WorksheetsAuthor's Purpose
Total questions: 15
Worksheet time: 8mins
What is the author’s main purpose for writing Quaking Earth, Racing Waves?
To entertain readers with a dramatic story
To persuade readers to move away from the ocean
To explain how earthquakes and tsunamis happen and how people prepare for them
To describe a vacation in Indonesia
Which detail best supports the author’s purpose of informing the reader?
Students sat quietly listening in their uniforms.
The author uses bold, colorful headings.
Scientists studied coral growth patterns to understand past earthquakes.
The pictures show damaged buildings.
Why does the author include headings such as Rising Corals, Sinking Islands, and Safe for Now?
To make the article look longer
To help readers identify different ideas and understand how information is organized
To entertain the reader with creative titles
To show the author’s opinion about earthquakes
How do the photographs of earthquake drills and damage support the author’s purpose?
They persuade readers to feel afraid of the ocean
They show fictional examples of disasters
They provide real-world evidence of how earthquakes affect people and communities
They explain how scientists measure earthquakes
Why does the author include a map showing the fault line and earthquake epicenters?
To decorate the page
To show exact travel routes between islands
To help readers visualize where earthquakes occurred and how they are connected to the fault line
To compare Indonesia to other countries
Which sentence best shows the author’s use of cause-and-effect to explain earthquakes?
The students were surprised by Sieh’s warnings.
The plates were wedged together, stress built up, and then the plates broke free.
Corals grow outward in rings.
The island was more than 200 miles from the epicenter.
Why does the author compare Earth’s plates to fingernails growing?
To persuade readers that earthquakes are harmless
To help readers understand how slowly plates move over time
To show that plates grow like living things
To entertain the reader with a funny image
Which craft move best describes the author’s use of scientific vocabulary such as lateral, parallel, and radiate?
To confuse the reader
To persuade the reader
To precisely explain how earthquakes and tsunamis work
To shorten the article
Why does the author include definitions for words like triggered, thrust, and modified?
To challenge advanced readers
To support understanding of important science concepts
To increase the number of pages
To replace the need for pictures
What effect does the author’s use of timelines and dates (such as December 26, 2004 and March 28, 2005) have on the reader?
It helps readers see the order of events and understand how earthquakes happened over time
It persuades readers to travel to Indonesia
It shows the author’s personal opinion
It adds fictional suspense
Which sentence best shows that the author is presenting information objectively rather than sharing an opinion?
This was the scariest earthquake ever.
The deadly waves kept flooding beaches for hours.
Scientists discovered earthquakes occurred in pairs about every 200 years.
People should never live near the ocean.
Why does the author include information about how people rebuilt towns and prepared for future tsunamis?
To persuade people to become scientists
To explain that earthquakes will never happen again
To show how scientific knowledge can help reduce danger and save lives
To criticize the people who lived near the coast
Which detail best reflects the author’s purpose of helping readers understand preparation rather than prediction?
Scientists cannot say exactly when an earthquake will happen.
Coral rings grow outward each year.
Earthquakes release energy.
Tsunamis can reach 100 feet high.
How does the author’s tone throughout the article affect the reader?
It is humorous and playful
It is angry and argumentative
It is calm and informative, helping readers trust the information
It is emotional and dramatic to scare readers
Why does the author end the article by discussing ongoing research and preparation?
To entertain readers with a hopeful ending
To emphasize that learning about earthquakes is ongoing and important for safety
To persuade readers to donate money
To show that earthquakes are no longer dangerous
