Purpose Practice Questions | English for ACT PDF Download

Introduction

An author's purpose refers to the motivation or intention behind their writing. Authors typically aim to achieve one of several objectives with their work, such as entertaining, persuading, informing, or satirizing. These purposes guide the author's approach to writing and influence the style and content of their work.

Authors typically write with one of four main purposes in mind:

• Narrative Writing: This type of writing involves relating a story or recounting events in a cohesive and engaging manner.
• Descriptive Writing: Authors use descriptive writing to vividly depict the appearance, sounds, or sensations associated with a subject, allowing readers to visualize and connect with the content.
• Persuasive Writing: The purpose of persuasive writing is to convince readers to adopt a particular belief or take a specific course of action. Authors employ persuasive techniques and arguments to sway the audience's opinion.
• Expository Writing: Expository writing aims to inform or educate the reader about a topic. Authors present factual information, explanations, or analyses to enhance the reader's understanding of the subject matter.

The author's purpose is evident in their writing style and approach to the topic. For example, if the author's intention is to entertain, they may incorporate humor, jokes, or engaging anecdotes into their writing. Similarly, clues to an author's purpose can often be found in elements such as titles, prefaces, and the author's background, providing insights into their motivations and intentions.

Solved Example

Read each paragraph. Then select the answer that best describes the author’s purpose in writing.

Q1: The word is terracide. It is not committed with guns and knives, but with relentless bulldozers, roaring dump trucks, and giant shovels like mythological beasts. Dynamite cuts and rips apart mountains to reach the minerals inside, leaving nothing but empty, naked hills. The land is left wasted and allowed to slide down upon houses and into streams, making the land unlivable and the stream water undrinkable. This is terracide, or if you prefer, strip mining.
The author’s purpose is to
(a) inform you about the purposes of strip mining.
(b) describe a strip mining operation.
(c) persuade you that strip mining is bad for the environment.
(d) define terracide.
Ans: (c)
The author's purpose is to highlight the negative impacts of strip mining, such as environmental degradation, by using strong language and vivid imagery.

Q2: The human sex chromosomes are of the XX-XY pattern. The Y chromosome is much smaller than the X chromosome. Two types of sperm cells are formed during gametogenesis; half of these have the X chromosome and the others have the Y chromosome. Every egg cell has an X chromosome; therefore, fertilization determines the sex. If a Y sperm cell fertilizes the egg, a male develops.
The author’s purpose is to
(a) explain how the sex of humans is determined.
(b) describe chromosomes.
(c) tell the steps in fertilization.
(d) contrast X and Y chromosomes
Ans: (a)
The author provides information about human sex chromosomes and how they determine the sex of offspring, indicating an explanatory purpose.

Q3: To make a delicious New England pit, proceed as follows: take some water and flour; then construct a bullet-proof dough. Make this into a disk-shaped object. Dry it for a couple of days in a mild temperature. Pour on stewed dried apples and slabs of citron; leave it in a safe place until it petrifies. Serve cold at breakfast and invite your mother-in-law.
The author’s purpose is to
(a) tell the steps in making a pie.
(b) make fun of (satirize) New England cooking.
(c) persuade the reader to buy New England pie.
(d) describe New England pie.
Ans: (b)
The author uses humor and exaggeration to poke fun at New England cooking methods, suggesting a satirical purpose rather than a serious intent to persuade or inform.

Q4: I will try to give the reader of this article some idea of the real nature of Gothic architecture, not just of Venice, but of universal Gothic. One of the most interesting parts of our study will be to find out how far Venetian architecture went in achieving the perfect type of Gothic, and how far it fell short of it.
The author’s purpose is to
(a) explain the importance of Gothic architecture.
(b) describe Venetian architecture.
(c) show how Venetian architecture is different from Gothic architecture.
(d) show the nature of Gothic architecture.
Ans: (d)
The author aims to explain and explore the nature of Gothic architecture, particularly focusing on Venetian architecture and its relation to the broader concept of Gothic architecture.

Q5: On September 23, a large cavalry troop from Fort Robinson arrived at the camp of Sitting Bull. Just as he was about to give a welcoming speech, a commotion broke out among the watching warriors. Rifles were fired, and the meeting ended in a massacre of the soldiers.
The author’s purpose is to
(a) describe Sitting Bull’s camp.
(b) persuade the reader that the Indians were bloodthirsty.
(c) tell the events leading to a massacre.
(d) explain the problems of the Calvary.
Ans: (c)
The author recounts the specific events surrounding a massacre, indicating a narrative purpose of informing the reader about what happened.