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Main Idea, Theme, & Author's Purpose

Total questions: 39

Worksheet time: 39mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
Jake's family went on a camping trip. They went to a park by the ocean. They rode their bikes around the park and cooked their food over a fire outside. They saw some deer. They came home Sunday afternoon. 
What is the main idea? 
a)
They saw some deer
b)
Jake's family likes to camp
c)
Jake's family went on a camping trip
d)
They cooked their food outside
2.
Porpoises live in the earth's oceans and sometimes in bays and rivers near oceans. Porpoises are mammals. Their babies get their food from their mother's body. These animals live in the water, but they must come up for air. Porpoises are very interesting animals.
What is the main idea?
a)
Porpoises live in the ocean
b)
Porpoises are mammals
c)
Porpoises must come up for air
d)
Porpoises are very interesting animals 
3.

I froze right there!

In front of the angry bear

I could not run away!

I did not want to stay.


Why does the poet use exclamation marks?

a)

To show how loud the bear was

b)

To express the poet's fear

c)

To emphasize the bear's surprise

4.

These are the best pencil sharpeners ever! You will never need to sharpen your pencil again. Just one time, that's all it takes. Get yours now, for only $1.99.


The reader can tell this paragraph is written to -

a)

Persuade the reader to sharpen a pencil

b)

Persuade the reader to buy a sharpener

c)

Emphasize the importance of sharpening pencils

5.

To scuba dive, a diver must first be an excellent swimmer. Then there is much gear to learn about. After that, the diver needs to practice wearing a mask and an oxygen tank. Finally, some dive lessons are required.


The reader can tell this paragraph is written to -

a)

Show the reader the steps in learning to scuba dive

b)

Persuade the reader that scuba diving is a worthwhile activity

c)

Emphasize the importance of scuba diving

6.

In Ireland the castles are made of stone. They have large fireplaces in the center of the castle for the long winters.


The reader can infer -

a)

Winters are cold in Antarctica

b)

All castles in Ireland are small

c)

It is cold during winter in Ireland

7.
What are the three reasons for writing?  
a)
Persuade, Inform, Entertain
b)
Personal, Interview, Entertain
c)
Persuade, Irony, Entertain
d)
Personal, Inform, Evolve
8.
What you learn in school will help you later in life. It will also help you get a job. If you work hard in school and make good grades, you may be able to go to college and have a career.
What is the author's purpose?
a)
to entertain with a story about school
b)
to teach you how to get good grades
c)
to persuade you to work hard in school
d)
to explain the best colleges
9.
Rules are very important. They help keep things running smoothly. Rules let you know what you can and cannot do whether you are playing a game or explaining how to act in class. You should follow rules; they help people get along.
What is the author's purpose?
a)
to entertain with a story about people who follow the rules
b)
to inform about the rules of games
c)
to persuade people to follow the rules
d)
to explain the rules of chess
10.
Define the Author's Purpose "to entertain".  
a)
A reading passage that contains facts about a particular subject.
b)
A reading passage that has many descriptive details.
c)
A reading passage that is enjoyable to read, tells, a personal story, or teaches a lesson through the use of a story.
d)
A reading passage that contains many opinions or tries toc onvince readers to do something, buy something, or believe something.  
11.
Define the Author's Purpose "to persuade".  
a)
A reading passage that contains facts about a particular subject.
b)
A reading passage that has many descriptive details.
c)
A reading passage that is enjoyable to read, tells, a personal story, or teaches a lesson through the use of a story.
d)
A reading passage that contains many opinions or tries toc onvince readers to do something, buy something, or believe something.  
12.
In an advertisement, the author's purpose is to:
a)
Persuade
b)
Inform
c)
Entertain
13.
In a textbook, the author's purpose is to:
a)
Persuade
b)
Inform
c)
Entertain
14.
When an author's purpose is to inform, the text will include mostly ________.
a)
opinions
b)
funny or imaginary details
c)
characters and a setting
d)
facts
15.

“Tick, tock.” ― Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire

a)

metaphor

b)

simile

c)

onomatopoeia

d)

allusion

16.

”A mind is like a parachute. It doesn't work if it is not open”.-Frank Zappa

a)

onomatopoeia

b)

simile

c)

metaphor

d)

alliteration

17.

“It's a piece of cake.”

a)

hyperbole

b)

idiom

c)

allusion

d)

simile

18.

