Praxis 5002 Language Arts
Stories originating in popular culture, typically passed on by word of mouth. A. Folktale B. Fairytale C. Fable D. Tall Tale
A. Folktale
The initial phonological unit of any word. Example: the C in the word Cat A. Onset B. Syllabication C. Decoding D. Rime
A. Onset
the practice or study of correct spelling according to established usage. can refer to the study of letters and how they are used to express sounds and form words. A. Orthographic B. Syntactic C. Phonological D. Semantic
A. Orthographic
A beginning reader is learning to read and spell the following words. five dime gave cute hope Question:The reader is able to visualize and remember the letter patterns in the words and transfer this knowledge to reading and writing new words such as "hide," "take," and "robe." Which of the following best identifies the processing system the reader is using to extend learning? A. Orthographic B. Syntactic C. Phonological D. Semantic
A. Orthographic This question tests your knowledge of the processing systems a reader uses to extend learning. The reader in this scenario uses the orthographic word processing system because he or she uses visualization (has a visual awareness) of the letter pattern in the words. Although these words can be phonologically decoded, the reader is not using this system, because he or she is not "sounding out" the words letter by letter.
Measurement of data that can be put into numbers. A. Quantitative measures B. Reader and the reading task C. Grade level D. Qualitative measures
A. Quantitative measures
Before reading a new text, a reader identifies the purpose for reading, examines the genre and difficulty of the material, and considers prior knowledge on the topic. These strategies will best help the reader focus on which of the following elements of fluency? A. Rate B. Accuracy C. Prosody D. Automaticity
A. Rate The rate refers to the speed at which a text is read. Purpose, genre, difficulty, and prior knowledge all affect how quickly a text is read.
A teacher is practicing aspects of phonological awareness with her students using the word "sun." Place each example with the aspect of phonological awareness it best exemplifies. sun, sun-shine, sun-ny /s/ s-u-n /un/ 1:PhonemeSegmentation 2:Onset 3:Rime 4:SyllableSegmentation
1:PhonemeSegmentation: s-u-n 2:Onset: /s/ 3: Rime: /un/ 4:SyllableSegmentation: sun, sun-shine, sun-ny
Which of the following concepts is best supported by research on emergent literacy? A. Reading and writing develop concurrently and in interrelated ways. B. Literacy learning has distinct beginning and ending points. C. Children begin their literacy learning when they enter school. D. Children begin their literacy learning after having mastered basic letter-sound skills.
A. Reading and writing develop concurrently and in interrelated ways. This question asks you to recognize research conclusions related to emergent literacy. Emergent literacy is the idea that children grow into reading and writing with no real beginning or ending point, that reading and writing develop concurrently and in interrelated ways, and that this learning process starts long before children enter school and does not depend on mastery of letter-sound skills.
Which word contains a root word that means "both" and "around" A. Ambivalent B. Dysfunction C. Morphological D. Heterogeneous
A. Ambivalent
Alex baits a hook, attaches a heavy sinker, and hangs the fishing line overboard. It drops to the bottom. He waits and feels with his fingers for a tug on the line. He feels a nibble. He pulls. Nothing. He feels another nibble and tugs hard. He has it. The hook is set. Alex holds on and starts pulling it in. Which of the following is the predominant pattern of organization in the passage? A. Chronological order B. Cause and effect C. Spatial order D. Problem and solution
A. Chronological order
Which THREE of the following are characteristics of a fluent reader? A. Decodes unfamiliar words with accuracy B. Determines definitions of unfamiliar words with ease C. Demonstrates developmentally appropriate automaticity D. Reads aloud with proper expression and regard for punctuation E. Paraphrases new information presented in a text without difficulty
A. Decodes unfamiliar words with accuracy C. Demonstrates developmentally appropriate automaticity D. Reads aloud with proper expression and regard for punctuation A fluent reader must be able to apply phonics concepts to non-sight words to accurately decode them. A fluent reader must also be able to read smoothly and at an appropriate rate and be mindful of phrasing and punctuation as he or she injects expression into oral reading.
A literary device that is meant to relay background information about a main character, setting, event or other element of the narrative. A. Exposition B. Rising action C. Climax D. Falling action
A. Exposition
WordStudent's Spelling coat---coet bought---baught right---rite hitch---hich Question:The sample analysis of a student's spelling test shown best demonstrates which of the following characteristics of spelling development? A. The ability to recognize that words are made up of letter patterns representing sounds B. The ability to represent words phonetically, with a single letter representing each sound C. The ability to recognize sound-letter correspondence for single letters only D. The ability to represent words with random letters that have no letter-sound correspondence
A. The ability to recognize that words are made up of letter patterns representing sounds This question requires an analysis of a student's work and a correct interpretation of the student's stage in spelling development. The student has progressed through the random-letter stage, the simple phonetic stage, and the stage in which students rely on single letters to represent combinations of consonants. The student's spelling of "coat" ("coet"), "bought" ("baught"), "right" ("rite"), and "hitch" ("hich") indicates that he or she recognizes that letter patterns represent sounds.
Once upon a time, a beggar woman went to the house of a poor peasant and asked for something to eat. The peasant's wife gave her some bread and milk. When she had eaten it, she took a barley-corn out of her pocket, and said, "This will I give thee; set it in a flowerpot, and see what will come out of it." The woman set the barley-corn in an old flowerpot, and the next day the most beautiful plant had shot up, which looked just like a tulip, but the leaves were shut close together, as if it still were in bud. Which of the following best describes the characteristics of the passage? A. The passage contains simple characterization and quickly moving action. B. The passage emphasizes themes surrounding differences between the rich and the poor. C. The setting in the passage is described using rich and vivid vocabulary. D. The melancholy tone of the passage is developed through the use of repetitive sentence structures.
A. The passage contains simple characterization and quickly moving action. This question asks you to recognize structural and stylistic elements characteristic of a particular genre, the fairy tale. In this selection, the action moves very quickly, and the characters are developed with minimal description. None of the other choices accurately describe what is going on in the passage.
Which of the following statements best describes a student who has acquired proficiency in reading automaticity? A. The student effortlessly processes, decodes, and understands the written words in a text. B. The student reads sustained text with natural expression and appropriate phrasing. C. The student recognizes text structure, apprehends meaning, and understands author's purpose. D. The student adjusts reading rate based on comprehension demands and genre of the text.
