Author's Purpose Practice Test

Read the passage, then answer the question.

The first snow of the year arrived like a surprise visitor. One minute the sidewalk was dull gray, and the next it wore a thin white scarf. Leo pressed his forehead to the cold window and watched flakes tumble in spirals, as if the sky were shaking out a pillow.

At school, everyone acted as if the rules of normal life had changed. Friends who barely spoke in math class suddenly formed teams for snowball fights. A teacher who usually hurried through the hallway paused to catch a flake on her mitten and smiled at nothing in particular.

After the last bell, Leo walked home slowly, letting the snow collect on his hair. The world sounded softer, like it was holding its breath. He knew the snow would melt, but for that afternoon, everything felt new.

What is the author's main purpose in writing this passage?

Read the passage, then answer the question.

Every morning, the crossing guard at Pine Street holds up her stop sign like a shield. Cars slow, then stop. She nods at each driver with the same calm face, even when the wind tries to steal her hat. To most people, she might look like part of the scenery.

But one rainy Tuesday, I saw what her job really means. A delivery truck rolled toward the crosswalk, its tires hissing on wet pavement. A first grader stepped off the curb without looking, focused on a bright red umbrella. The guard moved fast, stepping forward and raising her hand. The truck stopped just in time.

The child never knew how close it was. The guard simply walked the students across, then returned to her spot, ready for the next wave.

What is the author's main purpose in writing this passage?