Question 91·Easy·Text Structure and Purpose
The town library’s new summer reading initiative, "Books Without Borders," sets a collective goal: if local residents log 10,000 pages read by August, a community sponsor will fund a mobile book van for rural neighborhoods. The program invites readers of all ages to track pages online, recommends titles translated from world languages, and hosts weekly discussions in the library garden. By linking page counts to a tangible reward, the organizers aim to spark enthusiasm for diverse literature while expanding access to books beyond the library’s walls.
Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?
For main-purpose questions, summarize the entire paragraph in one simple sentence (what it is mostly doing). Then eliminate choices that focus on one minor detail or add information not stated. Finally, pick the option that best matches your one-sentence summary, paying special attention to the first and last sentences.
Hints
Locate key purpose clues
Look closely at the first and last sentences—these often tell you why a program exists or what the author wants to emphasize.
Summarize before choosing
In one short sentence, say what the entire paragraph is mainly doing. Then look for the choice that best matches that summary, not just one detail you remember.
Watch for overly narrow answers
Ask yourself: does this answer describe the whole program and its goal, or just one small aspect like translated books or transportation details?
Check for ideas not in the text
Eliminate any choice that mentions something the passage never talks about, such as comparisons with older programs or long explanations that aren’t actually given.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what a "main purpose" question wants
This question asks for the main purpose of the text, meaning the overall reason the author wrote the paragraph—the central point, not a single supporting detail.
Summarize the paragraph's central idea
The paragraph describes a summer reading initiative with multiple components: a collective page goal, translated book recommendations, weekly discussions, and a sponsor-funded mobile book van as the reward. The final sentence ties it together: the organizers aim to "spark enthusiasm for diverse literature while expanding access to books."
Eliminate choices that are too narrow or not supported
Choice B focuses on how mobile book vans operate, which the text does not explain. Choice C claims the text argues for prioritizing translated literature, but the text only mentions it as one component. Choice D mentions comparisons with other approaches, which never appear in the passage.
Choose the option that matches the whole text
Choice A captures the full scope: the passage describes a library initiative that uses a collective goal to both promote reading and expand book access. This matches the text's coverage of the program's goals and methods.