A. The student effortlessly processes, decodes, and understands the written words in a text. Automaticity refers to a student's ability to process, decode, and understand written words without effort.
In which THREE of the following ways do graphic novels support reading comprehension? A. They allow the reader to visualize story elements. B. They help the reader differentiate between dialogue and narration. C. They present simplified vocabulary and sentence structure to the reader. D. They assist the reader in identifying tone and mood. E. They task the reader with evaluating a small number of pages and images.
A. They allow the reader to visualize story elements. B. They help the reader differentiate between dialogue and narration. D. They assist the reader in identifying tone and mood.
(1) Scientists have studied many insects. (2) Some of these insects use tools to survive. (3) One animal that uses tools to survive is called the sawfly. (4) This insect is called a sawfly because it has a tool that works like a saw. (5) It is not a real saw, but it looks and works like a real saw. (6) The saw is part of the sawfly's body. (7) The insect uses the saw to cut a small hole in a plant and then it places eggs in the hole. (8) After it creates the hole, the sawfly makes a glue that fastens the eggs in place. (9) No one is sure how the sawfly makes this glue, but scientists who have watched the sawfly have seen it happen. The passage is primarily concerned with A. how the sawfly makes a place for its eggs and secures them in that place B. the tools that various insects use to secure their offspring C. how scientists secure the safety of insects and their eggs D. the special glue that the sawfly produces to secure its eggs in place
A. how the sawfly makes a place for its eggs and secures them in that place
Students' phonological awareness can be assessed by evaluating their ability to A. understand how words in a text are segmented into syllables B. make personal connections to characters within a text C. understand unfamiliar words by using the surrounding text D. read with varied intonation based on story elements
A. understand how words in a text are segmented into syllables The ability to understand how words in a text are segmented into syllables is the definition of phonological awareness.
Which of the following is best classified as persuasive writing? A.A letter to the editor entitled "Our Town Needs More Stop Signs" B.An instruction manual entitled "Operating Your Printer" C.A science report entitled "Understanding the Tundra" D.A character sketch entitled "My Best Friend"
A.A letter to the editor entitled "Our Town Needs More Stop Signs"
Which of the following visual aids is most beneficial for understanding California's growth during the years of the gold rush? A.A line or bar graph showing the population from 1848 to 1858 B.A political cartoon depicting the Workingmen's Party C.A Venn diagram comparing the gold rushes in California and Oregon D.A time line illustrating the major events of the gold rush years
A.A line or bar graph showing the population from 1848 to 1858
In most cases, different terms are used to identify male and female animals of the same species. In a zoo, male and female animals are grouped together in exhibits. Male elephants are called bulls, while female elephants are cows. Chickens are known as roosters if they are male and hens if they are female. Sheep are either rams or ewes, and pigs are boars or sows. Antelope and deer are bucks or does. There are also different names for specific breeds of animals. Which of the following statements best summarizes the central idea of the excerpt? A.Animals of the same species but different sexes are often known by different names. B.Male and female animals of the same species live in the same zoo exhibits. C.Different breeds of the same species have specific names. D.All animals of the same species have different names if they are male.
A.Animals of the same species but different sexes are often known by different names.
In a book, setting is incredibly important. It tells you where the characters are and it's usually an important detail. In my opinion setting is a very important part of a story. Throughout the book Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper, I felt like the setting was a huge part of the book. The main character is Melody, and her moods changed wherever she went. She could go from mad to happy, then happy to sad all in the change of the setting. It's all about the setting that changes the character's mood. In my opinion, when settings change people change too. When revising the excerpt of the draft, it is most important for the student to apply which TWO of the following revision strategies? A.Eliminating repetitious language B.Incorporating a topic sentence C.Rewriting to use only first-person perspective D.Maintaining a consistent focus on the topic E.Using textual evidence to support ideas
A.Eliminating repetitious language E.Using textual evidence to support ideas First, the writer repeats the idea that setting is important in each of the first four sentences. Second, the writer mentions how the setting affects the character's mood but does not refer specifically to the text to support this idea (i.e., which setting made her mad or happy or sad and why this was the case).
A language arts class reads Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and watches a stage production of the story. In which THREE of the following ways does viewing the stage production support students' comprehension of the story? A.It provides a visual context for potentially unfamiliar words and phrases. B.It combines reading a text with reading stage directions. C.It supports the visualization of fantasy elements. D.It reinforces understanding of major plot points. E.It encourages readers to make predictions about the characters.
A.It provides a visual context for potentially unfamiliar words and phrases. C.It supports the visualization of fantasy elements. D.It reinforces understanding of major plot points.
Which of the following best describes automaticity? A.Rapid recognition of words without conscious decoding B.Independent decoding of sentences using phonics and sight reading C.Rapid decoding of words by applying phonics knowledge D.Fluent reading of sentences with expression and phrasing
A.Rapid recognition of words without conscious decoding Automaticity is the ability to decode automatically through word recognition.
Which THREE of the following statements from a reading assessment checklist provide information about a student's fluency abilities? A.The student adheres to punctuation and reads a selection with good phrasing. B.The student recalls and properly identifies characters, setting, and plot. C.The student maintains a conversational pace while reading a selection. D.The student uses sound and letter correspondences to decode unknown words. E.The student responds to text structure by reading with appropriate expression.
A.The student adheres to punctuation and reads a selection with good phrasing. C.The student maintains a conversational pace while reading a selection. E.The student responds to text structure by reading with appropriate expression.
A method of storytelling in which the narrator knows only the thoughts and feelings of a single character A.Third-person limited B.Third-person multiple C.Third-person omniscient
A.Third-person limited
Which TWO of the following words contain a closed syllable? A.bat B.be C.go D.she E.top
A.bat E.top The single-syllable words "bat" and "top" both end in a consonant.
The ability to decode automatically through word recognition. The ability to do things without occupying the mind with the low-level details that are required; this is usually the result of learning, repetition, and practice.
Automaticity
A reader who has demonstrated fluency while reading an informational text can now use available cognitive resources to focus on which of the following? A. Decoding difficult words in the text B. Comprehending the main ideas in the text C. Engaging with the text at a fast reading rate D. Transferring knowledge of domain-specific vocabulary to other texts
B. Comprehending the main ideas in the text If a reader does not need to concentrate on word recognition demands while reading, most of the cognitive resources a reader brings to the task can be used to comprehend the text.
