Success Homeschool

Year 8 English · Purpose and audience in media texts

Name: ______________________

Date: ____________

1. What is the main purpose of a news report?
- ☐ (a) To entertain
- ☐ (b) To inform
- ☐ (c) To instruct
- ☐ (d) To sell a product
2. A toy ad uses cartoon animals, bright primary colours and a catchy jingle. Who is the main target audience?
- ☐ (a) Retired people
- ☐ (b) Business owners
- ☐ (c) Young children
- ☐ (d) University students
3. A news lead answers the 5 Ws: who, what, when, where and ___? (one word)
4. What is the main purpose of an advertisement?
- ☐ (a) To persuade
- ☐ (b) To inform only
- ☐ (c) To instruct
- ☐ (d) To tell a true story
5. Which headline is most likely to be clickbait?
- ☐ (a) Council Approves New Bike Path
- ☐ (b) Heatwave Expected to Last Until Friday
- ☐ (c) Doctors HATE This One Weird Trick!
- ☐ (d) Library Extends Weekend Hours
6. Complete the term for the specific group a media text is designed for: target ______ (one word)
7. Why is the most important information in a news report usually placed in the first paragraph?
- ☐ (a) Because readers may stop reading early, so the key facts come first
- ☐ (b) Because it is the shortest paragraph
- ☐ (c) Because the ending must be a surprise
- ☐ (d) Because the headline is not important
8. A website for a retirement village uses large fonts, calm colours and photos of older adults gardening. What does this suggest about its audience?
- ☐ (a) It targets teenagers.
- ☐ (b) It targets older adults and their families.
- ☐ (c) It targets toddlers.
- ☐ (d) It has no target audience.

Answer sheet

1. To inform — News reports mainly give readers information about events.
2. Young children — Cartoons, bright colours and jingles are designed to appeal to young children.
3. why — The 5 Ws are who, what, when, where and why.
4. To persuade — Ads aim to persuade the audience to buy, use or support something.
5. Doctors HATE This One Weird Trick! — It uses capitals and vague, exaggerated wording to create curiosity without giving real information.
6. audience — The target audience is the group the text is aimed at.
7. Because readers may stop reading early, so the key facts come first — This 'inverted pyramid' structure means even a quick reader gets the key facts.
8. It targets older adults and their families. — The images, readable fonts and calm design are chosen to appeal to older people and their families.