Core Subjects EC-6 practice test with Rationale

Which THREE of the following events most directly affected the economic development of Texas in the twentieth century? A. The attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 B. The Arab oil embargo of 1973 C. The oil strike at Spindletop in 1901 D. The stock market crash of 1929 E. The Cuban missile crisis of 1962

- Option B is correct because, although the embargo placed on oil products from the Middle East caused distress for the rest of the United States, the oil producing state of Texas experienced an economic advantage because of price inflation. - Option C is correct because the discovery of oil at the Spindletop salt dome near Beaumont, Texas in 1901 can be attributed to the birth of the modern petroleum industry in Texas. The oil strike opened new avenues of business for prospectors, oil refineries and manufacturers. - Option D is correct because, although many Texans were skeptical that the stock market crash of 1929 would have serious effects on their state economy, they began to change their positions on seeking federal aid as conditions during the Great Depression worsened. New Deal programs such as the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) benefited the state during its economic downturn by alleviating unemployment issues and building new infrastructure.

Which of the following traditional folk songs promotes the heritage of Texas? A. "The Old Chisholm Trail" B. "Cotton-Eyed Joe" C. "Casey Jones" D. "Sweet Betsy from Pike"

Option A is correct because Texas ranchers used the Chisholm trail to drive cattle to the rail yards in Kansas.

During a unit on fiber art, it would be most appropriate for students to learn how to use a A. handloom. B. press mold. C. palette knife. D. lathe chisel.

Option A is correct because a handloom is a tool for weaving, a common kind of fiber art.

A type of song in which a second voice exactly imitates a leading voice at different places in the melody is a A. Round B. Partner song C. Lullaby D. Game song

Option A is correct because a round is a song in which a leader is imitated exactly at one or more certain points within the song.

Which of the following is the best example of a learned behavior in animals? A. A bird migrating in the spring B. An opossum hiding in grass when startled C. A chimpanzee using tools to access food D. A bear hibernating in winter

Option C is correct because chimpanzees learn to use tools by watching older chimpanzees use tools.

Which of the following forms of movement most clearly demonstrates basic skill in nonlocomotor body management? A. Hopping up and down B. Standing on a balance beam C. Leaping with variation in distance D. Throwing an object various distances

Option B is correct because standing on a balance beam is a form of movement that demonstrates the basic skill of nonlocomotor body management and balance.

A fourth-grade teacher is beginning a unit on energy and matter that contains vocabulary not regularly used by students. To best draw on students' experiences in a manner that helps them develop a deeper understanding of the unit's terms, the classroom teacher should A. have numerous dictionaries available for students. B. build a language-rich environment. C. ask students to choose a partner and define key words. D. encourage struggling students to use their science journals.

Option B is correct because vocabulary lessons are built on language-rich environments to support word learning.

A class has just completed a unit on the anatomy of a flower. Which of the following is the most effective way for a teacher to assess the students' understanding of the concept? A. Having the students dissect a flower and label the parts B. Having the students write a paragraph about the pollination of flowers C. Having the students write the definitions of the different parts of the flowers D. Having the students plant seeds and measure the time it takes for the plants to flower

Option A is correct because dissecting a flower and labeling the parts demands that the students make the connection between the appearance and location of the parts of an actual flower to descriptions and two-dimensional images of a flower.

Students are working independently to solve the equation - 4 + ? = -10 . The teacher says the following to help them understand the problem. "If you owe somebody $4, you have a negative $4 balance with that person. If you borrow more money from the person, you will owe more and have a more negative balance with that person." After speaking with several students, the teacher finds that some of them are still having trouble with the concept of negative numbers. As a result, the teacher then reteaches the concept using a number line. Which of the following types of assessments has the teacher used? A. Formative B. Summative C. Formal D. Criterion

Option A is correct because formative assessment involves teachers' adjusting their instruction based on their assessment of students. The teacher in the scenario has conversations with the students and teaches again based on what is observed.

Which of the following is the adaptation that will best aid plant survival in an arid environment? A. Waxy leaves B. Aerial roots C. Broad leaves D. Green flowers

Option A is correct because having a waxy surface decreases water loss from leaves, aiding plant survival in an arid environment.

Fifth-grade students are preparing to read a short story about two children's visit to a New York City zoo. Which of the following activities is the best way to introduce the text to promote reading comprehension? A. Completing a KWL chart B. Listening to the story on audio C. Writing about their own experiences in New York City D. Identifying New York City on a map

Option A is correct because having students complete a KWL chart before and after reading the text helps build and activate background knowledge, which promotes reading comprehension.

Which of the following activities is most effective in helping kindergarten students understand measurement of the lengths of small objects, such as pencils or cups? A. Placing interlocking cubes next to the objects and counting the cubes. B. Cutting sheets of construction paper so that they are the same dimensions as the objects. C. Listening to the teacher explain how to line up a ruler next to the objects and mark their lengths. D. Watching the teacher demonstrate how to estimate the lengths of the objects using a child's hand or shoe.

Option A is correct because having the students count the number of interlocking cubes and placing the cubes next to each item provides a visual for the student to use in determining length.

The two most abundant gases in Earth's atmosphere are A. oxygen and nitrogen. B. oxygen and carbon dioxide. C. oxygen and water vapor. D. oxygen and hydrogen.

Option A is correct because in a sample of dry air near Earth's surface, approximately 99% is oxygen (about 21%) and nitrogen (78%).

