ISEE Middle Level Verbal Reasoning

ISEE Middle Level Verbal Reasoning focuses on developing critical reading and verbal skills necessary for success in the ISEE exam.

SynonymsSentence CompletionUsing Context Clues
AnalogiesWord Roots, Prefixes, and SuffixesUnderstanding Tone and Purpose
Building a Strong VocabularyComprehension in Everyday LifeApplying Synonyms and Context in Communication
Process of EliminationManaging Your Time
SynonymsSentence CompletionUsing Context CluesAnalogiesWord Roots, Prefixes...Understanding Tone a...Building a Strong Vo...Comprehension in Eve...Applying Synonyms an...Process of Eliminati...Managing Your Time
Advanced Topics

Understanding Tone and Purpose

Discovering Tone and Purpose in Reading

Every writer has a reason (purpose) for writing and a feeling (tone) they want to express. Understanding these helps you get the full meaning from a passage.

Tone

The tone is the author’s attitude toward the topic. It might be serious, playful, excited, or sad.

Purpose

The purpose is why the author wrote the text. Common reasons include to inform, to persuade, to entertain, or to explain.

Spotting Tone and Purpose

  • Look for emotion words or style (formal, funny, angry).
  • Ask why the passage was written—what does the author want you to do or feel?

Use in Everyday Life

Noticing tone and purpose helps you read between the lines—so you truly understand what’s being said!

Examples

  • A passage describing a puppy in a loving, playful way has a joyful tone.

  • An article explaining the water cycle has an informative purpose.

In a Nutshell

Tone shows how an author feels, and purpose explains why they wrote something.

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Building a Strong Vocabulary