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Class 8 English — Reading: why the writer wrote it

Work out why a piece was written and who it was written for, and say what a particular sentence in it is doing.

Name: ________________________

  1. 1.Sort each sentence from the lake piece by what kind of sentence it is. "The lake behind the school has shrunk to half its size in ten years. Every plastic bag thrown into it stays there for a century. On Sunday morning, twenty of us will meet at the east gate with gloves and sacks. Bring a friend. The lake cannot clean itself."

    Groups: A statement · An instruction to the reader

    • Every plastic bag thrown into it stays there for a century.
    • On Sunday morning, twenty of us will meet at the east gate with gloves and sacks.
    • Bring a friend.
    • The lake behind the school has shrunk to half its size in ten years.

  2. 2.Sort each piece of writing by why it was written.

    Groups: To tell you how to do something · To make you agree or act · To explain how something works

    • An article on how a monsoon forms
    • The steps for mending a bicycle chain
    • A poster urging people to save water
    • A recipe for lemon rice
    • A page explaining why the sky looks blue
    • A leaflet asking you to give blood

  3. 3.In the lake piece — "The lake behind the school has shrunk to half its size in ten years. Every plastic bag thrown into it stays there for a century. On Sunday morning, twenty of us will meet at the east gate with gloves and sacks. Bring a friend. The lake cannot clean itself." — which sentence tells the reader to do something, rather than telling them something?

    • a) The lake cannot clean itself.
    • b) The lake behind the school has shrunk to half its size in ten years.
    • c) Bring a friend.
    • d) Every plastic bag thrown into it stays there for a century.

  4. 4.The lake piece ends: "The lake cannot clean itself." What is that last sentence doing?

    • a) Naming the people who will be there.
    • b) Telling the reader what time to arrive.
    • c) Reminding the reader why their help is needed.
    • d) Describing the colour of the water.

  5. 5.The coriander piece tells you to press the seeds down with your palm. Why is that there?

    • a) To describe the writer's own hands.
    • b) To persuade the reader that coriander tastes good.
    • c) To explain why seeds are small.
    • d) To tell the reader exactly what to do at that step.

  6. 6.Read this. "To grow coriander on a windowsill, fill a shallow tray with loose soil. Scatter the seeds thinly and press them down with your palm. Water the tray until the soil is damp but not wet. Keep the tray where the morning sun reaches it, and cut the leaves when they are the length of your thumb." Why was this written?

    • a) To describe a garden the writer once saw.
    • b) To warn the reader about damp soil.
    • c) To argue that coriander is the best herb to grow.
    • d) To tell the reader how to grow coriander.

  7. 7.Match each opening line to the kind of writing it begins.

    • Dear Sir, I am writing to complain about the state of the road outside our school.
    • Take two cups of rice and wash them well.
    • It was the coldest morning of the year, and the gate was frozen shut.
    • All students are informed that the library will be closed on Friday.
    • Nine out of ten dentists say so. Try it today.
    • A recipe
    • A letter of complaint
    • A story
    • A notice
    • An advertisement

  8. 8.Read this. "The lake behind the school has shrunk to half its size in ten years. Every plastic bag thrown into it stays there for a century. On Sunday morning, twenty of us will meet at the east gate with gloves and sacks. Bring a friend. The lake cannot clean itself." Why did the writer write this?

    • a) To argue that the school should be moved elsewhere.
    • b) To explain how lakes are formed.
    • c) To persuade readers to come and help clean the lake.
    • d) To describe a lake the writer visited long ago.

Answer key — Class 8 English — Reading: why the writer wrote it

  1. 1. The lake behind the school has shrunk to half its size in ten years. → A statement; Every plastic bag thrown into it stays there for a century. → A statement; On Sunday morning, twenty of us will meet at the east gate with gloves and sacks. → A statement; Bring a friend. → An instruction to the reader
  2. 2. A leaflet asking you to give blood → To make you agree or act; The steps for mending a bicycle chain → To tell you how to do something; An article on how a monsoon forms → To explain how something works; A recipe for lemon rice → To tell you how to do something; A poster urging people to save water → To make you agree or act; A page explaining why the sky looks blue → To explain how something works
  3. 3. c) Bring a friend.
  4. 4. c) Reminding the reader why their help is needed.
  5. 5. d) To tell the reader exactly what to do at that step.
  6. 6. d) To tell the reader how to grow coriander.
  7. 7. Dear Sir, I am writing to complain about the state of the road outside our school. → A letter of complaint; Take two cups of rice and wash them well. → A recipe; It was the coldest morning of the year, and the gate was frozen shut. → A story; All students are informed that the library will be closed on Friday. → A notice; Nine out of ten dentists say so. Try it today. → An advertisement
  8. 8. c) To persuade readers to come and help clean the lake.