Elementary School Reading Quiz: Identify Authors Main Purpose

In fall, leaves change color for a reason. In summer, leaves are green because of chlorophyll. It helps the leaf make food from sunlight. When days get shorter and cooler, the leaf makes less of it. Then other colors can show, like yellow and orange. Some leaves turn red too. At last, the leaf dries and may fall off the tree.

What did the author want to explain in this passage?

Read the passage. Why did the author write this?

Have you ever wondered why bees make honey? Bees make honey to store food for later. When flowers are blooming, bees collect sweet nectar. Back in the hive, they mix the nectar and fan it with their wings. This helps the nectar turn thicker, like syrup. The honey stays in the hive for times when flowers are hard to find. Honey gives bees energy to live and work. That is why bees work so hard to make honey.

Read the passage. Why did the author write this?

Polar bears are huge animals that live in the Arctic. Their fur looks white, but it can look creamy too. They have thick fat under their skin to stay warm. Their big paws act like snowshoes on ice and snow. Polar bears are strong swimmers and can paddle far. They use their sharp noses to find seals. These bears spend many hours resting on the ice.

Read the passage. Why did the author write this?

Firefighters wear special gear to stay safe. Their coats and pants are thick and can block heat. They wear helmets to protect their heads from falling things. Many have gloves to guard their hands. A face mask helps them breathe in smoky air. Firefighters also carry tools like hoses and axes. All of this equipment helps them do their job.

In fall, leaves change color, and this happens for a few reasons. In spring and summer, leaves are green. In fall, the days get shorter and cooler, so leaves make less green color. Then other colors show up, like yellow and orange. Some leaves turn red or brown too.

Why did the author write this passage?

Read the passage. What is the author's main purpose?

Coral reefs are busy places in the ocean. The water is often warm, clear, and bright. Corals can look like rocks, but they are living animals. Many fish swim through the reef like a colorful parade. Sea stars, crabs, and sea urchins crawl on the coral. Some animals hide in small holes for safety. A coral reef can feel like an underwater city.

Read the passage. What is the author's purpose?

Many people wonder why leaves change color in fall. Leaves are green in spring and summer because of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll helps plants make food from sunlight. In fall, days get shorter and cooler. The plant makes less chlorophyll, so the green color fades. Then we can see other colors like yellow and orange. Some leaves also turn red from special plant chemicals. That is why trees look so colorful in autumn.

Read the passage. What is the author's main purpose?

This text explains how a butterfly changes as it grows. First, a butterfly lays a tiny egg on a leaf. Next, a caterpillar hatches and eats leaves to get bigger. Then it makes a chrysalis, which is a hard covering. Inside, its body changes in amazing ways. Finally, an adult butterfly comes out with wings. It dries its wings and then it can fly.

Read the text: You might ask, "Why do some birds fly south for winter?" Many birds migrate because food becomes hard to find. In cold weather, insects and berries can disappear. Flying south helps birds find warmer places with more food. Some birds also need open water to drink and hunt. When spring comes, many birds fly back north to make nests. Migration helps birds survive the winter. What is the author's main purpose?

Read the text: Polar bears are large white bears that live in the Arctic. Their fur looks fluffy, but it helps keep them warm. They have wide paws that act like snowshoes on ice. Polar bears are strong swimmers and can paddle far. They often hunt seals near holes in the ice. A polar bear's nose is black and easy to spot. What did the author want to do in this text?

A veterinarian is a doctor for animals. They check pets like dogs and cats. They give shots to help pets stay healthy. They can fix broken bones. They help pets feel better. They work in animal clinics.

Why did the author write this passage?

Read the text. A coral reef is a busy home under the ocean. The water around a reef is often warm and clear. Coral looks like colorful rocks, but it is made by tiny animals. You might see bright fish swimming in and out of coral holes. Sea stars and sea urchins crawl along the reef. Some reefs have sea turtles gliding by slowly. Many animals hide in the reef to stay safe. What did the author want to do in this text?

Read the text. Why do leaves change color in fall? Leaves are green because they have a color called chlorophyll. In fall, days get shorter and cooler. The trees make less chlorophyll, so the green fades. Then other colors show up, like yellow, orange, and red. Some trees store sugar in their leaves, which can make red colors. When winter comes, many trees drop their leaves to save energy. That is why leaves change color in fall. Why did the author write this text?

Read the text. This is how a butterfly changes as it grows. First, a butterfly lays a tiny egg on a leaf. Next, a caterpillar hatches and eats many leaves. Then it makes a hard case called a chrysalis. Inside, its body changes into a butterfly. Finally, the butterfly comes out and dries its wings. Soon it can fly to find flowers. What is the author's main purpose?

Read the text. Polar bears are very large animals that live in the Arctic. Their fur looks white, but it can be a little yellow. They have a thick layer of fat to stay warm. Polar bears have big paws that act like snowshoes on ice. They are strong swimmers and can paddle for miles. Their noses are black and help them smell food. Polar bears often hunt seals near the water. What did the author want to do in this text?

Read the passage. Why did the author write this?

A coral reef is a busy home in the ocean. The water is often warm and clear. Corals look like rocks, but they are made by tiny animals. Bright fish swim in and out of the reef like birds in a tree. You might see sea stars, crabs, and sea turtles there too. Many reefs have colors like pink, purple, and orange. The reef has many hiding places in its holes and cracks. Coral reefs are one of the most colorful places in the sea.

Read the passage. What did the author want to do?

How does rain form? Rain begins when the sun warms water in lakes and oceans. The water turns into vapor and rises into the air. Higher up, the air is cooler, so the vapor turns back into tiny drops. These drops make clouds. When the drops bump together, they grow bigger and heavier. Finally, they fall to the ground as rain. This is part of the water cycle.

Read the text. Have you ever wondered why bees make honey? Bees make honey to store food for later. They sip sweet nectar from flowers. Next, they carry the nectar back to the hive. Inside the hive, worker bees change the nectar into honey. Then they place the honey in wax cells. The honey gives bees energy when flowers are gone. Bees also feed honey to young bees. Why did the author write this text?

Read the text: Coral reefs are colorful homes in the ocean. Bright fish swim in and out of rocky coral. The water is usually warm and clear. Some corals look like bumpy brains, and others look like fans. Tiny sea animals hide in cracks and holes. When waves move, the reef seems to sway and shimmer. What did the author write this text to do?

Read the text. This text explains how rain forms in the sky. First, the sun warms water in lakes, rivers, and oceans. The water turns into a gas called water vapor and rises. Next, the vapor cools high in the air. Then it changes into tiny drops that make clouds. When the drops get heavy, they fall as rain. Rain helps plants and animals get water. Why did the author write this text?