During a back-to-school night, an elementary teacher discusses the use of media in the classroom and at home. Which of the following suggestions is best for the teacher to make to parents regarding students' television viewing and Internet use at home? A. Viewing media with their children and discussing what they see and hear B. Preventing children from having any media exposure at home, since most of it will be of little academic value to children C. Trusting children to make their own choices about media but asking them to discuss these choices with the parents D. Requiring children to watch certain educational programs recommended by the teacher before they watch any other programs

Option A is correct because in this way, parents are helping their children develop their media literacy skills instead of merely dictating what children may or may not watch or listen to.

A kindergarten teacher is creating a unit on apples to focus on the letter "A." Which of the following activities best contributes to students' understanding of the alphabetic principle? A. Cutting out pictures of objects that begin with "A" and labeling them in a book B. Creating a collage to be hung in the classroom of pictures of objects that begin with "A" C. Brainstorming words that begin with the same first letter as each student's name D. Inventing a song or rhyme to learn how to spell the word "apple"

Option A is correct because it requires students to identify pictures of objects that begin with "A" and to label them.

Which of the following is the relationship in which organism A benefits from living on or in the body of organism B but provides no benefit to organism B? A. Parasitism B. Predation C. Competition D. Mutualism

Option A is correct because parasitism is a relationship between organisms in which one organism benefits from living on or in the body of another organism, usually at the expense of the other organism.

In a meeting with a teacher, a parent asks how to encourage reading and improve reading skills for children at home. Which of the following is the most effective recommendation for the teacher to make? A. Reading books aloud with the child at home B. Allowing the child to see adults read at home C. Providing costumes and props for the child to act out stories at home D. Buying books on audio for the child to hear at home

Option A is correct because research shows that reading aloud with children is the best way to promote childhood literacy.

Which of the following activities is most effective in developing reading fluency skills in first-grade students? A. Rereading stories that were used during guided reading B. Participating in literature discussion groups in literacy centers C. Reading books that are at a level just above their independent reading level D. Completing a graphic organizer after reading a book the student has chosen

Option A is correct because students acquire reading fluency and comprehension from books read during guided reading lessons with their teacher. Repeated readings of familiar books improve reading fluency.

When wood burns, which of the following energy transformations occurs? A. Nuclear energy into mechanical energy B. Chemical energy into heat energy C. Light energy into mechanical energy D. Electrical energy into heat energy

Option B is correct because when wood burns, chemical energy is converted to heat energy. Some of the chemical energy stored in the chemical bonds of the substances in wood is released as heat during the combustion process.

During a lesson on hitting a ball placed on a tee, a third-grade student is swinging the bat down on the ball from above rather than swinging parallel to the ground. Which of the following is most appropriate for the teacher to use first to help the student improve batting form? A. Physically guiding the swing to give the student the experience of proper technique B. Having the student watch other students perform the skill correctly and pointing out the other students' strengths C. Reminding the student to swing the bat in a plane that is parallel to the ground rather than in a vertical arc D. Using the bat to strike the ball from above, then from the side, and asking the student to watch where the ball goes each time

Option A is correct because students in a physical education setting generally learn best by doing.

A fourth-grade teacher has students read about famous figures from Texas history and then takes the class to see a play about the life and times of Davy Crockett. Taking the class to see the play will best accomplish which of the following objectives? A. Enhancing lessons in social studies through a culturally relevant theatrical event B. Creating critical consumers of theatre arts through an evaluation of historical fiction C. Having students use social studies skills to compare and contrast primary and secondary sources D. Having students recognize the influence of theatre on historical events

Option A is correct because students will have an opportunity to enrich their studies through a relevant theatrical experience.

Which of the following was the primary purpose of adding the Bill of Rights to the United States Constitution? A. Creating explicit limits on the power of the federal government B. Granting the power of judicial review to the Supreme Court C. Ceding sovereignty to the individual states D. Amending errors in the Constitution

Option A is correct because the Bill of Rights was adopted to address the fears of those who thought that the federal government's powers under the Constitution were too broad.

Which of the following was a major long-term effect of the westward expansion of the United States in the 1800s? A. The growth of United States agricultural and mineral exports B. An increase in tensions between the United States and Great Britain C. A shift in United States foreign policy toward isolationism D. The establishment of peaceful relationships with American Indian groups

Option A is correct because the acquisition of large tracts of land during United States westward expansion led to an extensive increase in the farming, ranching, and mining industries. The lands of the Midwest attracted farmers, miners, and lumber barons seeking rich natural resources.

A first-grade teacher is having students march to the sound of a drum. Which of the following instructions is most appropriate for teaching the movement concepts of spatial awareness and relationship awareness? A. Follow the person in front of you, but keep a comfortable distance between you. B. Stomp your foot on the fourth beat of each measure, and turn to your right. C. March faster as the drumbeat gets faster, but freeze when the drumbeat stops. D. Time your steps so that your foot touches the ground at the same time that the drumbeat occurs.

Option A is correct because the direction to follow the person in front but keep comfortable distance is focused on the movement concept of spatial awareness. Spatial awareness is the ability to understand the position of objects in relation to each other and to oneself. It includes understanding the relationship of objects when there is a change in position.

Texas rice farmers depend on water from the Colorado River to irrigate their crops. In times of severe drought, less water is released downstream, which sometimes results in inadequate irrigation and failed crops. To prevent such a loss, rice farmers sometimes plant alternative crops on their lands. This action is an example of A. adapting to environmental changes. B. adjusting to supply and demand. C. using nonrenewable resources to improve farming. D. modifying the environment to meet farming needs.

Option A is correct because the farmers are changing their choice of crop to adapt to the change in environment.

