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Author's Purpose & Text Structure

Grade 5 · Stretch challenge · 8 questions · Version PG-1T9JRNM-XSZ0

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1.A lever is a rigid bar that turns around a fixed point. Moving that point changes the effort needed. What is the author's main purpose?
2.A primary source comes from the time studied. A secondary source interprets evidence later. How is this text mainly organized?
3.Mina read two reports about one event. She checked their sources before trusting the details. What is the author's main purpose?
4.Engineers revised a bridge model after its center bent. They added supports and tested again. How is this text mainly organized?
5.Warm ocean water adds energy to tropical storms. Cooler water usually weakens them. What is the author's main purpose?
6.The council compared three playground plans for cost, safety, and accessibility before voting. How is this text mainly organized?
7.Engineers revised a bridge model after its center bent. They added supports and tested again. What is the author's main purpose?
8.Pollinators move pollen between flowers. Without this transfer, many plants make fewer fruits. 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 13
  1. A lever is a rigid bar that turns around a fixed point. Moving that point changes the effort needed. What is the author's main purpose?To explain how a lever works
  2. A primary source comes from the time studied. A secondary source interprets evidence later. How is this text mainly organized?Compare and contrast
  3. 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
  4. Engineers revised a bridge model after its center bent. They added supports and tested again. How is this text mainly organized?Problem and solution
  5. 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
  6. The council compared three playground plans for cost, safety, and accessibility before voting. How is this text mainly organized?Sequence
  7. Engineers revised a bridge model after its center bent. They added supports and tested again. What is the author's main purpose?To show how testing improves a design
  8. Pollinators move pollen between flowers. Without this transfer, many plants make fewer fruits. What is the author's main purpose?To explain the importance of pollinators

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.