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Author's Purpose & Text Structure

Grade 5 · Building confidence · 8 questions · Version PG-15UQ0WT-1BG6

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1.Pollinators move pollen between flowers. Without this transfer, many plants make fewer fruits. 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.A primary source comes from the time studied. A secondary source interprets evidence later. What is the author's main purpose?
4.Mina read two reports about one event. She checked their sources before trusting the details. How is this text mainly organized?
5.Mina read two reports about one event. She checked their sources before trusting the details. What is the author's main purpose?
6.Engineers revised a bridge model after its center bent. They added supports and tested again. How is this text mainly organized?
7.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?
8.Warm ocean water adds energy to tropical storms. Cooler water usually weakens them. 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 14
  1. 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
  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. 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
  4. Mina read two reports about one event. She checked their sources before trusting the details. How is this text mainly organized?Sequence
  5. 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
  6. Engineers revised a bridge model after its center bent. They added supports and tested again. How is this text mainly organized?Problem and solution
  7. 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
  8. 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

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.