ATI TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) Version 7ReadingMedium
A patient is reading an article about the history of antibiotics. The article states: 'The discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming in 1928 marked a pivotal moment in medicine, although its widespread therapeutic use did not begin until the 1940s with the work of Florey and Chain.' What is the primary purpose of this sentence?
- ATo explain the chemical structure of penicillin.
- BTo compare penicillin with other early antibiotics.
- CTo describe the impact of World War II on medicine.
- DTo highlight the historical significance and development timeline of penicillin.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. To highlight the historical significance and development timeline of penicillin.
The sentence specifically mentions the 'discovery' (historical significance) and the timeline of 'widespread therapeutic use' (development timeline). It focuses on key historical figures and dates related to penicillin, indicating its purpose is to convey its historical importance and how it progressed.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. The sentence mentions discovery and use, not chemical structure.
- B. No other antibiotics are mentioned or compared in this sentence.
- C. While the 1940s connect to WWII, the sentence's primary focus is on penicillin's development, not the broader impact of the war.
Author's Purpose (Informative Text)
The reason an author writes a particular text, often to inform, explain, describe, or persuade.
- Identified by analyzing content and language.
- Can be explicit or implicit.
- In informative texts, often to educate or clarify.
Memory trick: PIE: Persuade, Inform, Entertain.