Declaration of Independence / Thomas Jefferson

Test Practice

Identify Author’s Purpose

With your partner, discuss how to answer these questions about the purpose of the selection.

1. What is the purpose of the Declaration of Independence?
a. to identify the rights of all people
b. to complain about wrongs done to the colonies
c. to dissolve the bonds between the colonies and Great Britain
d. to persuade the king to free the colonies


What is the correct answer to the question above? How did the information you gathered while reading help you eliminate the incorrect answers?

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