Reading Comprehension: Primary Purpose Questions: SAT, PSAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, TOEFL

Remember that primary purpose questions in SAT reading passages require you to identify the reason that the author wrote the passage. The key idea here is "WHY". Why would anyone ever write about Greek shopkeepers, roman numerals, or naked mole rats? (Yes, these are topics of reading passages from actual SAT tests.)

In SAT land, there are three main purposes:

1) to explain
2) to argue for
3) to argue against

WHAT DO PRIMARY PURPOSE QUESTIONS LOOK LIKE?SAT, PSAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, TOEFL
The primary purpose of the passage is to
The major purpose of the passage is to
The passage serves mainly to

Tip 1
Be prepared for strange vocabulary to describe simple purposes.

To Explain: account for, clarify, delineate, demystify, elucidate, explicate, portray
To Argue For: advocate, assert, confirm, corroborate, defend, endorse, justify
To Argue Against: contradict, counter, debunk, denounce, dispel, rebuff, rebut, refute

TIP 2
Primary purposes and author attitudes are connected with each other.

1) If the primary purpose is to explain, then the tone is neutral. Common attitudes in correct answer choices are pragmatic, detached, objective, and scholarly.
2) If the primary purpose is to argue for, then the tone is positive. Common attitudes in correct answer choices are appreciative, nostalgic, and sympathetic.
3) If the primary purpose is to argue against, then the tone is negative. Common attitudes in correct answer choices are questioning, resigned, and frustrated.

Primary Purpose Questions

Lesson Includes:

—Overview of Primary Purpose Question

—What do Primary Purpose Questions Look Like?

—Tips for Primary Purpose Questions

SAT Math

SAT Writing

SAT Reading

SAT Vocabulary