Second-grade students each place thin paper over an object they have found in the classroom and rub a crayon over the paper on part of the surface of the object. The activity can most effectively be used to introduce students to which of the following elements of art? A. Texture B. Space C. Line D. Shape

Option A is correct because the texture of each object will directly affect what the rubbings look like.

Most students in a kindergarten class can identify two words that rhyme. Which of the following phonemic skills is most appropriate for the teacher to address next? A. Naming the beginning sounds in words B. Blending the initial consonant sounds in words C. Pronouncing all the sounds in words with two or three phonemes D. Blending the final consonant sounds in words

Option A is correct because this is the next phase in phonemic awareness development.

Which of the following actions best represents the first step in the process students should use to interpret graphs and charts containing numerical information? A. Looking at the title, axes, headings, and legends to develop a sense of the content of the graph or chart B. Analyzing whether the type of graph or chart used is the best method of presenting the information given C. Determining the largest and smallest values represented on the graph or chart to get an impression of the data D. Comparing and contrasting the various areas of the graph or chart to determine high and low points of the data

Option A is correct because this is the previewing phase. Before analyzing any of the numerical data, students must be familiar with the content of the graph or chart.

Which of the following learning goals is most appropriate for a third-grade unit on money? A. Students will be able to determine the value of a collection of coins and bills. B. Students will be able to represent the value of a collection of coins as a fraction of a dollar. C. Students will be able to differentiate between money received as income and money received as gifts. D. Students will be able to solve problems involving money by performing operations on decimals to the hundredths place.

Option A is correct because this option correctly describes a TEK for third grade math. A learning goal identifies what students will learn or be able to do as a result of instruction, not what they will be asked to do to demonstrate such learning.

A first-grade class studies animals and categorizes them as either sea animals, pets, zoo animals, or farm animals. The teacher wants students to create a visual to display their categories. Which of the following will best display the information? A. A flow chart B. A concept map C. A line graph D. A bar graph

Option B is correct because a concept map will allow students to categorize the animals more easily.

Word problem: A paint store is having a sale, and for every gallon of paint a customer purchases, the customer will receive one additional gallon for free. Write an equation for p, the number of gallons of paint received, in terms of x, the number of gallons of paint purchased. - A teacher asks students to solve the word problem shown. One student, John, says the answer is 2 + x = p. Which of the following activities will best help John recognize his misconception? A. Generating a model B. Creating a function table C. Using mental math D. Graphing the numbers

Option B is correct because a function table is a table of ordered pairs that follow a rule. The table will help the student identify the pattern.

Which of the following geometric solids has five faces, eight edges and five vertices? A. A pentagonal pyramid B. A rectangular pyramid C. An octagonal prism D. A triangular prism

Option B is correct because a rectangular pyramid has one rectangular base and four triangular faces, eight edges and five vertices.

Several students in a physical education class are having difficulty reaching the basketball goal with their shots, even while using a youth-sized basketball. Which of the following options is most appropriate for the teacher to introduce to increase the students' success? A. Allowing students to use a balloon instead of a basketball B. Lowering the height of the basket C. Raising the height of the basket D. Using a bouncy playground ball instead of a basketball

Option B is correct because by lowering the height of the basket, the teacher is decreasing the distance the students need to shoot and increasing the likelihood that they will succeed in making a basket.

A third-grade teacher assigns homework that requires students to list ten common words that can either stand alone or be combined with another word. The assignment primarily promotes the students' understanding of which of the following concepts? A. Analyzing sound-symbol relationships B. Making compound words C. Blending sounds in words D. Distinguishing root words

Option B is correct because compound words are words that can stand alone or can be combined.

As a demonstration during a unit on weather, a teacher adds food coloring to the bottom of a beaker of water being heated on a hot plate, and the students observe the movement of color in the water. Which of the following processes is illustrated by the movement of the color? A. Conduction B. Convection C. Evaporation D. Radiation

Option B is correct because convection is the process of heat transfer by currents in fluids. Convection plays an important role in both global and local weather phenomena.

Students are each given three identical small lumps of modeling clay and are asked to sculpt three different hearts from the lumps. For example, the hearts can be plump or slender, with varying proportions. The activity will best help students understand the art element of A. line. B. form. C. texture. D. light.

Option B is correct because form means the volume and shape of a three dimensional object. Varying the physical characteristics of the hearts made from the same amount of clay will create different forms.

A teacher notices that some students in the class have trouble interacting with peers during group assignments. Which of the following will best help students learn more appropriate oral language skills to use in group interactions? A. Assigning students to play a game in groups and then using a rubric to evaluate their interactions B. Rehearsing positive group collaboration by using a script and having students analyze productive conversations C. Requiring students to practice effective social interactions with their parents and siblings at home D. Videotaping a group while the members work together and allowing the class to view the video and then make suggestions for improving communication

Option B is correct because giving students a script provides them with a model of appropriate interaction that they can imitate and recall during future group assignments.

A common type of family abuse characterized by verbal put-downs and criticisms is known as A. abuse of power. B. emotional abuse. C. physical abuse. D. sexual abuse.

Option B is correct because hurtful language can cause emotional distress and is recognized as a form of abuse.

To best ensure active engagement for students working on an open-ended research question for science, a fifth-grade teacher should focus on providing which of the following? A. Explicit teaching B. Inquiry-based instruction C. At-home research projects D. Didactic questioning

Option B is correct because inquiry-based instruction ensures active engagement from students in the question, its research, and the development of a conclusion.

Which of the following is a responsibility of citizenship? A. Running for elected office B. Paying federal taxes C. Serving in the military D. Participating in elections

Option B is correct because it refers to an obligatory rather than a voluntary aspect of citizenship.