Which word contains a root word that means "ill" or "bad" A. Ambivalent B. Dysfunction C. Morphological D. Heterogeneous
B. Dysfunction
Stories that are specifically for kids, involve magical characters, have good and evil characters, and generally start with "once upon a time." A. Folktale B. Fairytale C. Fable D. Tall Tale
B. Fairytale
Singing nursery songs primarily develops students' phonological awareness by helping them identify which of the following? A. Main ideas B. Rhyming words C. Descriptive details D. High-frequency words
B. Rhyming words This question tests your knowledge of the role that rhyme plays in a child's development of phonological awareness. When children hear rhymes in songs or stories, they hear the sounds that vowels and consonants make and learn how to put those sounds together to make words. Children can also use rhyme to practice pitch, volume, and voice inflection, as well as the rhythm of language.
Which of the following terms best describes a series of events that build tension from conflict in a story? A. Exposition B. Rising action C. Climax D. Falling action
B. Rising action The rising action of a plot occurs after the exposition, or introduction, and contains a series of events that build from the conflict and end at the climax of the story.
The order or arrangement of words and phrases to form proper sentences. follows a subject + verb + direct object formula. A. Orthographic B. Syntactic C. Phonological D. Semantic
B. Syntactic
Which of the following is a true statement about phonological awareness in literacy development? A. The visual recognition of sight words depends on the ability to recognize sound blends. B. The decoding of unfamiliar words depends on the ability to associate sounds with written letters. C. The development of reading fluency depends on the ability to connect letter names to sounds. D. The development of reading comprehension depends on the ability to identify written letters by name.
B. The decoding of unfamiliar words depends on the ability to associate sounds with written letters. This question tests your knowledge of the foundational element of decoding. The ability to match sounds to individual letters provides the foundation for more complex decoding tasks. Understanding the relationship between the letters in a word and the sound of a word is required for decoding unfamiliar words.
Which THREE of the following words contain an open syllable? A. Different B. Vehicle C. Jungle D. Fantastic E. Remembering F. Apron
B. Vehicle E. Remembering F. Apron An open syllable ends in a vowel and the sound is long. In "vehicle," the first syllable ("ve") is open. In "remembering," the first syllable ("re") is open. In "apron," the first syllable ("a") is open.
A cat came fiddling Out of a barn, With a pair of bagpipes Under her arm; She could sing nothing But fiddle cum dee, The mouse has married The bumble-bee; Pipe, cat; dance, mouse: We'll have a wedding At our good house. Question:The structure and cadence of this selection is characteristic of a A. fable B. nursery rhyme C. limerick D. fairy tale
B. nursery rhyme This question asks you to recognize typical characteristics of a nursery rhyme. Nursery rhymes are verses traditionally told or sung to small children. They are characterized by a lively and slightly unpredictable meter, regular rhyme schemes, playful and nonsense situations, and nonsense words.
Long ago, the mice had a general council to consider what measures they could take to outwit their common enemy, the Cat. Some said this, and some said that; but at last a young mouse got up and said he had a proposal to make, which he thought would meet the case. "You will all agree," said he, "that our chief danger consists in the sly and treacherous manner in which the enemy approaches us. Now, if we could receive some signal of her approach, we could easily escape from her. I venture, therefore, to propose that a small bell be procured, and attached by a ribbon round the neck of the Cat. By this means we should always know when she was about, and could easily retire while she was in the neighborhood." This proposal met with general applause, until an old mouse got up and said: "That is all very well, but who is to bell the Cat?" The mice looked at one another and nobody spoke. Then the old mouse said: "It is easy to propose impossible remedies." — "Belling the Cat" by Aesop Based on the passage, the reader can infer that the A. old mouse is angry at the young mouse for proposing the plan B. young mouse did not think the plan through before making the proposal C. old mouse has proposed many possible solutions to the cat problem D. young mouse will become the leader of the group as a result of his innovative plan
B. young mouse did not think the plan through before making the proposal
Which of the following groups lists words that are best categorized as kindergarten sight words? A.Bite, when, I, car B.Am, to, the, on C.Dog, jump, are, toes D.Jail, tram, see, from
B.Am, to, the, on Each of the words in this group relies on the most basic of phonics concepts such as blending phonemes to form short, simple, high-frequency words.
Which of the following is the most appropriate strategy for assessing a text's complexity based on quantitative measures? A.Determining readers' experiences and knowledge related to the text B.Evaluating the sentence length and word frequency of the text C.Considering readers' engagement and motivation with the text D.Examining the organizational structure and features of the text
B.Evaluating the sentence length and word frequency of the text Syntax and word frequency are both quantitative measures of text complexity.
Star light, star bright, First star I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might, Have this wish I wish tonight. A first-grade teacher reads the poem to the students. Then the students do a choral reading of the poem with the teacher, and the teacher points to each word as the students say it. Which of the following best describes the objective of the choral reading activity? A.Supporting sight word recognition B.Modeling automaticity and prosody C.Introducing segments and blends D.Demonstrating comprehension strategies
B.Modeling automaticity and prosody Choral reading increases fluency by demonstrating and practicing automaticity and prosody during reading.
The ocean is full of organisms—both plant and animal life—some of which you know, and others you probably haven't ever imagined! These organisms live and work together in the ocean ecosystem; they are important to each other and to the health of the ocean itself. Many of these organisms are at risk because of pollution that finds its way to the ocean. You can help prevent this by joining a local beach cleanup effort, disposing of your own trash when you're at the beach, and reusing and recycling as much as possible, anywhere and anytime. Which of the following organizational structures best describes the passage? A.Description B.Problem/solution C.Spatial D.Compare/contrast
B.Problem/solution
Which of the following elements best helps early emergent readers construct meaning from a narrative book? A.Rich vocabulary B.Realistic illustrations C.Boldface chapter titles D.Few words to a page
B.Realistic illustrations Early emergent readers, who have either basic sight vocabulary or no sight vocabulary at all, can learn and assign meaning to narrative plot elements through realistic pictures to tell the story. Wordless picture books are also common for this stage of reading.
