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Worksheets

Author's Purpose

Total questions: 15

Worksheet time: 45mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

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. Is main materials are soybean oil and latex.


The author's main purpose for writing this passage is to...

a)

Inform readers about how clay can be used to write with.

b)

Persuade readers that the best tool to use for writing is a pencil.

c)

Inform readers of what a pencil is made out of.

d)

Entertain readers with a story about a pencil.

2.

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.


The author's purpose for writing this passage is to...

a)

Persuade readers to have a bonfire.

b)

Describe a bonfire to readers.

c)

Explain to readers how to enjoy a bonfire.

d)

Inform readers of what to expect if they go to a bonfire.

3.

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...

a)

Inform readers that Merc Corporation made a new cream.

b)

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

c)

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

d)

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

4.

Samuel was scared. He usually walked with others to the village. But today he had to get to his job, and no one else was able to go with him. He was walking alone on the path to the store when he heard a rustling in the woods. He started to walk faster. What if the rustling was a bear? He heard the rustling again. If the noise was a bear, he should not run. The bear would chase him. There was a loud cracking of a stick, and a deer bounded out on the path in front of Samuel. Samuel breathed a sigh of relief. Only a deer!


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

a)

Persuade readers never to go into the forest alone.

b)

Entertain readers with a story of a boy who got lost in the woods forever.

c)

Inform readers about how to survive a bear attack.

d)

Entertain readers with a story of a boy who heard noises in the woods.

5.

You open a book named Between Lost and Forever. The first chapters introduce the main characters, who were once college roommates. The five main characters lost touch over the years and decided to meet up at a bed and breakfast in the Berkshire Mountains in Massachusetts over a long weekend. As each character arrives at the bed and breakfast, the author explains her appearance in agonizing detail and shares a backstory about each person.


The author's purpose for writing this is to...

a)

To inform readers about a new book.

b)

To describe the opening chapters of a book.

c)

To entertain readers with background information on the author.

d)

To persuade readers to read the book.

6.

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.


The author's purpose for this passage is to...

a)

Entertain readers while they are waiting in the lunch line.

b)

Describe a balanced meal.

c)

Inform readers of foods that should be eaten every day.

d)

Inform readers what makes up a balanced meal.

7.

You have just read an article in the newspaper about a family from California that had traveled to Ohio to visit family. They took their dog along with them, but while they were at a rest stop in Indiana on their way back home, their dog mysteriously disappeared. The family was shocked, when nine months later, their long-lost dog appeared on the doorstep of their California home.


The author's purpose of this passage is to...

a)

Entertain readers with the details of a family's vacation to Ohio.

b)

Entertain readers with the details of a family reuniting with their lost dog.

c)

Describe how a lost dog made its way back to its home in California from a rest stop in Indiana.

d)

Persuade readers to keep their dog on a leash when travelling.

8.

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.


The author's purpose for writing this passage is to...

a)

Explain how to operate various things in the vehicle.

b)

Persuade readers to understand every single feature of their vehicle.

c)

Entertain readers with a complete listing of their vehicle's features.

d)

Inform parents of the importance of knowing how to operate the vehicle's DVD player.

9.

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!


The author's purpose of this passage is to...

a)

Entertain readers by imagining they are organizing their closet.

b)

Explain to readers how to organize their closet.

c)

Persuade readers to donate their closet.

d)

Persuade readers to donate items they not longer use.

10.

Many people have wondered - what is the greatest toy in the history of toys? Depending on when you grew up, you might have a different answer. Older people might say Lincoln Logs. Others might argue the Easy-Bake oven tops them all. However, none compare to the best toy - Legos. Legos are the best because their fun never ends. Unlike other toys that have a certain purpose, Legos are all up to the imagination of the child, or adult. Also, Legos are meant to be destroyed, and rebuilt. So if your baby sister knocks down the creation you just made, its cool because you can make something new! So, next time you go shopping for a gift, think about buying Legos - the world’s best toy.


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

a)

Persuade the reader to think that Legos are the best toy in the world.

b)

Inform the reader about several different popular toys over the last few years.

c)

Entertain the reader with a story about a boy who had his Lego design destroyed by his sister.

d)

Persuade the reader to buy an Easy-Bake Oven, Lincoln Logs, and Legos.

11.

The Bengal tiger is the third largest wild cat in the world. They can weigh an average of 570lbs. They are primarily found in India but can also be spotted in China, Nepal, or other parts of South Asia. They are known to be one of the most majestic species because of their impressive beauty. Tigers are considered endangered species. The Bengal tiger is the most numerous of the tiger species.


What is the author's purpose for writing this?

a)

To inform the reader of facts about Bengal tigers.

b)

To entertain the reader about where to find Bengal tigers.

c)

To explain to the reader why Bengal tigers are important.

d)

To describe to the reader what a Bengal tiger looks like.

12.

To whom it may concern, I am writing to urge you not to cut down the Angel Oak Tree in Johns Islands, SC. First, it is a huge tourist attraction, bringing in thousands of visitors a month. This tree is historic, as it has been around for over 400 years. Simply tearing it down will reduce the beauty of the area and upset many environmentalist, tourists, and natives. I myself traveled out of the way just to come see such a beautiful sight. There is nothing like it anywhere so you must ensure it is kept unharmed!


What is the author's purpose for writing this?

a)

To entertain the reader about where to find the Angel Oak Tree.

b)

To inform the reader about the history of the Angel Oak Tree.

c)

To persuade the reader not to cut down the Angel Oak Tree.

d)

To describe to the reader what the Angel Oak tree looks like.

13.

Today was the big day. I would be trying out for the soccer team. I was so nervous. For one, I had never played on a sports team before. I was worried that I wouldn’t make any friends, or worse, I’d make a fool out of myself. Now I was second guessing everything. It wasn’t too late to change my mind. I felt like I was being pulled in a million different directions. As I headed toward the soccer field, I felt my body turn the other way and thought about running back to my moms car. Something came over me. I knew I had to prove to myself that I could do this.


What is the author's purpose for writing this?

a)

To entertain the reader about a story where a girl struggles with her emotions about trying out for the soccer team.

b)

To inform the reader of what it’s like to try out for soccer

c)

To explain to the reader the steps to trying out for soccer.

d)

To persuade the reader to try out for soccer.

14.

It was 6:45 am and the sun was rising, providing the first light of day. As the sun started to peek through the lightly fluffed clouds, the sky started to show shades of pinks and blues. The brisk wind blew the autumn leaves gracefully across the rolling hills. The air smelled fresh and the leaves were a combination of reds, oranges, and yellows. As the suns luminosity rose, the vivid colors in the sky faded to a mixture of dark and light blues.

a)

To entertain the reader about a story of an early autumn morning.

b)

To inform the reader of what autumn looks like.

c)

To explain to the reader the steps of a sunrise.

d)

To describe to the reader an early autumn morning.

15.

1. Place the shoes on the ground and put each foot in.

2. Grab both laces and thread one over the other then pull them tight.

3. Make a loop with one of the laces by holding the lace between your thumbs and first two fingers.

4. Use your other hand to wrap the other lace around the loop from step 3.

5. Pull the shoelace through the hole. This will form another loop.

6. Hold both loops, one in each hand, and pull them tight.


What is the author’s purpose for writing this?

a)

To entertain the reader about a story of shoe tying

b)

To inform the reader of how to tie your shoes.

c)

To persuade the reader to tie their shoes this way.

d)

To explain to the reader the steps of tying your shoes.