Final answer:
An author may include audio in an informational text to convey tone, include meaningful sounds, cater to non-English readers, and allow content to be replayed for better understanding.
Step-by-step explanation:
An author might choose to include audio in an informational text for several reasons. First, audio can provide a speaker's tone, which helps convey emotions and nuances that may not be as obvious in written text. Second, audio can include important non-language sounds that provide context or emphasize certain points. Moreover, audio can be more accessible to audiences who may have difficulties with reading English or prefer auditory learning. Finally, it allows the content to be replayed, offering listeners the chance to revisit any part of the text they did not understand fully. Including audio is one aspect of creating a multimodal text, which combines different modes of communication, such as visual and auditory elements, to enhance the reader's or listener's understanding of the content.