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Author's Purpose & Text Structure

Grade 4 · On-level practice · 8 questions · Version PG-1S6ESRA-1WUV

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1.Warm ocean water adds energy to tropical storms. Cooler water usually weakens them. What is the author's main purpose?
2.Some seeds travel on fur, while others float on wind or water. Each method spreads seeds. How is this text mainly organized?
3.Engineers revised a bridge model after its center bent. They added supports and tested again. How is this text mainly organized?
4.A primary source comes from the time studied. A secondary source interprets evidence later. What is the author's main purpose?
5.A lever is a rigid bar that turns around a fixed point. Moving that point changes the effort needed. How is this text mainly organized?
6.Mina read two reports about one event. She checked their sources before trusting the details. What is the author's main purpose?
7.The council compared three playground plans for cost, safety, and accessibility before voting. How is this text mainly organized?
8.The council compared three playground plans for cost, safety, and accessibility before voting. What is the author's main purpose?

Answers and teaching notes

Use the answers to check the work after the learner finishes. For writing prompts, the guide describes what a strong response should include.

Show answers for version 1
  1. Warm ocean water adds energy to tropical storms. Cooler water usually weakens them. What is the author's main purpose?To explain how ocean temperature affects storms
  2. Some seeds travel on fur, while others float on wind or water. Each method spreads seeds. How is this text mainly organized?Compare and contrast
  3. Engineers revised a bridge model after its center bent. They added supports and tested again. How is this text mainly organized?Problem and solution
  4. A primary source comes from the time studied. A secondary source interprets evidence later. What is the author's main purpose?To distinguish primary and secondary sources
  5. A lever is a rigid bar that turns around a fixed point. Moving that point changes the effort needed. How is this text mainly organized?Cause and effect
  6. Mina read two reports about one event. She checked their sources before trusting the details. What is the author's main purpose?To show how Mina evaluated information
  7. The council compared three playground plans for cost, safety, and accessibility before voting. How is this text mainly organized?Sequence
  8. The council compared three playground plans for cost, safety, and accessibility before voting. What is the author's main purpose?To describe how the council made a decision

Worked example

Use the author's choices and relationships between ideas to identify purpose and organization.

Common mistake

Choosing a structure from one transition word alone.

Helpful hint

Summarize how ideas relate across the whole passage.