If you were level with the patch so that it was edge-on, it was nearly invisible, and it was completely invisible from behind. You could see it only from the side nearest the road, and you couldn't see it easily even from there, because all you could see through it was exactly the same kind of thing that lay in front of it on this side: a patch of grass lit by a streetlight. But Will knew without the slightest doubt that that patch of grass on the other side was in a different world. Which TWO of the following narrative points of view are demonstrated in the passage? A.First person B.Second person C.Third-person limited D.Third-person multiple E.Third-person omniscient
B.Second person C.Third-person limited The use of the pronoun "you" in the several lines describing the patch and the setting directly addresses the audience, which is characteristic of the second-person point of view. The excerpt also is partly told from a third-person point of view in which it is evident from both pronoun use and the description that the narrator has access to the thoughts and feelings of one character.
(1) Maggie chased her dog Barney down the street. (2) She is getting tired. (3) Barney had escaped his leash a few minutes ago. (4) Now he was headed toward the park. (5) Maggie wanted to catch him before he jumped into the pond. The error in verb usage can be corrected with which of the following revisions? A.Sentence 1: Change "chased" to "will chase" B.Sentence 2: Change "is getting" to "was getting" C.Sentence 3: Change "had escaped" to "is escaping" D.Sentence 5: Change "wanted" to "wants"
B.Sentence 2: Change "is getting" to "was getting" The excerpt is in the past tense, and the revision corrects a present tense verb (present perfect) to a past tense verb (past perfect).
Which of the following writing genres contains a setting based in fairly modern times, features characters who are modeled after people who may have existed, and uses exaggeration of characters and trickery to resolve conflict? A.Fairy tale B.Tall tale C.Myth D.Fable
B.Tall tale Tall tales, such as Paul Bunyan, are set in fairly—though not ultra—modern times and feature confident heroes based on people who may have existed and who solve problems by sometimes resorting to trickery.
Which of the following prereading activities best helps students create a mental map of the text's content and establish a purpose for reading? A.Shared reading B.Text-feature walk C.Think-pair-share D.Semantic feature analysis
B.Text-feature walk A text-feature walk gets the reader's mind ready for the topic.
Involves writing separate scenes from the viewpoints of each of your characters. A.Third-person limited B.Third-person multiple C.Third-person omniscient
B.Third-person multiple
A teacher is working with a group of students to help them achieve greater phonological awareness. The teacher writes the following on a whiteboard to begin a discussion. thrOW tOW bOW Which of the following concepts is the teacher demonstrating for the students? A.Decoding words by using syllabication B.Working with rimes to create new words C.Building words with an understanding of onsets D.Deleting phonemes to change from one word to another
B.Working with rimes to create new words The rime "ow" is circled in each word, and new onsets are added to make new words with the same rime.
Which of the following correctly segments the word "blueberry" by its onset? A.b-lueberry B.bl-ueberry C.blue-berry D.blue-ber-ry
B.bl-ueberry "Blueberry" begins with the onset blend "bl."
After students read one version of "The Three Little Pigs" told by a third-person narrator and another version told from the wolf's perspective, a teacher asks them to respond to the writing prompt, "Which character do you sympathize with in each version of the story? Why?" The activity primarily targets students' ability to A.examine the role of prior knowledge in shaping readers' reactions to characters B.consider the impact of point of view on readers' interpretation of events C.determine the reliability of information presented to readers D.compare the effects of different organizational structures on readers' comprehension of texts
B.consider the impact of point of view on readers' interpretation of events The different narrators present different points of view about the events in the story, which would influence the extent to which readers sympathize with certain characters.
The scarab beetle is an insect of ancient importance. Long ago, in Egyptian culture, the beetle was revered and associated with hope and health. In rich style, the Egyptians embellished many everyday items with the image of this beetle; it could be found on jewelry, notes or documents, and even gifts. There is no debate about the beetle. The scarab played a huge role in ancient Egyptian society. The excerpt is best described as which of the following types of writing? A. Argumentative B. Descriptive C. Expository D. Narrative
C. Expository The purpose of expository writing is to provide information about a topic. The passage provides the reader with a broad overview of the importance of the scarab beetle in Ancient Egyptian culture.
Feature animals given human characteristics and deliver a lesson or moral. A. Folktale B. Fairytale C. Fable D. Tall Tale
C. Fable
Which of the following word parts occurs in the word "agonize"? A. Prefix B. Base word C. Greek root D. Inflectional suffix
C. Greek root Greek roots are the simple elements out of which many English words are formed. In this case, "agon," which means contest or struggle, is used to create the English word "agonize."
Passage A Astronauts living and working in space have the same hygiene needs as people on Earth. They wash their hair, brush their teeth, shave, and wash their hands. However, because of the microgravity environment, astronauts take care of themselves in different ways. Astronauts wash their hair with a rinseless shampoo that was originally developed for hospital patients who were unable to take a shower. Many astronauts have a personal-hygiene kit. The kit contains the personal hygiene items each astronaut has chosen to take. Passage B Imagine going camping for more than a week with several of your close friends. Because you'll be away from home so long, you would make sure you have plenty of food and the gear to cook and eat it with. The food would have to be stored properly and be nonperishable to avoid spoilage. . . . Astronauts basically do the same thing when they go to space, but since they'll be away from the planet, preparations are a lot more intense. Preparation varies with the food type. Some foods can be eaten in their natural forms, such as brownies and fruit. Other foods require adding water, such as macaroni and cheese or spaghetti. The two passages are most similar in A.the presentation of supporting details about identical subject matter B.the integration of cause-and-effect text structure to present ideas C.the use of vignette as a means to hook an audience's attention D.the inclusion of details explaining the origins of technology used in space
B.the integration of cause-and-effect text structure to present ideas Both passages make use of cause-and-effect to present information. Passage A explains how the presence of microgravity necessitates special considerations for personal hygiene in space, while in Passage B the necessity for astronauts to prepare adequately for space travel is explored as cause and effect and linked to the opening vignette.