”Once upon a midnight dreary while I pondered weak and weary,” - Edgar Allan Poe, "The Raven"

a)

metaphor

b)

alliteration

c)

onomatopoeia

d)

allusion

19.

“Conscience is a man’s compass.” - Vincent Van Gogh

a)

simile

b)

alliteration

c)

metaphor

d)

idiom

20.
A Dog, to whom the butcher had thrown a bone, was hurrying home with his prize as fast as he could go. As he crossed a narrow bridge, he looked down and saw his reflection in the quiet water as if in a mirror. But the greedy Dog thought he saw a real Dog carrying a bone much bigger than his own. If he had stopped to think he would have known better. But instead of thinking, he dropped his bone and sprang at the Dog in the river, only to find himself swimming for dear life to reach the shore. At last he managed to scramble out, and as he stood sadly thinking about the good bone he had lost, he realized what a foolish Dog he had been.
What is the theme?
a)
Be honest.
b)
Don't be greedy.
c)
Always share your things with others.
d)
Be respectful to others.
21.
The author is the ____________ of a story. 
a)
writer
b)
artist
c)
reader
d)
setting
22.
An author's purpose is...
a)
the reason an author writes
b)

the way the author sees and interprets the world

c)
author's sense of humor
d)
author's way of life. 
23.
All of the following are reason why authors write except?
a)
Entertain
b)
Illustrate
c)
Inform
d)
Persuade
24.

What should you analyze and pay attention to when determining an author's purpose? Choose all that apply.

a)

Word choice (connotation)

b)

Punctuation Marks (period, exclamation mark, question mark, etc.)

c)

Author's Perspective

d)

Evidence (facts)

25.
Persuade means...
a)
Make people agree with you
b)
Make people angry
c)
Make people think the opposite thing
d)
Make people fall in love
26.
Entertain means...
a)
To make people scared
b)
To make people sad
c)
To make people enjoy something
d)
To go to the circus
27.
what does inform mean?
a)

to convince

b)
to give facts 
c)
to have fun
d)
to tell about something
28.
The message or lesson that the author wants you to learn from the story is called the
a)
thesis
b)
summary
c)
theme
d)
plot
29.

Which of the following is an example of theme?

a)

Cinderella was thoughtful and kind.

b)

Jack risked his life to save Jane.

c)

Don't judge people by outward appearances.

d)

Happiness

30.

Which is an example of theme?

a)

One person can make a difference.

b)

Missy knew she would always be grateful.

c)

The donkey was stubborn and did not change.

d)

Sir John became famous for slaying the dragon.

31.

What does theme add to a story?

a)

A sense of location.

b)

An important message.

c)

Motivation for the characters.

d)

Dialogue for the characters.

32.

Three flies notice an overturned honey pot. Two of the flies decide to land in the honey and start eating it. But the oldest fly stays back. The two flies tease the older fly, but then get stuck in the honey.

What is the theme of this story?

a)

Some prizes aren't worth it.

b)

Overeating leads to illness.

c)

Insects value food over safety.

d)

Always send a tester.

33.
Can shows and movies on TV have themes?
a)
No, only books can.
b)
TV shows and movies don't fit into any themes.
c)
They can have themes just like books can.
d)
They are the only literary works that can have themes.
34.
Where can a reader find the theme?
a)
It stated directly in the text.
b)
A character tells you.
c)
The reader must understand what the character has learned.
d)
Books or movies do not have themes.
35.
To identify a theme in a story, a reader can ask ...
a)
What has the character learned?
b)
What is the setting?
c)
Who is the narrator?
d)
ALL of the above
36.

Which of the following is NOT an example of a theme?

a)

Treat others the way you want to be treated.

b)

The little boy lied to his mother.

c)

With hard work, you can accomplish anything.

d)

You shouldn't judge a book by its cover.

37.
Which of these things is not related to the "theme" in a story?
a)

a specific character's name

b)
a "life lesson" the main character learns
c)
a big idea that people from any culture or any place can understand
d)
the moral of the story
38.
Which of these would be a good example of theme in a story?
a)
math is difficult
b)

if you steal money, something bad will happen to you

c)

Dogs make people happy

d)

Respect others and they will respect you.

39.
Which of the following is an example of THEME?
a)
Carry your laptops with two hands at all times.
b)
Cereal is the healthiest food you can eat.
c)
You can severely break your leg while crossing the street.
d)
Life is short; make the most of it.

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