Which of the following stages of spelling development is primarily characterized by letter-sound correspondence? A. Semiphonetic B. Phonetic C. Transitional D. Conventional

Option B is correct because phonetic spelling, also known as invented spelling, requires students to use their knowledge of sounds in words and then assign corresponding letters.

A first-grade teacher plans to use the following passage from a nonfiction text as the introduction for a series of literacy lessons about tigers. As part of the unit, students will use the nonfiction excerpt and other research to create their own stories about a tiger. - Passage The tiger is a large cat found in Asia and parts of Russia. Most tigers are black, white and orange, although some are only white and black. They can run at speeds of 35 miles per hour, even though they are the largest species of cat. Tigers can weigh 400-675 pounds, and their bodies can be up to nine feet long. Is your body as long as a tiger? Tigers are endangered in the wild, because people often destroy their forest homes. In the United States, tigers can be seen in zoos and wildlife preserves. Have you ever seen a tiger? - The following is the fictional story written by Jack. Sammy the baby tiger lives at a zoo in Texas.He like to play with his toy ball. He also like to play with his bruther and sistur. - Which of the following text elements is most appropriate for the teacher to introduce in preparation for the writing assignment? A. Inclusion of illustrations B. Plot development C. Incorporation of facts D. Conflict resolution

Option B is correct because plot development is a characteristic of fiction text.

When selecting vocabulary from magazine or newspaper articles used in instruction, which of the following methods is most effective? A. Selecting vocabulary based on the teacher's experience from previous years of instruction B. Asking students to identify words for further study when they read an article for the first time C. Using newspapers and magazines specifically made for school use, with bolded vocabulary terms D. Cross-referencing articles taught in class with district vocabulary lists to identify key words

Option B is correct because student selection of words for further study is the best way to ensure that the class is studying words that students will find useful and memorable.

Which of the following should students be able to do in order to begin improvising songs? A. Notate from dictation B. Sing in tune C. Read music D. Know the blues style

Option B is correct because students must sing in-tune before they can improvise tonally.

A fourth-grade teacher notices several students who are shy and reluctant to speak in class. What strategy would be most effective in motivating students' participation in class while enhancing their listening and speaking skills? A. Allowing students regular opportunities to read aloud in front of the class B. Giving students opportunities to share and listen to stories in a small-group setting C. Encouraging students to orally respond to higher-level thinking questions during class D. Permitting students to choose which groups of students they feel comfortable speaking to

Option B is correct because telling personal stories, listening to others' stories, and providing feedback and questions help build students' linguistic fluency, meaningful oral expression, confidence, receptive language skills, and listening comprehension skills. In addition, being in a small-group setting will put the students more at ease.

Which of the following had the greatest impact on Anglo settlement in Hispanic Texas? A. Native Americans encouraged trade with Anglos. B. Mexican land grants provided inexpensive properties in Texas. C. Government payments enticed settlers to inhabit American Indian territory. D. The prospect of religious freedom in Texas attracted Anglo settlement.

Option B is correct because the Mexican government approved land grants to encourage Anglos to move to Texas. Anglos could purchase land for much less in Texas than in the United States, which encouraged large groups of Anglos to move to Texas.

Which of the following phrases best describes the human digestive system? A. A group of similar organs that function independently B. A continuous tube with attached organs that performed different functions C. A group of similar organs connected by a network of blood vessels D. A system of organs that provide for food storage in the body

Option B is correct because the digestive system is a continuous tube that runs from the mouth to the anus and contains attached organs that perform different functions that aid in digestion and the breakdown of food.

A fifth-grade teacher writes the problem 56×12 on the board. Students begin to solve the problem mentally, and as each student finds a solution, he or she signals the teacher with a thumbs-up signal. When almost every student has given a thumbs-up signal, the teacher has the following dialogue with a student. Teacher: "Billy, what answer did you come up with?" Billy: "792." Teacher: "Great job, Billy! That is the correct answer. Raise your hand if you found 792 to be the product, like Billy." Almost every student in the class raised a hand. The teacher writes the next problem on the board. Which of the following instructional adjustments can the teacher make to best assess all of the students' understanding of multiplying two-digit numbers? A. Allowing students to write their answers on paper, then collecting the papers at the end of the lesson B. Asking multiple students to share and defend their solutions before acknowledging the correct answer C. Asking students who did not hold up their thumbs to share their answer and explain D. Having Billy work the problem out on the board in front of the class

Option B is correct because the discussion gives the teacher an opportunity to hear how students are solving the problem. It will also give students an opportunity to share before they know their answer is wrong.

After learning the theoretical probability of a two-sided coin landing on any one side, students work in groups to flip the coin several times and get the following results: 9 heads and 6 tails. Based on the scenario, which of the following observations made by students about probability is accurate? A. The theoretical probability of a coin's landing on heads, 0.5, is equal to the experimental probability obtained. B. The theoretical probability of a coin landing on heads is less than the experimental probability obtained. C. The experimental probability of a coin landing on heads, 0.6, is lower than expected. D. The experimental probability would have been more accurate if the students had decreased the number of trials.

Option B is correct because the experimental probability and the theoretical probability of the coin landing on heads are respectively 0.6 and 0.5. The theoretical probability is thus less than the experimental probability.

Which of the following statements best describes the continuing role of familial oral storytelling traditions in many cultures around the world? A. Stories have become the primary means by which cultures interact with one another in an increasingly globalized world. B. Oral traditions serve as a means of transmitting knowledge of cultural practices and societal norms to others. C. New advances in technology have made oral traditions largely irrelevant in most cultures around the world. D. Religious groups utilize storytelling mainly to discredit the beliefs of other religions and cultural practices.

