Text Structure & Purpose | FAST Format Quiz

"The Last Letter"

Part 1: The Discovery

The letter arrived three months after Emma's grandfather died. That was the first strange thing - it was addressed in his handwriting. The second strange thing was the postmark: December 15, 1943.

Emma's hands trembled as she opened the yellowed envelope. Inside, she found not one letter but two - and a brief note paper-clipped to the top.

"Emma - I found these cleaning out the attic. Thought you should have them. They explain a lot. - Uncle Robert"

Part 2: Letter One - December 1943

Dear Catherine,

By the time you read this, I will have shipped out. I know you're angry that I enlisted without telling you first. You have every right to be. But I need you to understand why.

When I was seven years old, I watched my father walk away from a fight. A man was beating a shopkeeper on Maple Street, and my father - this strong man I admired - just crossed to the other side and kept walking. He told me later that it wasn't our business. That getting involved would only make things worse.

I believed him for a long time. But there's a war now, Catherine. And everything I've read, everything I've heard - there are people over there who need help. I can't cross to the other side of the street this time. I can't.

Wait for me if you can. Forgive me if you can't.

Always yours, William

Part 3: Letter Two - March 1944

Dear William,

I haven't written back until now because I didn't know what to say. I was angry - you were right about that. But reading your letter again and again, I finally understood.

You're not your father. Maybe that's what you needed to prove, or maybe it's what you've always known. Either way, I see it now.

I don't know where this letter will find you or if it will find you at all. But I want you to know: I'll be here. Not because you asked me to wait, but because you're the kind of person worth waiting for - someone who can't cross to the other side when others need help.

Come home to me.

Forever, Catherine

Part 4: Present Day

Emma set down the letters. She understood now why Grandpa had never spoken of the war, why he'd wince when people called him a hero. His courage hadn't come from fearlessness - it had come from shame. A seven-year-old's memory of his father, walking away.

She thought of her own small cowardices: the times she'd looked away, stayed quiet, chosen comfort over conscience. We all have that street to cross, she realized. Every single day.

Emma picked up her phone and dialed. She had a conversation she'd been avoiding for too long.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. This passage uses multiple structural techniques. Which technique is PRIMARILY used in Parts 2 and 3?

A. Flash-forward to show future events B. Frame narrative with historical documents embedded in present-day story C. Compare and contrast between two characters D. Chronological order from 1943 to present day

2. Within William's letter (Part 2), there is a flashback to when he was seven years old. What is the PRIMARY effect of this flashback within the letter?

A. It shows that William had a happy childhood B. It reveals the core experience that shaped William's choice to enlist C. It explains why William's father disliked the military D. It proves that William was always brave

3. The author divides the passage into numbered "Parts" with titles. How do these structural choices help the reader?

A. They make the passage shorter and easier to read B. They clearly signal time shifts and help readers track the non-linear narrative C. They prove that the story is based on real historical events D. They eliminate the need for readers to analyze the text carefully

4. The story begins in the present (Part 1), moves to the past (Parts 2-3), then returns to the present (Part 4). Why might the author CHOOSE this structure rather than telling the story chronologically?

A. To confuse readers about when events happen B. To show how past events illuminate present-day understanding and inspire action C. To prove that Emma is more important than William D. To demonstrate that the war was historically significant

5. Select TWO ways the structure of Part 4 differs from Parts 2 and 3.

(Select TWO answers)

A. Part 4 is in present tense while Parts 2-3 are historical letters B. Part 4 shows Emma's internal thoughts while Parts 2-3 show external communication C. Part 4 is longer than Parts 2-3 D. Part 4 uses first person while Parts 2-3 use third person

6. The phrase "crossing to the other side of the street" appears in William's letter and then again in Emma's thoughts in Part 4. How does this structural repetition function in the text?

A. It shows that Emma and William live on the same street B. It connects the past and present, showing how William's experience becomes relevant to Emma's life C. It proves that William walked across many streets during the war D. It indicates that Emma plans to visit her grandfather's childhood home

7. Catherine's letter (Part 3) responds directly to William's letter (Part 2). What effect does the author create by placing these letters back-to-back?

A. It shows that Catherine wrote her letter immediately after receiving William's B. It creates a dialogue across time, allowing readers to see how one person's words affected another C. It proves that both letters were written in the same year D. It eliminates the need for Emma's perspective in the story

8. The passage ends with Emma picking up her phone. Why does the author END the story at this moment rather than showing the conversation?

A. The author ran out of space and couldn't fit more B. The ending mirrors the letters - we see the decision to act, not the outcome, emphasizing choice over results C. Emma's phone call is unrelated to the rest of the story D. The author wants readers to assume the conversation went badly

Constructed Response Questions

9. Explain how the FRAME NARRATIVE structure (present-day story containing historical letters) allows the author to develop a theme that a simple chronological narrative could not. Use specific details from the passage.

Scoring Note: 2 points - Explains how frame structure allows past to illuminate present AND identifies specific theme developed through this structure with textual support. 1 point - Addresses one element but not both.

10. The author uses multiple layers of time: Emma's present, William and Catherine's past, AND William's childhood memory. Analyze how these THREE time layers work together to create the story's meaning. How does each layer contribute something essential?

Scoring Note: 2 points - Analyzes all three time layers and explains how each contributes to meaning/theme. 1 point - Addresses time layers but analysis is incomplete or misses one layer's contribution.

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Text Structure & Purpose - FAST Format Quiz

Multiple Choice Questions

Constructed Response Questions