was the harpsichord. Along with Mozart, Bach is considered to be one of the all-time great composers
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
Mozart and Bach did not compose music for the piano.
Johann Sebastian Bach was a great organist and writer.
The piano had not been invented three hundred years ago.
The harpsichord was a keyboard instrument before the piano.
Most people think that Johann Sebastian Bach played the piano, but this is not true. The piano was not invented until just two years before he died. Bach's main instrument was the organ. He was a great organist. He wrote a lot of wonderful music for that instrument. He also played other keyboard instruments that were ancestors of the piano. Among these instruments was the harpsichord. Along with Mozart, Bach is considered to be one of the all-time great composers. What is a possible TOPIC for this passage?
Bach was an incredible musician.
Johann Sebastian Bach
Mozart was better than Bach.
We often let others know what we are thinking without using words. The name that we give for this kind of communication is body language. Body language includes gestures, facial expressions, and posture. Body language does not always mean the same thing to everyone.
What is the main idea of the paragraph?
We sometimes use words to express ourselves.
Body language may not mean the same thing to everyone.
We use body language to communicate with others.
Body language includes gestures, facial expression, and posture.
We often let others know what we are thinking without using words. The name that we give for this kind of communication is body language. Body language includes gestures, facial expressions, and posture. Body language does not always mean the same thing to everyone. What is a possible TOPIC for this passage?
Posture
Body Language
We communicate with body language.
Being a clown isn't all fun and games. Rodeo clowns expose themselves to great danger every time they perform. When cowboys dismount or are bucked off of bulls at riding competitions, rodeo clowns jump in front of the bulls and motion wildly to get their attention. In this way rodeo clowns provide an alternate target, and in doing so protect the rider. So you see, sometimes clowning around can be serious business. What is the central idea of this passage?
Being a clown isn't all fun and games.
Rodeo clowns protect cowboys by putting themselves in danger.
Rodeos are exciting.
Clowns are good at riding bulls.
Being a clown isn't all fun and games. Rodeo clowns expose themselves to great danger every time they perform. When cowboys dismount or are bucked off of bulls at riding competitions, rodeo clowns jump in front of the bulls and motion wildly to get their attention. In this way rodeo clowns provide an alternate target, and in doing so protect the rider. So you see, sometimes clowning around can be serious business. What is a possible TOPIC for this passage?
Rodeo Clowns
Cowboys
Rodeo clowns protect cowboys.
