Question 145·Easy·Text Structure and Purpose
The following text is adapted from a student's email to the principal about an upcoming school assembly.
Next Thursday’s assembly will run more smoothly if we place the photography awards at the beginning. Several winners have to catch the late bus for their off-campus class, and starting with the awards ensures they can be recognized before they leave. The slide deck is already organized for a quick introduction, and the projector is easier to read before the gym fills and sunlight brightens the floor. I can coordinate with Ms. Leung to seat the awardees up front. Could we update the program accordingly?
Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?
For “main purpose” Reading & Writing questions, first skim the entire passage and ask, “What is the writer trying to accomplish overall—persuade, request, inform, or describe?” Then, look at the opening and closing sentences to confirm that purpose. Eliminate choices that focus on side details (like one example or term) or that describe a different kind of task (such as giving instructions, telling a story from the past, or listing facts) than what the passage actually does. Finally, choose the option that captures the writer’s main goal, not just the general topic.
Hints
Focus on the first and last sentences
Reread the first and last sentences of the email. What change does the student bring up at the start, and what is the student asking for at the end?
Ask what the reasons are supporting
The student gives several reasons about buses, the projector, and seating. Ask yourself: What idea are these reasons trying to support or justify?
Check what the text is NOT doing
Is the email mainly telling a story from the past, giving step-by-step directions, or listing who won something? Eliminate choices that describe something the email clearly is not doing.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify what kind of text this is
Notice that the text is an email from a student to the principal about an upcoming assembly. The student is making a request: “Could we update the program accordingly?” This shows the student wants something to change in the future, not just to share information about the past.
Look for the main action the writer wants
In the first sentence, the student says, “Next Thursday’s assembly will run more smoothly if we place the photography awards at the beginning.” This is a clear suggestion about changing the order of events. Everything that follows needs to be checked to see if it supports this suggestion.
See how the details support the writer’s goal
The student gives several reasons that support the suggestion: some winners need to leave early for an off-campus class, the slide deck is already organized, the projector is easier to read earlier, and the student can coordinate seating with Ms. Leung. All these points are arguments for rearranging when the awards occur, not for explaining history, giving technical instructions, or listing winners.
Match the overall purpose to the best choice
Since the email’s main purpose is to suggest a change—specifically, to have the photography awards happen first in the assembly—the best answer is D) To recommend moving the photography awards to the beginning of the assembly.