An eighty-year-old man in Miami called his son in New York the day before Thanksgiving and said, "I'm sorry to tell you this, but your mother and I are divorcing. We're sick of each other and both of us want a change for the better." He then hung up. Frantic, the son called his sister in Los Angeles. "I won't let this happen!" his sister said, "Leave this to me. I'll take care of it." She called her dad immediately and screamed at him. "You aren't getting divorced! Don't do a single thing until I get there. I'm calling my brother back, and we'll both be there tomorrow." The old man hung up the phone and, turning to his wife, said, "OK. They'll be here for Thanksgiving. Now, what will we tell them for Christmas?"
What is the author's main purpose in writing this passage?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Authors use narrative prose to tell stories. This passage does just that-it tells an entertaining story about an elderly man and his family.
To inform is incorrect. Authors use nonfiction passages to inform (educate) their readers of something. This passage is fiction. 
To persuade is incorrect. When authors want to persuade readers to adopt a certain stance or point of view, they often use persuasive language such as "you should…" or "you ought to…" This passage contains no persuasive language. 
To describe is incorrect. When an author wants to describe something-a place or a person, for example-he or she will use descriptive language such as adjectives or imagery. This passage does not contain such language.

An Eighty-Year-Old Man in Miami Called His Son in New