Option B is correct because the family unit uses storytelling to transmit knowledge of the culture and society in which it exists.

Of the following activities, which best introduces to students the process skill of classification? A. Measuring the time it takes a marble to reach the bottom of an inclined plane when dropped from different heights B. Sorting a collection of objects into metals and nonmetals, then sorting the metals into magnetic and nonmagnetic C. Modeling the faces of the moon using a foam ball and light, then describing and drawing their observations D. Representing the stages of the life cycle of a butterfly using craft materials provided by the teacher

Option B is correct because the students are performing two consecutive binary classifications based on the physical properties of the objects.

Which of the following events was a result of human interaction with the environment during the Spanish colonial era of Texas history? A. The construction of presidios near churches B. The conversion of American Indians to Christianity C. The building of acequias for the missions D. The creation of alcaldes for civil settlements

Option C is correct because acequias were ditches dug to direct river water toward the missions.

According to current research in the field of physical education, which of the following best promotes student participation in lifelong physical activity? A. Learning how to play popular sports and games B. Playing for a team that wins games regularly C. Acquiring basic skills needed to participate in a variety of activities D. Becoming familiar with common gymnasium equipment

Option C is correct because current research indicates that when students acquire the basic skills they need to participate in a variety of activities, they are more willing to do so and more confident in their ability.

Which of the following is most likely to help fourth-grade students understand the concept of characterization? A. Having students read and watch a variety of interviews with a noted author B. Having students act out the sounds and movements of various animals from a familiar story C. Directing students in a classroom performance of a play that is based on a familiar story D. Coaching individual students on the use of vocal inflection in reciting stories

Option C is correct because directing students in a classroom performance will help them understand characterization as they act out characters and actions as described by the author.

During a unit on propaganda, a sixth-grade teacher asks students to evaluate short statements made in advertising materials and to attempt to detect any faulty reasoning. Which of the following levels of reading comprehension is primarily being targeted in the lesson? A. Literal B. Inferential C. Evaluative D. Appreciative

Option C is correct because evaluative comprehension includes the skill of detecting faulty reasoning. Students must apply what they have read to their own lives and knowledge of the world to make judgments about text.

Which of the following statements best explains why the algebraic formula for the area of a triangle is 1/2 bh? A. A parallelogram can be transformed into a rectangle if a triangular piece is moved from one side to the other. B. The height of a triangle is not equal to the length of one of its sides, and the length must be divided by 2 to be used to find the area of the triangle. C. A parallelogram is composed of two congruent triangles, so the area of a parallelogram with the same base and height as the triangle can be divided by 2 to find the area of the triangle. D. This formula is only true for scalene triangles because all of their sides are different lengths, so one has to use the base and height to find the area.

Option C is correct because every parallelogram is made up of two congruent triangles. The formula for the area of a parallelogram is b x h, so the area of each of the two congruent triangles is half the area of the parallelogram. Two congruent triangles can always be arranged to form a parallelogram with the same base and the same height as the triangles. The area of the triangle will therefore be one-half as much as that of the parallelogram.

Word problem: Samantha's Bakery sells cupcakes in packages of 12 and cookies in packages of 20. The bakery sold the same number of cupcakes and cookies yesterday. What is the minimum number of cupcakes that the bakery could have sold? A teacher creates the word problem shown for a math lesson. Based on the word problem, the lesson will most likely cover which of the following mathematics concepts? A. Least common factor B. Greatest common factor C. Least common multiple D. Greatest common multiple

Option C is correct because finding the least common multiple will identify the smallest number of cupcakes sold. In fact, let x be the number of packages of cupcakes that were sold and y be the number of packages of cookies that were sold. The number of sold cupcakes will be 12x, and the number of sold cookies will be 20y. Clearly 12 divides 12x and 20 divides 20y. Since 12x = 20y, 20 must also divide 12x. Since 12 and 20 both divide 12x, 12x is a common multiple of 12 and 20. The problem asks for the minimum (or least) number of cupcakes that could have been sold, so the least common multiple must be found to answer the question.

An object is being acted on by a force of 20 N directed to the left and a force of 30 N directed to the right. What is the net force acting on the object? A. 10 N to the left B. 50 N to the left C. 10 N to the right D. 50 N to the right

Option C is correct because forces are vector quantities; thus, both magnitude and direction must be considered when adding. In the example, the forces are acting in opposite directions, so the net magnitude of the force is 10 N. The force directed to the right is greater, so the net force is directed to the right.

To best assess a student's graphophonemic knowledge, a teacher should have the student A. read aloud the letters of the alphabet to a partner. B. circle the vowels in the student's first name. C. identify a word based on a sequence of letter-sound correspondence. D. write all the irregular words the student knows in a spelling journal.

Option C is correct because identifying the letter-sound correspondence will allow students to decode other words.

When teaching students to sing using the Kodály method, which of the following is the first interval taken from folk songs and used in echo singing? A. Ti-do B. Mi-do C. Sol-mi D. La-ti

Option C is correct because it is the first interval that is within the Kodaly sequence of intervals.

