Question 37·Easy·Text Structure and Purpose
The following text is from a 2015 email a recent college graduate writes to a friend.
I finally settled into my new apartment downtown, and I have to say, moving closer to the center was the right decision. Here I can walk to work in ten minutes, catch a late-night concert without worrying about buses, and sample every cuisine imaginable within two blocks. The traffic noise is real, but the energy and convenience more than make up for it.
Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?
For SAT "main purpose" questions, summarize in your own words what the author is mainly trying to do (explain, argue, narrate, describe, etc.). Then choose the option that matches that broad goal and eliminate choices that focus on only one detail, overemphasize a minor point, or invent a goal (like urging the reader to act) that the passage doesn’t actually show.
Hints
Check the tone
Is the writer mostly positive, mostly negative, or neutral about the new apartment and location? Focus on words and phrases that show feelings.
Look at the examples
Ask yourself: why does the writer mention walking to work, catching late-night concerts, and trying different cuisines? What are those details helping to show?
Consider what the writer wants from the friend
Does the email ask the friend to do something right now, like visit soon, or is it mainly sharing news and opinions about the move?
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the overall tone and context
Notice that this is an email from a recent college graduate to a friend. The tone is informal and mostly positive: the writer sounds pleased and excited about the new apartment and location, not upset or demanding.
Look at what details the writer emphasizes
The writer lists specific benefits of living downtown: walking to work in ten minutes, going to late-night concerts without worrying about buses, and having many food options nearby. The traffic noise is a negative, but it is quickly minimized by saying the good parts "more than make up for it."
Ask: What is the writer mainly doing with these details?
These details function as reasons supporting the writer’s claim that the move was a good decision, rather than as a complaint, a guide to entertainment, or a call for the friend to act.
Match this main focus to the best answer choice
Therefore, the best answer is: To explain why moving downtown was the right decision for the writer.