Passage 1 While Alexander Graham Bell was experimenting with telegraph instruments in the early 1870s, he realized it might be possible to transmit the human voice over a wire using electricity. Bell's interest in electricity continued, and he attempted to send several telegraph messages over a single wire at one time. It was on June 2, 1875, while Bell was at one end of the line and his assistant Watson worked on the reeds of the telegraph in another room that he heard the sound of a plucked reed coming to him over the wire. Passage 2 After many failed attempts, Alexander Graham Bell invented a working telephone. The next step was to make the telephone accessible so people could use it. This involved putting in lines to carry the telephone messages. The first telephone lines went from one person's phone to another. Those were called landlines. Then they added what are called switching stations, so one could reach more than one place. Even though it was not the most efficient system, it still worked well enough for people to communicate. Which of the following excerpts most strongly supports the claim that Alexander Graham Bell's early diligence resulted in the telephone we know today? A. " ... he realized it might be possible to transmit the human voice over a wire using electricity." B. " ... he heard the sound of a plucked reed coming to him over the wire." C. "After many failed attempts, Alexander Graham Bell invented a working telephone." D. "Even though it was not the most efficient system, it still worked well enough for people to communicate."
C. "After many failed attempts, Alexander Graham Bell invented a working telephone."
One or more than one syllable or letter added at the beginning or at the end of a root word, to change its meaning. A. Prefix B. Syllable C. Affix D. Suffix
C. Affix
In the word "Internet," the segment "inter-" is best defined as which of the following? A. Root word B. Syllable C. Affix D. Phoneme
C. Affix An affix is a word part that is placed at the beginning or end of a word to alter its meaning. In the example, "inter-" which means "between" or "among," modifies the root word "net." Although "inter" is also a Latin root, it is not the root word here.
German shepherds are the most familiar of the dogs employed as guides for the visually impaired, but collies, boxers, Labrador retrievers, and several other breeds have also been trained successfully for this job. It is not only the dog that must be trained. The person who is visually impaired and who will become the dog's master must also go to a special school, where the two can develop trust and a close understanding. Which of the following is the primary purpose of the paragraph? A. Describing different breeds of dogs so that people can choose a suitable guide dog B. Expressing an opinion about the preferred breed of dog to work with people who are visually impaired C. Explaining that guide dogs and people who are visually impaired receive training to work together D. Illustrating the process and steps involved in training guide dogs
C. Explaining that guide dogs and people who are visually impaired receive training to work together
For more than four hundred years, the Akan people of Ghana in West Africa used a currency based on tiny grains of gold called gold dust. This desirable currency made the Akan very valued trading partners for the North African traders who crossed the Sahara Desert by camel caravan and for the seafaring Europeans who arrived on Africa's Atlantic Coast in ships laden with goods. The Akan were able to enrich their own lives by trading for goods with people of vastly different climates and cultures. Which of the following best describes the type of writing used in this excerpt? A. Descriptive B. Persuasive C. Informative D. Narrative
C. Informative The paragraphs provide information on the history of trade involving currency.
Which word contains a root word that means "form" or "shape" A. Ambivalent B. Dysfunction C. Morphological D. Heterogeneous
C. Morphological
The study of different sounds and the way they come together to form speech and words A. Orthographic B. Syntactic C. Phonological D. Semantic
C. Phonological
(1) A free-market economy is one in which the greater part of production, distribution, and exchange is controlled by individuals and privately owned corporations rather than by the government. (2) Most people prefer for the government to have little to no control over businesses. (3) In fact, the term "free-market" sounds like a place where people can do business without any interference from the government. (4) However, government-imposed rules and regulations are vital to the economy because they keep business dealings fair, prohibit business holders from making unfair transactions, and keep consumers safe. (5) For example, if there were no government oversight, a dishonest grocer could cheat customers by making a scale indicate two pounds when it is really reading only one pound. (6) If there were no government oversight, there would be no requirement to list ingredients on food and cosmetics packages; those with allergies or sensitivities to certain ingredients would not be able to protect themselves from harmful additives. (7) Most people would agree that despite government oversight, a free-market economy is one where business owners have a great deal of freedom. Which of the following sentences best states the main idea of the excerpt? A. Sentence 1 B. Sentence 3 C. Sentence 4 D. Sentence 6
C. Sentence 4
(1) Scientists have studied many insects. (2) Some of these insects use tools to survive. (3) One animal that uses tools to survive is called the sawfly. (4) This insect is called a sawfly because it has a tool that works like a saw. (5) It is not a real saw, but it looks and works like a real saw. (6) The saw is part of the sawfly's body. (7) The insect uses the saw to cut a small hole in a plant and then it places eggs in the hole. (8) After it creates the hole, the sawfly makes a glue that fastens the eggs in place. (9) No one is sure how the sawfly makes this glue, but scientists who have watched the sawfly have seen it happen. Which sentence of the passage explains how the sawfly secures its eggs? A. Sentence 2 B. Sentence 3 C. Sentence 8 D. Sentence 9
C. Sentence 8
(1) A free-market economy is one in which the greater part of production, distribution, and exchange is controlled by individuals and privately owned corporations rather than by the government. (2) Most people prefer for the government to have little to no control over businesses. (3) In fact, the term "free-market" sounds like a place where people can do business without any interference from the government. (4) However, government-imposed rules and regulations are vital to the economy because they keep business dealings fair, prohibit business holders from making unfair transactions, and keep consumers safe. (5) For example, if there were no government oversight, a dishonest grocer could cheat customers by making a scale indicate two pounds when it is really reading only one pound. (6) If there were no government oversight, there would be no requirement to list ingredients on food and cosmetics packages; those with allergies or sensitivities to certain ingredients would not be able to protect themselves from harmful additives. (7) Most people would agree that despite government oversight, a free-market economy is one where business owners have a great deal of freedom. Which of the following pairs of sentences most strongly imply that people sometimes act irresponsibly when no one is watching? A. Sentences 2 and 3 B. Sentences 3 and 4 C. Sentences 5 and 6 D. Sentences 6 and 7
C. Sentences 5 and 6
On the left of me is a laptop, and to its right is the mouse. Below in the cubby at my center is a pen cup. On the left-hand side of my desk is a console phone, and in front of it lies a notebook. There are several knickknacks scattered around the top of my desk, and a wrist pad directly in front of me. The coffee bar across the room from my location is well stocked with coffee, cups, and syrups. The television mounted high on the wall to the left is on low volume. What is the organizational pattern of this sentence? A. Chronological order B. Cause and effect C. Spatial order D. Problem and solution
C. Spatial order
Which of the following statements about English-language learners is best supported by current research? A. Instruction is most beneficial to students learning English as a second language when it is delivered consistently and repeatedly according to a single instructional strategy. B. Teaching students explicitly how to use learning strategies shows little correlation with the students' success in learning English as a second language. C. Students need meaning-focused practice and appropriate form-focused instruction when learning English as a second language. D. Students of English as a second language learn the language most effectively in an environment with little social interaction to distract them.
