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Question

Difficulty: EasyAnalyzing Author Purpose, Perspective, and Tone

In an editorial column discussing urban ecological renewal, the author writes:

"Transforming concrete plazas into shaded green corridors is not merely an aesthetic choice; it is an urgent public health imperative for our warming cities. By reintroducing native flowering trees to San José, neighborhood associations have created vital migratory pathways for birds while lowering local street temperatures by up to three degrees Celsius. City councils must now move beyond symbolic praise and allocate dedicated municipal funding to support these resident-led conservation efforts."

Which of the following best describes the author's primary purpose in this passage?

  1. A
    To explain the specific biological mechanisms that reduce city temperatures by three degrees
  2. B
    To argue that city residents should take over all public transportation planning
  3. To advocate for formal municipal funding of community-driven urban greening initiativesAnswer
  4. D
    To objectively report on historical changes in Costa Rican weather patterns without expressing a stance

Answer

To advocate for formal municipal funding of community-driven urban greening initiatives
The author uses emphatic language to describe green corridors as a public health imperative and explicitly urges municipal councils to provide funding for resident-led conservation projects. Thus, the primary purpose is persuasive advocacy for institutional financial support.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the genre and rhetorical features of the text
The text is an editorial containing prescriptive phrases such as 'urgent public health imperative' and 'city councils must now move beyond symbolic praise.'
Recognizing persuasive markers helps determine whether the text aims to inform, entertain, or persuade.
2
Locate the author's primary thesis and call to action
The concluding sentence calls directly on city councils to allocate municipal funding for grassroots greening projects.
In journalistic opinion pieces, the primary purpose is usually crystallized in the author's central recommendation or call to action.
3
Distinguish the overarching purpose from supporting details
The data regarding temperature reduction and bird pathways serve as supporting evidence rather than the central objective.
Eliminating supporting details ensures selection of the primary communicative intent.

Key Concept

Analyzing Author Purpose and Call to Action in Journalistic Opinion Pieces
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Analyzing Author Purpose, Perspective, and Tone

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