Which term helps identify the author's purpose through hints like tone and word choice?

• A. Audience
• B. Textual Clues
• C. To Describe
• D. Genre

Answer: (B)

The main idea being tested is how you identify an author's purpose by looking at textual clues hidden in the writing. Textual clues are the hints the author gives through language—tone, word choice, imagery, sentence length, and punctuation—that reveal why the piece was written and what effect the writer wants on the reader. When you notice a formal, precise tone and specific facts, the clues point toward informing the reader. If the language is emotional, forceful, or aimed at convincing, the clues indicate the purpose is to persuade. If the writing uses humor, storytelling, or vivid scenes, the clues suggest the goal is to entertain.

Tone and word choice are especially telling. The choice of positive or negative terms, strong adjectives, or loaded phrases signals the writer’s stance and aim. By gathering these clues, you can infer whether the author intends to inform, persuade, entertain, or express a viewpoint.

Audience refers to who the text is written for, which helps shape the clues but doesn’t itself identify the purpose through the language. Genre is the category of the text, which influences style and structure but isn’t the clue that reveals purpose from tone and diction. To describe is a verb describing action, not a term that identifies purpose.