A first-grade teacher plans to use the following passage from a nonfiction text as the introduction for a series of literacy lessons about tigers. As part of the unit, students will use the nonfiction excerpt and other research to create their own stories about a tiger. - Passage The tiger is a large cat found in Asia and parts of Russia. Most tigers are black, white and orange, although some are only white and black. They can run at speeds of 35 miles per hour, even though they are the largest species of cat. Tigers can weigh 400-675 pounds, and their bodies can be up to nine feet long. Is your body as long as a tiger? Tigers are endangered in the wild, because people often destroy their forest homes. In the United States, tigers can be seen in zoos and wildlife preserves. Have you ever seen a tiger? - The following is the fictional story written by Jack. Sammy the baby tiger lives at a zoo in Texas.He like to play with his toy ball. He also like to play with his bruther and sistur. - Which of the following sentences from the excerpt best explains the idea of cause and effect? A. Most tigers are black, white and orange, although some are only white and black. B. They can run at speeds of 35 miles per hour, even though they are the largest species of cat. C. Tigers are endangered in the wild, because people often destroy their forest homes. D. In the United States, tigers can be seen in zoos and wildlife preserves.

Option C is correct because it provides a cause-and-effect relationship.

Which of the following behaviors is most likely to reduce a person's risk of developing melanoma? A. Avoiding cigarettes B. Abstaining from alcohol use C. Avoiding exposure to carcinogenic chemicals D. Protecting the skin against excessive exposure to the sun

Option D is correct because melanoma is a type of skin cancer that is primarily caused by long-term unprotected exposure to the sun.

Of the following mixtures, which can be most effectively separated into its components using a mesh screen? A. Oil and water B. Sand and water C. Sand and pebbles D. Table sugar and water

Option C is correct because mesh screens or sieves are used to separate solid materials based on particle size. The particle size of sand is less than 2 mm while the particle size of gravel is greater than 2 mm. Therefore a screen with openings of 2 mm can be used to separate sand and gravel.

Students in a kindergarten class are learning to analyze and spell phonetically regular words. They have learned to identify individual phonemes and to blend onsets and rimes. Which of the following is the most appropriate to teach next? A. Vowel-consonant patterns B. Types of syllables C. Short and long vowels D. Vowel diphthongs

Option C is correct because once students have learned the individual sounds made by letters and can blend the sounds at the beginnings and ends of words, they must be able to analyze the vowels within the word and determine whether the vowels are short or long so they can assign meaning to the word as a whole.

Which of the following is the most appropriate tool for teaching students the geographic concept of hemispheres? A. Web-based encyclopedias B. Digital global positioning systems C. Online three-dimensional maps D. Internet travel blogs

Option C is correct because online three-dimensional maps allow students to see Earth from many viewpoints besides traditional flat representations.

A fourth-grade teacher wants to help students become more aware of their literacy development and better monitor their progress in reading and writing. To best help students track their own development, the teacher should have students A. write as many grade-level vocabulary words by memory as they can within five minutes. B. complete a daily journal entry reflecting on what they have learned that day. C. set specific and individual goals regarding improvements they want to make. D. work with a partner to complete weekly running records.

Option C is correct because setting specific and individual goals will help students become more invested in their own learning and will provide them with a way to hold themselves accountable.

While discussing a play they recently saw, students note that one of the characters often appeared onstage in the shadows. When confronted with upsetting news, the same character was shown in red light. As described, which of the following is a primary purpose of the lighting? A. Enhancing performance visibility B. Directing an actor's movement C. Prompting inferences about the character's personality D. Developing a realistic setting for the character

Option C is correct because specifically placed lighting or colored transparencies over the lights helps cue an inference regarding the character's personality.

Which of the following is most likely to occur when a warm air mass meets a cold air mass at Earth's surface? A. The sky will become clear. B. All wind will cease. C. Clouds will form and inclement weather will usually develop. D. The air pressure will increase and fog will form.

Option C is correct because the boundary of air masses of two distinct temperatures is called a front. Along cold fronts and warm fronts, clouds develop as the less dense warm air rises above the cooler air. This allows for the formation of clouds, and usually precipitation occurs.

Third-grade students are assigned to write about their city after reading various texts about it. Which of the following types of writing will best allow the students to include academic vocabulary they learned from the reading? A. Rhyming poetry B. Autobiography C. Expository essay D. Fictional story

Option C is correct because the expository essay is the only writing example given that is not creative in nature. It is nonfiction that easily lends itself to the inclusion of academic vocabulary words.

Which of the following is the stage in the life cycle of a butterfly that is the major period of feeding and growth? A. Adult B. Egg C. Larva D. Pupa

Option C is correct because the larval (caterpillar) stage is the major feeding and growth stage.

A sixth-grade teacher has a number of students experiencing reading difficulties. Which of the following is the best way to assess the students' fluency skills and reading levels? A. Having students read silently and answer questions that follow the reading B. Having students read aloud to determine how fast they can read a piece of text C. Having students read aloud for one minute and count the number of words read correctly D. Having students read silently and write down any unfamiliar words in the text

Option C is correct because the main method of evaluating reading fluency and determining the reading level is to count the number of words a student reads correctly during a one-minute oral reading.

A second-grade teacher can best help students develop an understanding of a new text by asking students to A. complete a fill-in-the-blank quiz after reading a whole-class story. B. make predictions about a story before they see the cover of the book. C. use literature response journals to record mental images generated from their reading. D. read a similar story aloud to a partner and then answer questions orally.

Option C is correct because when readers create mental images, they engage with text in ways that make it memorable to them.

"There is an opinion that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the administration of the government and serve to keep alive the spirit of liberty. This within certain limits is probably true; and in governments of a monarchical cast, patriotism may look with indulgence, if not with favor, upon the spirit of party. But in those of the popular character, in governments purely elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural tendency, it is certain there will always be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose. And there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be by force of public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume." In the excerpt above from his final speech as president, George Washington urged United States citizens to A. repay the national debt. B. avoid foreign alliances. C. limit freedom of speech. D. refrain from joining political parties.

