Main Purpose

Example #1

Throughout the dinosaurs' time on Earth, there was an amplification of boniness and spikiness; however, the
advantage of skull frills and back plates is hardly self-evident. The solid-domed skull of Pachycephalosaurus
seems made for buttingbut for butting what? The skull would be all but useless against a predator with the
size and power of Tyrannosaurus Rex. The skulls of some Pachycephalosaurs, moreover, were flat and
thin—a bad design for contact sports—and the spikes protruding from them were most probably blunt rather
than sharp.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A) To suggest that a longstanding hypothesis about dinosaurs may be incorrect.
B) To introduce a study and raise some questions about the validity of its findings.
C) It describes a dinosaur species in order to illustrate a puzzling trend.
D) It presents an emerging mystery and discusses an attempt to solve it.

Example #2

In our family, the women made the ink. We stayed home. We all worked—me, Gao Ling, my aunts and girl
cousins, everybody. Even the babies and Great-Granny had a job of picking out stones from the dried millet
we boiled for breakfast. We gathered each day in the ink-making studio. According to Great-Granny, the
studio began as a grain shed that sat along the front wall of the courtyard house. Over the years, one
generation of sons added brick walls and a tile roof. Another strengthened the beams and lengthened it by
two pillars. The next tiled the floors and dug pits for storing the ingredients. Then other descendants made a
cellar for keeping the ink sticks away from
the heat and cold. "And now look," Great-Granny often bragged. "Our studio is an ink palace."

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A) To describe the process by which a character masters a difficult task
B) To convey a character's role and sense of accomplishment in her family's work
C) To explain the influence of a distinguished relative on a character and her family
D) explore the effects of a character's decision on the members of her family

Extra Practice

1. In 1996, social psychologist Amy Cuddy was exploring the effects of body language on self-perception.
She discovered that adopting "power poses" could actually change a person's hormonal levels and increase
their feelings of confidence. Inspired by this finding, Cuddy developed a series of workshops aimed at
helping people improve their self-esteem and performance in high-pressure situations. These workshops
have since become incredibly popular, with organizations from all over the world participating.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A) To provide an overview of the field of social psychology
B) To discuss Cuddy's discovery about "power poses"
C) To advertise the workshops developed by Cuddy
D) To report on the global reach of Cuddy's workshops

2. The following text is an excerpt from a 2005 article about Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Inc. "From the
creation of the first Macintosh computer to the development of the iPod, iPhone, and iPad, Jobs has
revolutionized the way we interact with technology. His knack for combining aesthetics with functionality has
often been dubbed a 'stroke of genius.' Not just a businessman, but a visionary, Jobs believed that
technology could be both useful and beautiful."
Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?
A) To argue that Steve Jobs was the most important figure in the tech industry
B) To highlight Steve Jobs' unique ability to blend aesthetics and functionality in technology
C) To explain how Apple products like the iPod, iPhone, and iPad came to be developed
D) To persuade readers to buy Apple products

3. The following text is from F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel "The Great Gatsby." In this passage, Nick
Carraway describes his feelings about the city. "The city seen from the Queensboro Bridge is always the city
seen for the first time, in its wild promise of all the mystery and beauty in the world. Yet, when I closed the
door of my small apartment, I felt a wave of loneliness wash over me, as if the vibrant metropolis was
mocking my solitude."

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A) To explain why Nick moved to the city in search of adventure
B) To describe the attraction and simultaneous detachment Nick feels towards the city
C) To showcase the architectural beauty of the city as seen from Queensboro Bridge
D) To reveal that Nick has grown tired of city life and wishes to leave

4. This is an excerpt from Dr. Alice Thompson's speech on climate change: "Today, we stand on the
precipice of a new era—an era that beckons us to action. Earth’s climate has changed before, but never at
the pace we are witnessing today. We owe it to future generations to address the crisis head-on. I urge each
of you to be the change-makers, to fight for a more sustainable planet. Time is of the essence!"

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A) To provide scientific data about the rate of climate change.
B) To emphasize the urgency of tackling climate change now.
C) To criticize those who do not believe in climate change.
D) To present various methods for reducing one's carbon footprint.

5. The following text is from John Steinbeck's 1937 novella "Of Mice and Men." George and Lennie are
itinerant workers looking for employment during the Great Depression. George sat by the edge of the
campfire, his face worn and anxious. Lennie, seemingly oblivious to George's unease, was looking at the
stars, murmuring about rabbits. The fire flickered, casting shadows on their faces as it battled the darkness
of the open field. The sounds of the night seemed amplified, as though nature itself was awaiting their next
move.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A) To illustrate the financial struggles that George and Lennie face
B) To describe George's plans for the future
C) To show the contrast between George's anxiety and Lennie's innocence
D) To suggest that George and Lennie have a disagreement

6. The following text is an excerpt from Jhumpa Lahiri's 2003 short story "The Third and Final Continent." He
arrived in Boston, from a far-off land, wearing a single suitcase and a weary smile. Months of separation
from his family had turned into years. Here, he found a job, rented a small apartment, and embraced the
solitude as his new companion. But sometimes at night, he'd lie awake, listening to the symphony of the city,
wondering what he had left behind.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A) To demonstrate the narrator's excitement about moving to a new country.
B) To describe the struggles and sacrifices that come with living far from one's homeland.
C) To convey the narrator's strong desire to go back to his home country immediately.
D) To show how easily the narrator adapted to his new environment without any challenges.
7. In Mary Shelley's novel "Frankenstein," Victor laments to Walton, "I should have heeded my father's
caution and never dabbled in things beyond human understanding. Yet here I am, pursued by my own
creation. Had I known the dire consequences, I would have never embarked on this damnable quest."

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A) To highlight Victor's regret for not listening to his father's advice
B) To imply that Victor still feels a sense of accomplishment about his scientific experiment
C) To argue that Victor blames Walton for his misfortunes
D) To reveal that Victor was unaware of the scientific principles behind his experiment

8. The following text is adapted from a passage in Virginia Woolf's 1925 novel "Mrs Dalloway." The character
Clarissa is contemplating the view from her balcony. She looked over the balcony and saw the beautiful park
filled with people walking their dogs, children playing, and couples taking leisurely strolls. Yet as she
watched, she couldn't help but think about the recent news of economic downturns and wars that raged in
distant lands. "How can one reconcile the tranquility of this moment with the chaos of the world?" she
wondered to herself.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A) To describe Clarissa's daily routine of observing people from her balcony
B) To contrast Clarissa's feeling of serenity with her thoughts on the world's unrest
C) To reveal Clarissa's disdain for people who enjoy the park while ignoring world issues
D) To emphasize how Clarissa finds inspiration from the natural beauty of the park