Try It

Now let’s focus on the second section, “Thousands Of Species Threatened.” Reread this section of Humans bringing Earth its 6th mass extinction, but can stop it Opens a new window, and analyze the author’s purpose in the activity below. As you read, take note of the text structure, word choice and the relationship between key ideas that support or reveal the author’s purpose. Use what you have learned so far about the author’s purpose to guide you as you discover more about why the author wrote this article.

giant tortoise named Lonesome George

“Lonesome George” was the last of his species, pictured here at the Charles Darwin Research Station in the Galapagos Islands in 2006.
Image credit: "Lonesome George in profile" by Mike Weston Opens a new window. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons Opens a new window.

Now that you have had more practice analyzing the author’s purpose, go to the following page to review the skills and explore the article further.