- LPU MCA Semester 1
- PEL546
- Unit 6
PEL546 · Unit 6: Vocabulary and reading comprehension
Reading comprehension: author purpose, tone and read and recall
10 practice questions · in the ETE syllabus
Key points
- Purposes: inform, persuade, entertain, describe
- Tone is shown by word choice
- Sarcasm uses positive words with the opposite meaning
- Recall details by checking the text
Author's purpose is the reason the passage was written. The main purposes are to inform (explain facts), to persuade (convince the reader to think or act), to entertain (amuse or tell a story) and to describe (create a picture with sensory details). Tone is the writer's attitude, shown by word choice.
| Tone | Typical clue |
|---|---|
| Objective or neutral | Facts and data, no opinion words |
| Critical | Blaming or negative words (ignored, careless) |
| Joyful | Words of celebration (cheered, finally finished) |
| Sarcastic | Positive words meaning the opposite (Oh, wonderful, another meeting) |
| Regretful | Admitting a mistake and wishing it were different |
| Cautiously optimistic | Risks mentioned but success expected |
Read and recall means reading carefully and then remembering details such as names, times, order of events and reasons. Re-read to check details, for example comparing times, before choosing an answer.
Exam trap: a sarcastic sentence uses positive words but means the opposite, so decide the tone from the meaning, not from single words.
Try two questions
Read: The bus left at 8:15. Priya had reached the stop at 8:10 and waited for her friend Anil, who arrived at 8:30 and said sorry. Which is a correct recall of the passage?
- Priya arrived after the bus had left.
- The bus left at 8:30.
- Anil arrived after the bus had left.
- Anil arrived before Priya.
Show the answer
C. Read and recall means remembering the details given in the passage.
Why not A: Priya arrived at 8:10, before the bus left.
Why not B: The bus left at 8:15.
Why not D: Anil arrived at 8:30, after Priya.
Read: The report states that the average temperature rose by 1.1 degrees over the period and lists the data by year. What is the tone?
- Sarcastic
- Emotional
- Humorous
- Objective and neutral
Show the answer
D. A plain statement of data without opinion shows an objective tone.
Why not A: There is no sarcasm in the plain reporting of data.
Why not B: There are no emotional words.
Why not C: There is no humour.