Author's Purpose Quiz Grade 8 ELA: Test Your Skills

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🎯 PIE: A simple way to remember the main purposes: Persuade, Inform, and Entertain.
• 📢 Persuade: The author wants to convince you to believe something or take action. Look for opinions and arguments.
• 📰 Inform: The author wants to give you facts and information about a topic. Look for factual statements and data.
• 🎭 Entertain: The author wants to amuse or delight you. Look for stories, humor, and engaging narratives.
• 🤔 Author's Perspective: Consider the author's background and beliefs, as it may influence their purpose.
• 🔎 Identifying Purpose: Ask yourself: What is the main thing the author is trying to do in this text?
• 📝 Supporting Details: Look for specific words, phrases, and examples that support the author's purpose.

📝 Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following best describes the author's purpose when writing a persuasive essay about the importance of recycling?
   1. A. To entertain readers with a fictional story.
   2. B. To inform readers about the history of recycling.
   3. C. To persuade readers to recycle more often.
   4. D. To describe the different types of recycling bins.
2. A recipe book that provides step-by-step instructions for cooking various dishes primarily serves what author's purpose?
   1. A. To persuade readers to become chefs.
   2. B. To inform readers how to prepare different meals.
   3. C. To entertain readers with cooking stories.
   4. D. To describe the cultural significance of food.
3. A fictional novel filled with adventure, suspense, and humor most likely aims to:
   1. A. Inform readers about historical events.
   2. B. Persuade readers to adopt a certain lifestyle.
   3. C. Entertain readers with an engaging story.
   4. D. Argue for a specific political viewpoint.
4. When an author writes a biography about a famous scientist, what is their primary purpose?
   1. A. To entertain readers with fictional anecdotes.
   2. B. To inform readers about the scientist's life and work.
   3. C. To persuade readers to pursue a career in science.
   4. D. To criticize the scientist's contributions.
5. An article arguing against the use of plastic straws most clearly demonstrates which author's purpose?
   1. A. To inform readers about the composition of plastic.
   2. B. To persuade readers to stop using plastic straws.
   3. C. To entertain readers with stories about marine life.
   4. D. To describe the history of straws.
6. A humorous poem about a cat trying to catch a laser pointer primarily aims to:
   1. A. Inform readers about cat behavior.
   2. B. Persuade readers to get a cat.
   3. C. Entertain readers with a funny story.
   4. D. Argue for better pet care.
7. A textbook chapter explaining the process of photosynthesis serves which author's purpose?
   1. A. To persuade students to study biology.
   2. B. To entertain students with science facts.
   3. C. To inform students about photosynthesis.
   4. D. To describe the beauty of plants.