English Language: Elementary School: Grades 3, 4 and 5 Quiz - Grade 5 Reading Foundation - Purpose and Understanding (Questions)

This English Language quiz is called 'Purpose and Understanding' and it has been written by teachers to help you if you are studying the subject at elementary school. Playing educational quizzes is an enjoyable way to learn if you are in the 3rd, 4th or 5th grade - aged 8 to 11.

It costs only $12.50 per month to play this quiz and over 3,500 others that help you with your school work. You can subscribe on the page at Join Us

When reading a text, students should be reading for purpose and understanding. Comprehending the information read is important. However, students should also read with a purpose in mind. Why did the author write this text? In this quiz, students will read a text and answer questions about purpose and understanding.

Story - Pinkerton Agency

A gunslinger in the Wild West is hiding out in an old barn on the outskirts of town. He is wanted by the local police from a town miles away. He is running away from the local law. However, a Pinkerton detective is fast on his heels. He knows through using his early criminal database that he can find the wanted man.

Working with the local sheriff, Pinkerton detectives traveled across the country during the 1800s to find criminals who were escaping the law. Many of these criminals had committed crimes including murder, stagecoach robberies, train robberies and kidnapping.

The Pinkerton Agency was the first detective agency in the United States. With very few laws that were also difficult to enforce, Pinkerton detectives scoured the area to find criminals. They had to be brave because they encountered criminals who were willing to kill them in order to get away. The detectives enlisted the help of the local community. They would post wanted posters in high traffic areas of towns. Rewards were commonly given to townspeople who helped the detectives locate criminals.

1.

Read the story - Pinkerton Agency.
What is the purpose of the entire story?

[ ]	To entertain the reader with a story about a gunslinger
[ ]	To inform the reader about the Pinkerton Agency
[ ]	To explain to the reader certain detective terms
[ ]	To persuade the reader to become a detective

2.

Read the story - Pinkerton Agency.
What is the purpose of the first paragraph?

[ ]	To persuade the reader to become a gunslinger
[ ]	To inform the reader about gunslingers
[ ]	To entertain the reader with a story about a gunslinger
[ ]	To explain what a gunslinger is

3.

Read the story - Pinkerton Agency.
Why would the author include the first paragraph?

[ ]	To present facts
[ ]	To provide a conclusion
[ ]	To support a point the author is trying to make
[ ]	To get the attention of the reader

4.

Read the story - Pinkerton Agency.
Why would Pinkerton detectives work with the local law enforcement?

[ ]	Because the local police were more knowledgeable and had more experience than the detectives
[ ]	Because Pinkerton detectives believed that the local police were involved in the crime
[ ]	Because Pinkerton detectives wanted to discuss the case with other people
[ ]	Because the local police would know the area and its citizens

5.

Read the story - Pinkerton Agency.
What is significant about the Pinkerton Agency?

[ ]	They chased gunslingers
[ ]	They posted wanted posters
[ ]	They were the first detective agency
[ ]	They were considered to be very smart detectives

6.

Read the story - Pinkerton Agency.
How was the Pinkerton Agency technologically smart?

[ ]	They used wanted posters
[ ]	They had night vision
[ ]	They had phones
[ ]	They used a database

7.

Read the story - Pinkerton Agency.
What type of crimes did the Pinkerton detectives usually pursue?

[ ]	Violent crimes
[ ]	Minor crimes
[ ]	Technological crimes
[ ]	Local crimes

8.

Read the story - Pinkerton Agency.
Based on the type of crimes, what was the motive or reason for most criminals committing their crimes?

[ ]	Because they were angry
[ ]	To get money
[ ]	To see if they could steal something
[ ]	To become famous

9.

Read the story - Pinkerton Agency.
What risks did the Pinkerton detectives face?

[ ]	Difficulty finding jobs in the detective agency
[ ]	Low pay
[ ]	Getting killed by criminals
[ ]	Not having enough work

10.

Read the story - Pinkerton Agency.
Why were wanted posters posted?

[ ]	To show that the detectives were doing their job
[ ]	So citizens could see a picture of a criminal to determine if they had seen them in the area
[ ]	To learn to stay away from these criminals
[ ]	To see what crimes had been committed recently

English Language: Elementary School: Grades 3, 4 and 5 Quiz - Grade 5 Reading Foundation - Purpose and Understanding (Answers)

1.

Read the story - Pinkerton Agency.
What is the purpose of the entire story?

[ ]	To entertain the reader with a story about a gunslinger
[x]	To inform the reader about the Pinkerton Agency
[ ]	To explain to the reader certain detective terms
[ ]	To persuade the reader to become a detective

This article informs the reader with many facts

2.

Read the story - Pinkerton Agency.
What is the purpose of the first paragraph?

[ ]	To persuade the reader to become a gunslinger
[ ]	To inform the reader about gunslingers
[x]	To entertain the reader with a story about a gunslinger
[ ]	To explain what a gunslinger is

This short story would entertain the reader

3.

Read the story - Pinkerton Agency.
Why would the author include the first paragraph?

[ ]	To present facts
[ ]	To provide a conclusion
[ ]	To support a point the author is trying to make
[x]	To get the attention of the reader

This short story would draw in the reader

4.

Read the story - Pinkerton Agency.
Why would Pinkerton detectives work with the local law enforcement?

[ ]	Because the local police were more knowledgeable and had more experience than the detectives
[ ]	Because Pinkerton detectives believed that the local police were involved in the crime
[ ]	Because Pinkerton detectives wanted to discuss the case with other people
[x]	Because the local police would know the area and its citizens

Local police would provide help to the detectives since they would know where criminals might be hiding

5.

Read the story - Pinkerton Agency.
What is significant about the Pinkerton Agency?

[ ]	They chased gunslingers
[ ]	They posted wanted posters
[x]	They were the first detective agency
[ ]	They were considered to be very smart detectives

Even though all of these facts are true, this detective agency is important because it was the first one created

6.

Read the story - Pinkerton Agency.
How was the Pinkerton Agency technologically smart?

[ ]	They used wanted posters
[ ]	They had night vision
[ ]	They had phones
[x]	They used a database

The Pinkerton Agency kept information about each criminal in a database

7.

Read the story - Pinkerton Agency.
What type of crimes did the Pinkerton detectives usually pursue?

[x]	Violent crimes
[ ]	Minor crimes
[ ]	Technological crimes
[ ]	Local crimes

Pinkerton detectives were involved in violent crimes like murder and kidnapping

8.

Read the story - Pinkerton Agency.
Based on the type of crimes, what was the motive or reason for most criminals committing their crimes?

[ ]	Because they were angry
[x]	To get money
[ ]	To see if they could steal something
[ ]	To become famous

Robberies and kidnappings were usually committed to get money

9.

Read the story - Pinkerton Agency.
What risks did the Pinkerton detectives face?

[ ]	Difficulty finding jobs in the detective agency
[ ]	Low pay
[x]	Getting killed by criminals
[ ]	Not having enough work

Pinkerton detectives had to risk their lives for the job

10.

Read the story - Pinkerton Agency.
Why were wanted posters posted?

[ ]	To show that the detectives were doing their job
[x]	So citizens could see a picture of a criminal to determine if they had seen them in the area
[ ]	To learn to stay away from these criminals
[ ]	To see what crimes had been committed recently

Even though the detectives did not want citizens to get injured, the main reason for posting the wanted posters around a town was for a citizen to provide the detectives with a tip on the criminal's whereabouts