C. Students need meaning-focused practice and appropriate form-focused instruction when learning English as a second language. Current research suggests that when English learners receive instruction with explicit teaching of learning strategies, the learners become more efficient and effective learners in the second language. Teachers also need to be open to a multitude of learning styles among the learners in the classroom and present instruction in many different ways. Students need large amounts of meaning-focused practice of the language along with form-focused instruction at appropriate times.
An advantage of cloud-based word-processing tools over traditional word-processing software is that they A.provide a spelling and grammar check to help with editing B.allow for a more polished-looking hard copy C.provide a platform for collaboration among users D.allow for the integration of images and graphics
C.provide a platform for collaboration among users Cloud-based word-processing tools allow multiple people to access the same document from various devices in order to revise, comment, and collaborate.
I told him how I got my name and I told him how I had just moved to Naomi. I also told him about the preacher and how he was a good man, even if he was too distracted with sermons and prayers and suffering people to go grocery shopping. "But you know what?" I told Winn-Dixie. "You are a suffering dog, so maybe he will take to you right away. Maybe he'll let me keep you." Winn-Dixie looked up at me and wagged his tail. He was kind of limping like something was wrong with one of his legs. And I have to admit, he stunk. Bad. He was an ugly dog, but already, I loved him with all my heart. — from Because of Winn-Dixie, by Kate DiCamillo Which of the following statements supports the observation that the passage is written in first-person point-of-view? A. The thoughts of the speaker and the dog are included in the passage. B. The events are arranged in sequential order in the passage. C. The speaker describes her personal experiences and emotions in the passage. D. There is a combination of dialogue and description in the passage.
C. The speaker describes her personal experiences and emotions in the passage.
Which of the following pairs of words contain a consonant sound that cannot be represented by any single letter? A."cradle" and "ceiling" B."crying" and "kindle" C."garage" and "vision" D."thumb" and "chick"
C."garage" and "vision" The words "garage" and "vision" are unique in that no single letter represents the consonant sound that can be heard in these words.
Students in a language arts class have completed short informational essays and are now working on turning them into oral presentations. The following excerpt is from one student's essay. A volcano is a mountain with an opening that leads down below Earth's surface to the molten rock below. The mountain is usually made of layers of ash and cooled lava. When magma builds up in the chamber at the bottom, the pressure pushes it up the main vent, and then gas, rocks, and lava shoot out through the crater. This is known as an eruption. Which of the following visual aids will best support the excerpt? A.A photograph showing an erupting volcano B.A time line showing volcanic eruptions that occurred in recent history C.A diagram showing the parts of a volcano D.A pie chart showing the percentages of different types of volcanoes
C.A diagram showing the parts of a volcano
Passage B Imagine going camping for more than a week with several of your close friends. Because you'll be away from home so long, you would make sure you have plenty of food and the gear to cook and eat it with. The food would have to be stored properly and be nonperishable to avoid spoilage. . . . Astronauts basically do the same thing when they go to space, but since they'll be away from the planet, preparations are a lot more intense. Preparation varies with the food type. Some foods can be eaten in their natural forms, such as brownies and fruit. Other foods require adding water, such as macaroni and cheese or spaghetti. Which of the following text headings would best assist a reader in determining the subject matter of Passage B? A.Life on Earth versus Life in Space B.Surviving the Harshness of Space C.Eating in Space D.Camping in Space
C.Eating in Space Passage B is mainly focused on the concept of eating in space and draws the reader into the idea by making a comparison with eating on Earth.
I stepped onto the train and knew my adventure had finally begun. The buildings and bustling streets of the city turned into endless green fields dotted with wildflowers and steep mountains. The further into the country we got, the more I felt like I was entering a new world. The text can best be used to demonstrate which of the following aspects of narrative writing? A.Using transitions to convey a sequence of events B.Providing a conclusion that results from experience C.Establishing a setting with descriptive details D.Introducing a character's central conflict
C.Establishing a setting with descriptive details
Which of the following words contains a Latin root meaning "beneath"? A.Intercept B.Introvert C.Infrastructure D.Irredeemable
C.Infrastructure "Infrastructure" contains the root "infra." An infrastructure is the underlying foundation or basic framework of a system or organization.
Which of the following is a major challenge of teaching the decoding of /s/ to students in kindergarten? A.Students cannot write to reinforce their learning. B.The /s/ sound is difficult to pronounce until age 7. C.It is not possible to assign just one sound to the grapheme of "s." D.Students with varied dialects pronounce "s" differently.
C.It is not possible to assign just one sound to the grapheme of "s." The grapheme "s" can sound like /z/, /s/, or /x/, or it may also be part of the digraph "sh."
Which of the following graphic organizers would best support students in summarizing a story they have read? A.KWL chart B.Fishbone diagram C.SWBST chart D.Venn diagram
C.SWBST chart The SWBST chart helps answer the "Somebody Wanted But So Then" about a story. Being able to complete this acronym will lead the reader to a summary.
A teacher analyzing a reading passage for its qualitative text complexity should consider which TWO of the following? A.The number of words that will be unfamiliar to the students B.The background knowledge of the students C.The various levels of meaning in the passage D.The students' interest level in the passage subject E.The language conventionality of the excerpt
C.The various levels of meaning in the passage E.The language conventionality of the excerpt
Shows us what many characters in the story are thinking and feeling. A.Third-person limited B.Third-person multiple C.Third-person omniscient
C.Third-person omniscient
To increase comprehension, a reading teacher suggests that a student read a selection from a text repeatedly, while focusing on proper intonation. The intervention is appropriate for helping the student to A.self-monitor for meaning B.decode unknown words C.avoid reading through punctuation D.avoid substituting an incorrect word
C.avoid reading through punctuation Reading through punctuation is a fluency issue that can be corrected through the strategy outlined in the question.
