Author’s Purpose and Viewpoint in The Dark Game, Part 3 – Flashcards

Which statements about the controlling idea of a text are true? Check all that apply.

Read the excerpt from The Dark Game: True Spy Stories from Invisible Ink to CIA Moles. Armed with invisible ink, a cipher system, and a passion to end the war and preserve the Union, Elizabeth Van Lew became Butler's eyes and ears in the Confederate capital city. Truth be told, however, she became much more than that. She became a spymaster, the person responsible for running a network of agents, couriers, and safe houses that was very active during the war. Which word best describes the tone of the passage?

Read the paragraph about social media. Social media outlets are often criticized as forums for unimportant postings and uniformed rants. Though much of what is posted is conversational drivel, social media outlets also serve as springboards for entrepreneurs. Creative people can advertise their designs or products at a low cost to a wider market than entrepreneurs could have imagined in previous generations. The Internet is the ultimate free marketplace, allowing motivated individuals to share their wares with the world. What is the controlling idea?

Read the excerpt from The Dark Game: True Spy Stories from Invisible Ink to CIA Moles. As Montgomery and de Grey slowly made their way through the message, they noticed more and more oddities. For example, 97556 appeared near the end of the message; the 90000 family indicated important names that were not used very often in messages. We can imagine their shock when they realized that 97556 stood for Zimmermann. That single name fired the men with excitement as they began working on the message from the beginning. In time, some of the coded "words" began to give up their secrets. They found most secret and For Your Excellency's personal information. The men pushed on, discovering Mexico and Japan in the text. What could that mean? And what was Germany's interest in Mexico? How did Japan figure into the plan? The men could not think of a reason for the connection among Germany, Japan, and Mexico. Quickly thumbing the pages of the codebook, the men worked on at a fever pitch. Which word best describes the tone of the passage?

Read the excerpt from The Dark Game: True Spy Stories from Invisible Ink to CIA Moles. [T]he Germans committed some blunders in the way they sent their secret radio messages, giving the British help in their task. The first mistake of German intelligence was the error of arrogance, believing that the British were not up to the challenge of deciphering their messages. Another mistake they made was sending duplicates and even triplicates of some of their messages, with each one using a different cipher key. Which word best describes the tone of the passage?

Read the paragraph about carbohydrates. It seems as if every modern diet plan includes an elimination of carbohydrates from one's diet. "Carbs" are being shunned as everyone seeks out "low-carb" foods and diets. But not every carbohydrate is a cookie; not every "carb" should be rejected. Consider a healthy bowl of pasta and vegetables before a swim or a run. Pasta can provide athletes with energy and a feeling of fullness and satisfaction that might not come from vegetables alone. What is the controlling idea?

Which sentence has an optimistic tone?

Which article is most likely written to persuade readers?

Which texts are written to inform readers? Check all that apply.

Read the paragraph about community service. Across the nation, high school students are loading their schedules with rigorous academic courses. Countless hours are being spent conjugating verbs, measuring angles, and memorizing historical facts in attempt to develop their young minds. But what about character? Kids need to look up from their textbooks and consider their communities. Kids who are in service to their neighbors and communities will emerge from high school better prepared than their academic peers. They will not only be prepared for classrooms, but for the life around it. What is the controlling idea?

Which article is most likely written to entertain readers?

Read the excerpt about Elizabeth Van Lew from The Dark Game: True Spy Stories from Invisible Ink to CIA Moles. No one in Libby Prison hospital paid much attention to this tiny, birdlike woman with a thin nose and alert blue eyes as she went about her business of visiting the hospitalized soldiers. She read to them and brought them baskets of goodies. The Confederate guards had no idea that this kindhearted woman was gathering military intelligence from the prisoners and laying the groundwork for espionage activities. Which statement best describes the author's viewpoint about Elizabeth Van Lew?

Read the passage. The county's "Technology 2020" initiative proposes that the school district provide laptops for every student in grades 9-12. This would cost millions of dollars in planning, implementation, and maintenance. Taxpayers may wonder whether this expensive proposal is a practical solution. It is better than practical, and it is an innovative approach with the potential to enhance students' educational experience. Which phrase best reveals the author's viewpoint?

What sentence has a critical tone?

Read the excerpt from The Dark Game: True Spy Stories from Invisible Ink to CIA Moles. Tension between the two sides escalated until June 1948, when the Soviets blocked all western access to the capital. In this first real crisis of the Cold War, the West was not going to be denied by the Soviets. If the underlined word were replaced with the word "event," the tone of the excerpt would be