Option D is correct because Washington is discussing his beliefs about the dangers of political parties in the United States. Washington believed that the formation of political parties might affect the nation's ability to make effective decisions.

A first-grade teacher plans to use the following passage from a nonfiction text as the introduction for a series of literacy lessons about tigers. As part of the unit, students will use the nonfiction excerpt and other research to create their own stories about a tiger. - Passage The tiger is a large cat found in Asia and parts of Russia. Most tigers are black, white and orange, although some are only white and black. They can run at speeds of 35 miles per hour, even though they are the largest species of cat. Tigers can weigh 400-675 pounds, and their bodies can be up to nine feet long. Is your body as long as a tiger? Tigers are endangered in the wild, because people often destroy their forest homes. In the United States, tigers can be seen in zoos and wildlife preserves. Have you ever seen a tiger? - The following is the fictional story written by Jack. Sammy the baby tiger lives at a zoo in Texas. He like to play with his toy ball. He also like to play with his bruther and sistur. - In which of the following ways does the expository text best help build students' vocabulary knowledge and development? A. By connecting geographic regions to the topic of the excerpt B. By including advanced words such as "endangered" and "preserve" C. By encouraging students to respond to a question that requires specialized vocabulary D. By allowing students to determine the meaning of unknown words in context

Option D is correct because although the excerpt contains some difficult words ("species" and "endangered"), students should be able to arrive at the meanings of these words by listening to the surrounding words and discussing the context of the sentences and paragraph as a whole.

When a vast amount of ash is expelled from a volcano during a catastrophic eruption, some of this ash can remain in the atmosphere for years. Which of the following changes in Earth's system most likely results from this situation? A. Decreased solar reflection leading to higher global temperatures B. Decreased solar reflection leading to lower global temperatures C. Increased solar reflection leading to higher global temperatures D. Increased solar reflection leading to lower global temperatures

Option D is correct because as more ash is added to the atmosphere, sunlight is more liable to bounce off the ash particles and be reflected back into space. When less sunlight passes through the atmosphere, Earth's surface and atmosphere remain cooler.

Which of the following terms describes the phenomenon of a young child having greater control of his or her upper torso than of his or her legs or feet? A. Component stages B. Proximodistal development C. Developmental biodynamics D. Cephalocaudal development

Option D is correct because cephalocaudal development describes physical development that starts from the head, then progresses to the lower parts of the body, such as the legs and feet.

Which of the following types of children's songs combine singing and movement in order to promote enjoyment of music and develop music literacy in students? A. Work songs B. Spirituals C. Jingles D. Game songs

Option D is correct because game songs are used throughout the world and by different cultures for play and enjoyment. Game songs often use movement and dance. Learning game songs helps to promote musicality among children and is the basis for becoming musically literate.

A first-grade teacher has set up the following math workstations for students to work in pairs. Station 1: Students toss 7 two-color counters from a cup and record the addition equation represented. They repeat the process ten times. Station 2: Each student builds a tower of 8 cubes using two different colors, and then records the addition equation that the colors represent. Students then exchange towers and record the addition equation for the new towers. Station 3: Students are provided with 9 counters each. One student hides some of the counters. The other student looks at how many counters remain present and determines how many are hidden. The students then record the equation that the missing counters represent. Which of the following relationships are the students most likely exploring in the stations? A. Spatial concepts B. One more and one less C. Benchmarking numbers D. Part-part-whole

Option D is correct because in the activity, the students are conceptualizing that a number is made up of two or more parts.

A first-grade teacher plans to use the following passage from a nonfiction text as the introduction for a series of literacy lessons about tigers. As part of the unit, students will use the nonfiction excerpt and other research to create their own stories about a tiger. - Passage The tiger is a large cat found in Asia and parts of Russia. Most tigers are black, white and orange, although some are only white and black. They can run at speeds of 35 miles per hour, even though they are the largest species of cat. Tigers can weigh 400-675 pounds, and their bodies can be up to nine feet long. Is your body as long as a tiger? Tigers are endangered in the wild, because people often destroy their forest homes. In the United States, tigers can be seen in zoos and wildlife preserves. Have you ever seen a tiger? - The following is the fictional story written by Jack. Sammy the baby tiger lives at a zoo in Texas. He like to play with his toy ball. He also like to play with his bruther and sistur. - Which of the following comments from the teacher best addresses the strengths and weaknesses of Jack's writing? A. You need to add an illustration to help the reader picture what the tiger cub is doing. B. You did a great job using punctuation at the end of each sentence to organize your thoughts. C. Have you considered using a dictionary to help you identify misspelled words? D. Have you considered adding more details to describe the tiger cub to complement the complete sentences you created?

Option D is correct because it addresses the strengths and needs of Jack's writing.

Which of the following silent reading practices provides the best conditions for students' individual reading improvement? A. Engaging in sustained silent reading for an hour once a week while the teacher reads a book to model engaged reading behaviors B. Dropping everything and reading several times a week for 30 minutes while the teacher grades papers or prepares instructional materials C. Reading silently any time independent work has been completed early while the teacher keeps anecdotal records of student behaviors D. Participating in scaffolded silent reading for 20 minutes every day while the teacher confers with students individually about their reading

Option D is correct because students are receiving support through scaffolding. This could be in the form of minilessons, conferencing, dialogue journaling or other supports.

Which of the following is the Coriolis effect most likely to influence? A. The amount of solar radiation reaching Earth's surface B. The height of a tsunami C. The dew point of an air mass D. The circulation pattern of global wind belts

Option D is correct because the Earth rotates, and as air moves, it undergoes an apparent deflection from its path, as seen by an observer on Earth. This apparent deflection is called the Coriolis effect and is a result of Earth's rotation.

