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A Letter to the Council

4th grade reading

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A Letter to the Council

Dear Councillors, I am writing to ask you not to close Elm Street Library. I am nine years old, and the library is one of the most important places in our town. First, the library helps children learn. Every Saturday, there is a story club where younger children listen to stories and older children like me read aloud. Many families cannot afford to buy lots of books, but at the library everyone can borrow them for free. Second, the library is not just for children. My neighbour, Mr Haddad, goes there every week to use the computers because he does not have one at home. He uses them to apply for jobs and to talk to his grandchildren in another country. Some people say that everything is online now, so we do not need libraries. However, not everyone has the internet at home, and a website cannot give you a quiet, warm place to study or a librarian who helps you find exactly the right book. Please keep our library open. It belongs to all of us. Yours faithfully, Priya Shah

  1. Question 1

    Read "A Letter to the Council". What is Priya's main purpose in writing this letter?

    • A. to persuade the council to keep the library open
    • B. to explain how to use computers
    • C. to describe her favourite book
    • D. to complain about Mr Haddad

  2. Question 2

    Read "A Letter to the Council". What happens at the library every Saturday?

    • A. a story club
    • B. a computer class
    • C. a book sale
    • D. a council meeting

  3. Question 3

    Read "A Letter to the Council". Why does Priya mention Mr Haddad?

    • A. to show he is her grandfather
    • B. to explain how to apply for jobs
    • C. to complain that he uses the computers too much
    • D. to show the library helps adults too

  4. Question 4

    Read "A Letter to the Council". In paragraph 5, what does Priya do?

    • A. She agrees that libraries are not needed.
    • B. She answers an argument against libraries.
    • C. She tells a funny story.
    • D. She lists the opening times.

  5. Question 5

    Read "A Letter to the Council". How does Priya organise her reasons?

    • A. with the words First and Second
    • B. as a poem
    • C. in alphabetical order
    • D. as a list of questions

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Answer key: A Letter to the Council

  1. 1. A. to persuade the council to keep the library open

    • The writer's choices show their purpose.
    • She asks them 'not to close Elm Street Library' and ends 'Please keep our library open.'
    • So the answer is: to persuade the council to keep the library open

  2. 2. A. a story club

    • The answer is stated directly in the text.
    • Paragraph 3 describes the Saturday story club.
    • So the answer is: a story club

  3. 3. D. to show the library helps adults too

    • Arguments have a claim supported by reasons and evidence.
    • Her second reason is that 'the library is not just for children'.
    • So the answer is: to show the library helps adults too

  4. 4. B. She answers an argument against libraries.

    • Arguments have a claim supported by reasons and evidence.
    • She gives the view 'everything is online now', then says 'However…' and argues back.
    • So the answer is: She answers an argument against libraries.

  5. 5. A. with the words First and Second

    • Text structure is how a writer organises ideas.
    • Paragraphs 3 and 4 begin 'First' and 'Second'.
    • So the answer is: with the words First and Second