Star light, star bright, First star I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might, Have this wish I wish tonight. The highlighted words could be best used in a phonics lesson on A.open syllables B.r-controlled vowels C.irregular vowel families D.VCCe words
C.irregular vowel families The highlighted words exemplify a common word family containing the long "igh" sound.
I told him how I got my name and I told him how I had just moved to Naomi. I also told him about the preacher and how he was a good man, even if he was too distracted with sermons and prayers and suffering people to go grocery shopping. "But you know what?" I told Winn-Dixie. "You are a suffering dog, so maybe he will take to you right away. Maybe he'll let me keep you." Winn-Dixie looked up at me and wagged his tail. He was kind of limping like something was wrong with one of his legs. And I have to admit, he stunk. Bad. He was an ugly dog, but already, I loved him with all my heart. — from Because of Winn-Dixie, by Kate DiCamillo Which of the following quotations from the passage best supports the claim that the novel's overall theme is acceptance? A. "I told him how I got my name and I told him how I had just moved to Naomi." B. "I also told him about the preacher and how he was a good man, . . ." C. "Winn-Dixie looked up at me and wagged his tail." D. "He was an ugly dog, but already, I loved him with all my heart."
D. "He was an ugly dog, but already, I loved him with all my heart."
As Arctic ice continues to melt, the polar bear's quest for food often leads to swimming long distances, ultimately ending in starvation. Last year, a policy paper outlined a multi-step plan to save the ever-declining polar bear population, which included the risky suggestion to feed the bears directly. There are many endangered species on this planet, and it is not the case that one is more important or critical than another. However, when we see candid images of these majestic creatures in their environment, it becomes apparent how desperately they need saving. The author of the passage can best be described as having a point of view similar to A. a politician discussing climate change B. an educator teaching a class about animal behavior C. a company executive arranging a wildlife benefit D. a conservationist pleading for a vulnerable species
D. a conservationist pleading for a vulnerable species
(1) A free-market economy is one in which the greater part of production, distribution, and exchange is controlled by individuals and privately owned corporations rather than by the government. (2) Most people prefer for the government to have little to no control over businesses. (3) In fact, the term "free-market" sounds like a place where people can do business without any interference from the government. (4) However, government-imposed rules and regulations are vital to the economy because they keep business dealings fair, prohibit business holders from making unfair transactions, and keep consumers safe. (5) For example, if there were no government oversight, a dishonest grocer could cheat customers by making a scale indicate two pounds when it is really reading only one pound. (6) If there were no government oversight, there would be no requirement to list ingredients on food and cosmetics packages; those with allergies or sensitivities to certain ingredients would not be able to protect themselves from harmful additives. (7) Most people would agree that despite government oversight, a free-market economy is one where business owners have a great deal of freedom. Which of the following details should be inserted between sentences 6 and 7 to best facilitate the flow of ideas? A. A list of countries with free-market economies B. The name of a law that protects consumers in a free-market economy C. An example of a benefit of government oversight in a free-market economy D. An example of the types of choices that business owners have in a free-market economy
D. An example of the types of choices that business owners have in a free-market economy Option (D) is correct because sentence 7 specifically references the "great deal of freedom" that business owners in a free-market economy have, but there are no examples to support that statement. Providing an example of the business-owner benefits in a free-market economy would be an appropriate organizational and rhetorical tool for bridging the ideas between sentences 6 and 7.
The scarab beetle is an insect of ancient importance. Long ago, in Egyptian culture, the beetle was revered and associated with hope and health. In rich style, the Egyptians embellished many everyday items with the image of this beetle; it could be found on jewelry, notes or documents, and even gifts. There is no debate about the beetle. The scarab played a huge role in ancient Egyptian society. Which of the following can best be inferred from the excerpt? A. Images of insects were often featured on the currency of ancient cultures. B. Modern Egyptian society is still fascinated by the scarab beetle. C. The scarab beetle was an ancient insect that became extinct hundreds of years ago. D. Ancient Egyptians imprinted images of iconic creatures on common items.
D. Ancient Egyptians imprinted images of iconic creatures on common items.
Which of the following words contains a root that means "different"? A. Ambivalent B. Dysfunction C. Morphological D. Heterogeneous
D. Heterogeneous The root "hetero" means different, giving "heterogeneous" the meaning of something being composed of different or diverse parts.
Long ago, the mice had a general council to consider what measures they could take to outwit their common enemy, the Cat. Some said this, and some said that; but at last a young mouse got up and said he had a proposal to make, which he thought would meet the case. "You will all agree," said he, "that our chief danger consists in the sly and treacherous manner in which the enemy approaches us. Now, if we could receive some signal of her approach, we could easily escape from her. I venture, therefore, to propose that a small bell be procured, and attached by a ribbon round the neck of the Cat. By this means we should always know when she was about, and could easily retire while she was in the neighborhood." This proposal met with general applause, until an old mouse got up and said: "That is all very well, but who is to bell the Cat?" The mice looked at one another and nobody spoke. Then the old mouse said: "It is easy to propose impossible remedies." Which of the following best paraphrases the moral of the fable? A. Older usually means wiser. B. Outsmarting an enemy is a task best left to older generations. C. It is best to go with group consensus. D. It is important to be realistic when proposing a solution to a problem.
D. It is important to be realistic when proposing a solution to a problem.
Which of the following factors of text complexity addresses the visuals or pictures in a text? A. Quantitative measures B. Reader and the reading task C. Grade level D. Qualitative measures
D. Qualitative measures This question tests your knowledge of the qualitative measures of text complexity. Qualitative measures include levels of meaning, structure, language conventions, and knowledge demands. Visual aids and pictures contribute to the structure of a text.
Refers to the string of letters that follow, usually a vowel and final consonants. Example: at in the word cAT A. Onset B. Syllabication C. Decoding D. Rime
D. Rime
the study of meaning in language. It can be applied to entire texts or to single words. For example, "destination" and "last stop" technically mean the same thing, but students of __________ analyze their subtle shades of meaning. A. Orthographic B. Syntactic C. Phonological D. Semantic
D. Semantic
Which of the following is a quantitative feature of text complexity? A. Students' motivation to read a text B. The intricacy of the analogies in a text C. Students' prior knowledge related to a text's subject matter D. The number of complex and compound sentences in a text
D. The number of complex and compound sentences in a text Option (D) is correct. The factors involved in text complexity include the length and structure of sentences. The number of complex and compound sentences in a text is a quantitative factor because it involves an amount, or quantity.
