16Hit1600
Craft and StructureEasy–MediumPurpose of a passage describing a method

Craft and Structure practice question

To find the age of a hedge, count the woody species in a thirty-metre stretch — hawthorn, hazel, holly, and so on. A rough rule holds that each species represents about a century of growth, so a hedge with five species is likely to be around five hundred years old.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

  1. A. To explain a rule of thumb for estimating a hedge's age.Correct
  2. B. To argue that hedges should be protected.
  3. C. To list the plants found in hedges.
  4. D. To describe how hedges are planted.

Answer: A. To explain a rule of thumb for estimating a hedge's age.

A method and the rule behind it.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. To argue that hedges should be protected.
No argument for protection.
C. To list the plants found in hedges.
Plants are named only as examples for counting.
D. To describe how hedges are planted.
Planting is not described.

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