Of the following, which best demonstrates the use of an inquiry-based activity during a unit on physical properties of matter? A. Creating a graphic organizer of physical properties, using a textbook B. Describing the physical properties of different objects in a journal C. Matching terms that describe physical properties with their definitions D. Separating a mixture, using the physical properties of its components

Option D is correct because the activity of separating a mixture into its components engages the students and develops inquiry skills such as conducting investigations, gathering data, analyzing evidence, and logical reasoning.

Celeste is buying erasers for 8 of her friends. There are 76 erasers left at the store. Which of the following approaches can Celeste use to determine the greatest number of erasers she can buy to give each of her friends the same number and have none remaining? A. Drawing a picture of 76 erasers and circling groups of 8 before counting the number of groups created B. Creating a table in which one column represents the number of erasers at the store and the other represents the number of erasers each friend receives C. Using a standard algorithm learned previously in class to solve 76 divided by 8 D. Making an organized list of the multiples of 8 to see which one is closest to 76

Option D is correct because the approach described provides the correct answer of how many erasers Celeste should buy at the store, 72.

A fifth-grade teacher instructs students to use a camera to take pictures of various objects around the school. The students are to use the following methods when taking pictures. • Shoot from up high and down low. • Shoot from different sides and angles. The activity will best help students understand the visual concept of A. balance. B. narrative. C. symbolism. D. perspective.

Option D is correct because the resulting photographs will demonstrate to the students how perspective (the illusion that images diminish in space along converging lines) is affected by different angles.

When teaching students about the lines and spaces of the grand staff, the mnemonic "All Cows Eat Grass" helps them remember A. the lines of the treble clef. B. the spaces of the treble clef. C. the lines of the bass clef. D. the spaces of the bass clef.

Option D is correct because the spaces of the bass clef, beginning with the lowest space, are A-C-E-G.

Which of the following musical terms tells the performer to play loudly, then immediately play quietly? A. cresc. B. mf C. dim. D. fp

Option D is correct because the symbol means to perform loudly then immediately quietly.

Which of the following is equivalent to 200 centimeters? A. 2 millimeters B. 20 millimeters C. 0.2 meter D. 2 meters

Option D is correct because there are 100 centimeters in 1 meter, therefore 200 centimeters is equivalent to 2 meters.

Which of the following assignments best assesses students' use of quotation marks in writing? A. A journal entry describing the outcome of a science experiment B. A compare and contrast essay about two battles reviewed in social studies class C. A persuasive letter to the school board about the school dress code D. A personal narrative about a time that students disagreed with a friend

Option D is correct because this assignment lends itself to the use of dialogue, and therefore to the use of quotation marks.

Of the following, which is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States? A. Distracted driving B. Infectious diseases C. Sedentary lifestyle D. Tobacco use

Option D is correct because tobacco use, in particular tobacco smoking, is the leading cause of death in the United States and worldwide. Tobacco use is a major risk factor for heart and lung diseases, including lung cancer.

Based on the economic principles of supply and demand, a decrease in the production rates of oil will most likely result in which of the following? A. Increased capital investment in the oil industry B. Increased wages for oil-field workers C. Increased stock of produced oil D. Increased oil prices for consumers

Option D is correct because when supply falls, the temporary shortage drives up the price.

A first-grade teacher has several students who lack phonological and phonemic awareness skills. To best provide opportunities for the students to develop the skills at home, the teacher should assign homework that includes which of the following activities? A. Writing the alphabet on notebook paper B. Listening to stories on tape or on a home computer C. Pointing out the vowels in words when reading aloud D. Playing word and sound games with family members

Option D is correct because word and sound games allow students to hear the individual sounds in words.

An art teacher has her sixth-grade students use a compass, ruler and colored pencils to create a design that will be woven onto a pegged piece of wood in the form of string art. The activity would be most appropriate for which of the following interdisciplinary units? A. A social studies unit on Medieval stained glass B. A science unit about rain and snow C. A reading unit focused on sequencing ideas D. A math unit on geometric shapes and angles

Option D is correct because wrapping the string on the pegs in different patterns creates corresponding differences in angles and shapes.

A teacher works with third-grade students to teach them the steps of the writing process. Currently, the students are writing sentences and paragraphs. Which THREE of the following steps of the writing process remain for the students to complete? A. Sharing or displaying the finished product B. Taking out or adding words or sentences C. Rewriting text to correct any mechanical errors D. Brainstorming ideas on a topic

Options A B and C are correct because these steps of the writing process all take place after a draft of writing is completed.

A teacher reviews four students' current stages of writing development and notes the following. Student 1: The student writes letters and words but sometimes does not add spacing between words. Student 2: The student makes an assortment of marks resembling a drawing on a paper. Student 3: The student spells many words the way they sound. Student 4: The student writes capital letters without spacing. Based on the information above, which TWO students display the most advanced development in their writing? A. Student 1 B. Student 2 C. Student 3 D. Student 4

Options A and C are correct because student 1 displays characteristics of the stage of writing development known as "Beginning Sounds Emerge." Student 3 displays characteristics of the stage of writing development known as "Initial, Middle, and Final Sounds."

Which of the following are planets? Select all that apply. A. Mars B. Mercury C. Neptune D. Titan

Options A, B and C are correct because Mars, Mercury and Neptune meet all the conditions set by the International Astronomical Union to be classified as planets. According to the IAU definition, a planet is a celestial body that is in orbit around the Sun, has sufficient mass to assume a nearly round shape, and has cleared the neighborhood around its orbit.