Article
When reading a passage, understanding the topic is only part of the task. Readers also need to recognize why the author wrote the passage and the attitude the author expresses toward the subject. These skills are useful when preparing for the HiSET Reading test because questions may ask you to interpret language, identify an author's intention, or explain how a passage communicates its message.
1. What is an author's purpose?
An author's purpose is the reason for writing. Many passages aim to inform, persuade, explain, entertain, or describe, although a single passage can serve more than one purpose. For example, a passage that explains how recycling works is likely intended to inform or explain. An editorial arguing that a city should improve its recycling program is more likely intended to persuade. Ask yourself: What does the author want the reader to learn, believe, feel, or do? The answer should come from the passage rather than your assumptions about the subject.
2. Understand an author's tone
Tone refers to the attitude conveyed through the author's language. A passage may sound optimistic, skeptical, concerned, humorous, critical, or formal. Tone is often communicated through word choice, sentence structure, and the way the author describes people or events. For example: The new library offers a welcoming space where students can explore ideas and learn at their own pace. This sentence conveys a positive attitude toward the library. Compare it with: Despite its impressive appearance, the library provides few useful resources for students. The second sentence conveys a more critical attitude. Notice how the descriptive words influence the tone.
3. Look for clues in word choice
Words can reveal whether an author supports, questions, criticizes, or praises a subject. Consider the difference between describing a decision as careful and describing it as reckless. Both words refer to a decision, but they communicate different judgments. When analyzing tone, pay attention to adjectives, verbs, comparisons, and expressions of certainty or doubt. However, do not choose a tone merely because one word appears in the passage. Consider the surrounding sentences and the overall message.
4. Distinguish tone from purpose
Tone and purpose are related, but they answer different questions. - Purpose: Why did the author write the passage? - Tone: What attitude does the author express? An author may write to persuade readers to protect a local park while using an urgent and concerned tone. Another author may explain the same park's history using a neutral, informative tone. The subject is similar, but the purpose and tone differ.
5. Recognize changes in tone
Some passages begin with one attitude and gradually shift to another. An author might initially describe a promising project, then explain problems that reduced its effectiveness. The tone may shift from hopeful to disappointed. Pay attention to transition words such as however, although, unfortunately, and despite. They can signal a change in the author's argument or attitude. Do not assume every transition signals a tone change. Use it as a clue and confirm your interpretation with the surrounding text.
6. Use evidence to support your answer
Suppose a passage says: The community garden began with ambitious plans, but repeated delays and neglected plots have left residents questioning whether the project can succeed. A reasonable interpretation is that the author has a disappointed or skeptical tone. The phrases about repeated delays and neglected plots support this interpretation. If a question asks about the author's purpose, you would need to consider the entire passage. This sentence alone may not establish whether the author intends to inform, persuade, or criticize. The strongest answer is the one supported by the text.
7. Avoid common reading mistakes
One mistake is confusing the reader's feelings with the author's tone. You may find a passage inspiring even if the author uses a neutral tone. Another mistake is selecting an extreme answer. If the author expresses mild concern, an option describing intense anger may be too strong. Read the answer choices carefully and compare each one with the language actually used.
Improve your HiSET reading skills
Practice with short editorials, informational articles, and descriptive passages. After each reading, write down the author's purpose, the tone, and two phrases that support your interpretation. Then review your answers and ask whether your evidence supports both the conclusion and the strength of the tone you selected.
