Author's Purpose and Tone Flashcards
6 cards from real Reading Comprehension practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Author's Purpose and Tone flashcards as text
A newspaper editorial argues that the city should invest more in public transportation. The author includes statistics about traffic congestion and pollution levels. What is the author's primary purpose?
Answer: To persuade readers that public transportation funding is needed
The author uses persuasive techniques including statistics and argumentation to convince readers of a particular position, which is characteristic of persuasive writing.
Read the following excerpt: 'The old lighthouse stood sentinel over the crashing waves, its beam cutting through the fog like a sword of hope for weary sailors.' What tone does the author establish?
Answer: Dramatic and reverent
Words like 'sentinel,' 'sword of hope,' and 'weary sailors' create a dramatic, reverent tone that elevates the subject matter to something grand and meaningful.
An author writes: 'Sure, the committee met for three hours to decide on a font for the company newsletter. Clearly, this was the most productive use of everyone's time.' What is the author's tone?
Answer: Sarcastic and critical
The author uses verbal irony — saying the meeting was 'productive' while describing a trivial three-hour decision — to express a sarcastic, critical tone toward the committee's time management.
A science textbook passage explains how photosynthesis converts sunlight into energy using chlorophyll. What is the author's primary purpose?
Answer: To inform readers about a scientific process
A textbook passage that explains a scientific process in factual terms has an informational purpose — it aims to teach the reader how something works.
A travel writer describes a small Italian village: 'Cobblestone streets wind past sun-warmed walls draped in jasmine, and the air carries the mingled scents of espresso and fresh bread.' What is the author's purpose?
Answer: To create a vivid sensory experience for the reader
The author uses rich sensory details — sight, smell, touch — to create an immersive experience, which is characteristic of descriptive writing meant to engage the reader's imagination.
Which of the following sentences most clearly reflects a nostalgic tone?
Answer: I remember those summer evenings on the porch, when the world seemed simpler and time moved slowly.
The sentence reflects on past memories with warmth and longing ('the world seemed simpler,' 'time moved slowly'), which are hallmarks of a nostalgic tone.