GED Reasoning Through Language ArtsReading ComprehensionEasy
An environmental scientist is writing a report on a recent oil spill. The report includes a section titled 'Ecological Impact Assessment,' which details the immediate damage to marine life, the long-term effects on coastal ecosystems, and the potential for species recovery over decades. What is the primary purpose of this section?
- ATo advocate for stricter regulations on oil drilling.
- BTo inform readers about the scope and duration of the environmental damage caused by the spill.
- CTo entertain the reader with dramatic descriptions of environmental disaster.
- DTo compare the current oil spill to previous historical incidents.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. To inform readers about the scope and duration of the environmental damage caused by the spill.
The section title 'Ecological Impact Assessment' and the detailed content ('immediate damage,' 'long-term effects,' 'potential for species recovery') clearly indicate an informative purpose: to provide factual details about the environmental consequences.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. While the information might support such advocacy, the primary purpose of an 'assessment' section is to inform, not to persuade directly.
- C. Scientific reports aim for factual presentation, not entertainment through drama.
- D. The text focuses on the current spill's effects, not a comparison to other incidents.
Author's Purpose: Inform
To provide factual information, data, or explanations to educate the reader on a topic.
- Often found in textbooks, news articles, scientific reports, and instruction manuals.
- Emphasizes objectivity and accuracy.
- Aims to increase the reader's knowledge or understanding.
Memory trick: An author's purpose is like a writer's target.