What is Alejandro's main purpose for writing the letter?

Analyze and Evaluate Information and Ideas · TELPAS Grades 6–7 reading. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.

Reporting category 3: make inferences, draw conclusions, and think about why the author wrote a text and how it is built.

Read the letter. Then answer the questions.

Letter to the Editor: Keep the Rosewood Pool Open

To the Editor:

I am a seventh grader at Garza Middle School, and I am writing about the city's plan to close the Rosewood public pool at the end of July instead of in late August. The city says this will save money because fewer people swim once school starts.

I understand that the city has to save money. However, August is one of the hottest months of the year in our town. Last August, the temperature was over 100 degrees on many days. Many families in our neighborhood do not have a pool or even a strong air conditioner. For them, the Rosewood pool is the safest and cheapest way to cool off.

The pool also gives teenagers summer jobs. My older cousin worked there as a lifeguard last year and saved money for her first car. If the pool closes early, the lifeguards will lose almost a month of pay.

Instead of closing the pool, the city could keep it open only on weekends in August, when more families have time to swim. This would cost less than staying open every day, but it would still help the people who need the pool most.

Sincerely,

Alejandro Torres

The question

Choose the best answer.

What is Alejandro's main purpose for writing the letter?

To thank the city for finding ways to save money
To explain how the city's lifeguards are trained each summer
To persuade the city to keep the pool open longerCorrect answer
To describe a fun day at the Rosewood pool

Why “To persuade the city to keep the pool open longer” is correct

This tests author's purpose. The letter states a position (the pool should not close in July), gives reasons (heat, families without pools, summer jobs), and offers a solution. That pattern is the structure of persuasive writing.

Why the other answers are wrong

To thank the city for finding ways to save money — He disagrees with the city's plan, even though he understands the reason for it.
To explain how the city's lifeguards are trained each summer — Lifeguards come up only as one reason the pool matters; training is never described.
To describe a fun day at the Rosewood pool — The letter gives reasons and a suggestion; it does not tell about a day at the pool.

Practice more of this

More reading practice for Grades 6–7, or see the TELPAS practice test for 6th and 7th grade.

This is an independent study resource. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the Texas Education Agency or the official TELPAS program. All questions here are original practice material written to match the published test design.