Author's Craft and Purpose Part 1
What is the author’s main purpose in a persuasive text?
A. To entertain the reader
B. To inform the reader
C. To convince the reader of an idea
D. To describe a setting
C. To convince the reader of an idea
If the author’s tone is sarcastic, it means the author—
A. is mocking or saying the opposite of what they mean
B. is being sincere and emotional
C. is giving a neutral explanation
D. is describing something with excitement
A. is mocking or saying the opposite of what they mean
The scientist’s explanation was so ________ that everyone understood.
A. confusing
B. clear
C. careless
D. short
B. clear
“Marcus stared at the empty field where his team used to practice. The bleachers were gone, the goalposts were rusted, and the echoes of cheers seemed like memories from another lifetime.”
What is the mood of this passage?
A. Joyful
B. Nostalgic
C. Confused
D. Angry
B. Nostalgic
The repetition of beginning sounds in “Peter Piper picked a peck” is called—
A. imagery
B. simile
C. alliteration
D. rhyme
C. alliteration
Which of the following is an example of foreshadowing?
A. “The wind howled as the door slammed shut.”
B. “Little did Maria know, this was the last time she’d see her brother.”
C. “The story takes place in a small town.”
D. “The cat sat by the window.”
B. “Little did Maria know, this was the last time she’d see her brother.”
In the sentence, “The stars winked at me as I walked home,” the author’s craft technique is—
A. metaphor
B. hyperbole
C. simile
D. personification
D. Personification
The word “spectator” contains the root spec, meaning “to see.” Based on this, a spectator is someone who—
A. writes stories
B. sells tickets
C. leads a group
D. watches an event
D. watches an event
“When the teacher announced a surprise test, everyone groaned—except Maya. She smiled slightly and flipped her notebook open.”
What can you infer about Maya?
A. She forgot to study.
B. She enjoys challenges.
C. She doesn’t care about grades.
D. She dislikes school.
B. She enjoys challenges.
The main character struggles against a natural disaster. This is what type of conflict?
A. Person vs. person
B. Person vs. self
C. Person vs. nature
D. Person vs. society
C. Person vs. nature
When an author includes vivid imagery in a story, the purpose is most likely to—
A. help the reader visualize the scene
B. confuse the reader
C. hide the main idea
D. summarize the plot
A. help the reader visualize the scene
What is the theme of a story that shows a character learning to forgive others?
A. Teamwork leads to success.
B. Forgiveness can heal relationships.
C. Honesty is the best policy.
D. Hard work pays off.
B. Forgiveness can heal relationships.
What is the meaning of “reluctant” in this sentence?
“She was reluctant to speak in front of the class.”
A. Nervous
B. Excited
C. Unwilling
D. Prepared
A. Nervous
“The door creaked open slowly, revealing nothing but darkness. Daniel hesitated, then stepped inside.”
Which sentence could best add to the suspense?
A. “He turned on his flashlight.”
B. “The light flickered and went out.”
C. “It was only a small closet.”
D. “He shut the door behind him.”
B. “The light flickered and went out.”
In a play, stage directions tell—
A. what characters say
B. how actors should move or speak
C. the main conflict
D. the author’s opinion
B. how actors should move or speak
When an author repeats a phrase several times in a speech, it is most likely to—
A. waste time
B. fill up space
C. confuse the listener
D. emphasize a key idea
D. emphasize a key idea
“The thunder cracked just as Emma reached for the doorknob. Her heart raced—she’d promised her mom she wouldn’t go outside during the storm, but her dog was still out there, barking in the distance.”
What technique does the author use to build suspense?
A. Flashback
B. Foreshadowing
C. Imagery
D. Dialogue
C. Imagery
Descriptive language (“thunder cracked,” “heart raced”) creates tension.
Which of the following best fits this sentence?
Her voice was full of __________ when she spoke about her grandmother’s passing.
A. joy
B. confidence
C. laughter
D. sorrow
D. sorrow
Lena: “You said you’d be here before the show started.”
Alex: “I tried, but the bus was late.”
Lena: “There’s always an excuse with you.”
Alex: (sighs) “Maybe you’re right.”
What does the dialogue reveal about Lena?
A. She’s forgiving.
B. She’s frustrated.
C. She’s playful.
D. She’s nervous.
B. She’s frustrated.
What is the main difference between a script and a story?
A. Scripts are written in paragraphs.
B. Scripts include dialogue and stage directions.
C. Stories are shorter.
D. Scripts have no characters.
B. Scripts include dialogue and stage directions
An author writes an article about recycling and includes facts, statistics, and expert quotes. The author’s purpose is most likely—
A. to entertain
B. to persuade
C. to inform
D. to describe
C. to inform
Scene 1: The Debate Club
Sam: “We can’t just let the opposing team win again!”
Lila: “Maybe if you’d let someone else talk, we’d have a chance.”
Sam: “I’m just trying to help!”
Lila: “Then start by listening.”
What is the conflict in this scene?
A. Person vs. person
B. Person vs. self
C. Person vs. nature
D. Person vs. society
A. Person vs. person
Sam and Lila disagree.
Which word has a positive connotation?
A. Slim
B. Skinny
C. Scrawny
D. Bony
A. Slim
(Maria looks toward the window as thunder rumbles. She clutches her coat tightly.)
What is the purpose of this stage direction?
A. To create suspense and tension
B. To add humor
C. To explain Maria’s background
D. To signal the end of the play
A. To create suspense and tension
The author includes statistics in an article most likely to—
A. entertain the reader
B. support a factual claim
C. create suspense
D. describe a character
B. support a factual claim