Which term designates the intended readers or listeners of a text?

• A. Perspective
• B. Context
• C. Inference
• D. Audience

Answer: (D)

Audience is the term for the people the author intends to reach with a text—the readers or listeners the writer has in mind. Knowing who the audience is helps shape tone, vocabulary, and how much explanation or detail to include. For example, a piece written for general readers uses clear language and approachable examples, while a technical report assumes specialized knowledge and uses field-specific terms. Perspective refers to whose viewpoint the piece takes, not who it’s for. Context is about the surrounding circumstances or situation of the text. Inference is about what a reader concludes from clues in the text.