Question 24·Hard·Text Structure and Purpose
Many urban public libraries have reported sharp declines in on-site visits over the past decade, leading some administrators to divert funding from traditional services to expanding digital collections. A recent survey of rural libraries, however, indicates that attendance at in-person events such as literacy workshops and community meetings has increased, motivating those libraries to enlarge rather than shrink their physical spaces. This contrast undermines the assumption that brick-and-mortar libraries are universally becoming obsolete and suggests that location-specific strategies, not one-size-fits-all reforms, will best serve patrons.
Which choice best states the primary purpose of the text?
For primary-purpose questions, paraphrase the entire passage in one sentence, then use the conclusion to identify the author’s overall aim (e.g., to challenge, to explain, to compare, to propose). Choose the option that captures what the whole passage is doing—especially the author’s concluding claim—while eliminating choices that focus on only one detail or add goals (like detailed recommendations) that the passage doesn’t actually carry out.
Hints
Focus on the structure of the paragraph
The passage sets up one trend (urban libraries) and then introduces a contrasting trend (rural libraries). Ask what the author accomplishes by placing those two trends side by side.
Pay close attention to the last sentence
Reread the sentence beginning with "This contrast undermines the assumption..." What assumption is being challenged, and what role does the contrast play?
Watch for choices that over-focus or overreach
Some options focus only on explaining urban decisions, only on rural building expansion, or on proposing a detailed plan. Ask which choice describes the overall point the author is making with the contrast.
Step-by-step Explanation
Summarize what the passage is doing overall
The passage describes a trend in many urban libraries (fewer on-site visits and more funding for digital collections), then contrasts it with a different rural trend (more attendance at in-person events and expansion of physical space). It ends by drawing a conclusion about what this contrast means.
Use the conclusion to identify the author’s purpose
The final sentence says the contrast "undermines the assumption that brick-and-mortar libraries are universally becoming obsolete." That signals the author’s main goal is to challenge a broad, widely held idea by presenting counterevidence.
Choose the option that matches the passage’s main move
Eliminate choices that focus on explaining motivations, describing only the rural outcome, or proposing a detailed reform plan—those go beyond what the passage does. The best match is: To challenge the claim that brick-and-mortar libraries are becoming obsolete everywhere by contrasting urban and rural trends.