I told him how I got my name and I told him how I had just moved to Naomi. I also told him about the preacher and how he was a good man, even if he was too distracted with sermons and prayers and suffering people to go grocery shopping. "But you know what?" I told Winn-Dixie. "You are a suffering dog, so maybe he will take to you right away. Maybe he'll let me keep you." Winn-Dixie looked up at me and wagged his tail. He was kind of limping like something was wrong with one of his legs. And I have to admit, he stunk. Bad. He was an ugly dog, but already, I loved him with all my heart. — from Because of Winn-Dixie, by Kate DiCamillo Which of the following details from the passage best supports the inference that "the preacher" is the speaker's father? A. The preacher cares for people who are suffering. B. The preacher was too busy to go to the grocery store. C. The speaker describes the preacher to Winn-Dixie. D. The speaker hopes the preacher will let her keep Winn-Dixie.
D. The speaker hopes the preacher will let her keep Winn-Dixie.
Passage 1 While Alexander Graham Bell was experimenting with telegraph instruments in the early 1870s, he realized it might be possible to transmit the human voice over a wire using electricity. Bell's interest in electricity continued, and he attempted to send several telegraph messages over a single wire at one time. It was on June 2, 1875, while Bell was at one end of the line and his assistant Watson worked on the reeds of the telegraph in another room that he heard the sound of a plucked reed coming to him over the wire. Passage 2 After many failed attempts, Alexander Graham Bell invented a working telephone. The next step was to make the telephone accessible so people could use it. This involved putting in lines to carry the telephone messages. The first telephone lines went from one person's phone to another. Those were called landlines. Then they added what are called switching stations, so one could reach more than one place. Even though it was not the most efficient system, it still worked well enough for people to communicate. Although both passages discuss Alexander Graham Bell's telephone, passage 1 is primarily concerned with __________________, while passage 2 is mostly concerned with __________________. A. the first sound transmitted via telephone / world interest in telephones B. Bell's interest in the telegraph / the first switching station C. Watson's contribution to the telephone / Bell's failures with the telegraph D. the invention of the telephone / the installation of the first telephone lines
D. the invention of the telephone / the installation of the first telephone lines The first passage is mainly concerned with the way in which Bell invented the telephone, and the second passage, while it mentions the invention of the telephone, is also more concerned with the early installation and mechanics of the telephone.
The Hare was once boasting of his speed before the other animals. "I've never been beaten in a race," said he. "I challenge anyone here to race with me." The Tortoise said quietly, "I accept your challenge." "That is a good joke," said the Hare. "I could dance round you all the way." "Keep your boasting till you've beaten me," answered the Tortoise. "Shall we race?" So a course was fixed and a start was made. The Hare darted almost out of sight at once, but soon stopped. "I should stop for a rest," he said to himself. "That would make tortoise's loss even more embarrassing." And so he lay down to have a nap. The Tortoise plodded on and plodded on, and when the Hare awoke from his nap, he saw the Tortoise just near the winning-post and could not run up in time to save the race. Then said the Tortoise: "Plodding wins the race." After reading the story, a student remarks in the discussion that the Hare is spiteful. Which of the following lines of Hare's dialogue best supports the student's statement? A."I've never been beaten in a race . . ." B."I challenge anyone here to race with me." C."I should stop for a rest . . ." D."That would make tortoise's loss even more embarrassing."
D."That would make tortoise's loss even more embarrassing." This line shows that the Hare not only wants to win, but wants to embarrass his opponent, which shows contempt and spite.
Which of the following multisyllabic words is correctly segmented into its phonemes? A.Dif-fer-ent B.St-op-s-ign C.R-e-s-t-a-u-r-a-n-t D.C-are-f-u-ll-y
D.C-are-f-u-ll-y "C-are-f-u-ll-y" is correctly segmented into phonemes, with each sound unit isolated.
Star light, star bright, First star I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might, Have this wish I wish tonight. Which of the following words in the poem is a sight word that cannot be decoded using conventional rules? A.Star B.See C.May D.Have
D.Have "Have" is a sight word. Sight words are words that don't follow conventional phonics rules, but appear often and are therefore necessary for memorization to increase fluency and accuracy.
Many believe that letting kids have cell phones in school will ultimately cause conflict. Without cell phones kids are better able to focus on their schoolwork. I believe that there are many distractions in today's world. Kids should be trusted to focus on their schoolwork with or without a cell phone. Which of the following best describes the writer's purpose in the paragraph? A.Convincing students of the benefits of cell phones B.Encouraging school officials to change the cell phone policy C.Explaining the reasons why schools have cell phone policies D.Presenting a counterargument to commonly-held ideas about cell phone use
D.Presenting a counterargument to commonly-held ideas about cell phone use
Which of the following words is most appropriate to include on a list of spelling words that contain a silent consonant? A.Under B.Flower C.Switches D.Whistle
D.Whistle The "t" is silent in the word "whistle."
Phonological awareness primarily affects literacy skills through its impact on students' ability to A.imitate and produce basic sentence structures B.use context clues to confirm understanding C.read with appropriate rate and expression D.decode multisyllable words in a text
D.decode multisyllable words in a text When children acquire knowledge of phonological awareness, they learn to recognize how words are segmented into sounds, which affects their ability to phonetically decode unfamiliar words in a text.
The ability to identify four distinct sounds in the word "clap" demonstrates competence in which of the following phonemic awareness skills? A. Phoneme identity B. Phoneme categorization C. Phoneme blending D. Phoneme segmentation
Phoneme segmentation This question tests your ability to recognize the application of the skill of phonemic segmentation. Phonemic segmentation refers to the ability to break a word into its separate sounds, saying each sound as it is counted. The ability to identify four sounds in the word "clap" demonstrates an understanding of phonemic segmentation.
The expressiveness with which a student reads. It is the intonation, rhythm, and emphasis given to words and sentences when reading out loud. It is a key component in reading fluency.
Prosody