CSET Subtest 1 Practice Test

Which of the following statements best explains how knowing a language that is historically related to English (e.g., German, French, Spanish) can facilitate an individual's acquisition of English as a second language? A. Many words and roots are likely to have similar spellings and meanings in English and in the individual's first language. B. English prefixes and suffixes are likely to resemble the affixes used in the individual's first language. C. The most frequently occurring speech sounds in English and in the individual's first language are likely to be the same. D. Social conventions relating to language use are likely to be similar in English and in the individual's first language.

A. Many words and roots are likely to have similar spellings and meanings in English and in the individual's first language.

Which of the following best describes one major cause of the decline of the Roman Empire? A. Political instability and use of mercenary armies undermined the security of the empire. B. A sharp increase in the birthrate led to overpopulation in major urban centers of the empire. C. The growth of Christianity caused widespread religious conflict throughout the empire. D. The subdivision of large country estates led to a major decline in agricultural output.

A. Political instability and use of mercenary armies undermined the security of the empire.

Which of the following sentences contains a relative clause? A. The circus that came to town in August has an excellent trapeze act. B. After looking in the attic, I gave up my search for the records. C. As the waiter walked toward the table, he slipped and fell. D. They ran down the street, but they couldn't catch the ice cream truck.

A. The circus that came to town in August has an excellent trapeze act.

Which of the following would be most important to include in the introduction to a persuasive essay? A. an explanation of why the issue addressed by the essay is important B. a description of the author's credentials and qualifications C. a detailed summary of the logical steps in the essay's argument D. a rebuttal of alternative points of view

A. an explanation of why the issue addressed by the essay is important

Oral rhyming activities are most likely to promote phonemic awareness by helping a child learn to: A. attend to the sounds shared by words in the same word family. B. identify the junctures between syllables in spoken words. C. recognize how the structure of a word relates to its meaning. D. identify spelling patterns that correspond to specific sounds.

A. attend to the sounds shared by words in the same word family.

A lack of variation in rate, pitch, and rhythm is most likely to undermine the delivery of an oral presentation by: A. diminishing the presentation's emotional effect. B. interfering with the logical continuity of the presentation. C. causing some audience members to feel excluded. D. requiring the audience to attend to multiple stimuli.

A. diminishing the presentation's emotional effect.

Which of the following phonemic awareness skills typically is easiest for children to acquire? A. identifying the initial sound in a word (e.g., /b/ in bed) B. recognizing that two words contain the same sound (e.g., thin and path) C. blending sounds together to form a spoken word (e.g., /t/ + /a/ + /g/ = tag) D. identifying a word that does not belong in a group of three spoken words (e.g., gate, game, shake)

A. identifying the initial sound in a word (e.g., /b/ in bed)

3. The languages of the world are most similar in which of the following respects? A. the basic principles of phrase structure (e.g., the subject-predicate structure of sentences) B. the speech sounds that are used to form words C. the basic rules of morphology (e.g., adding s to a singular noun to make a plural) D. the role of volume in communicating information

A. the basic principles of phrase structure (e.g., the subject-predicate structure of sentences)

The samurai tradition of feudal Japan most closely resembled which of the following features of medieval Europe? A. the code of chivalry of European knights B. the philosophical tradition of scholastic philosophers C. the monastic vows of European monks D. the guild system of European merchants

A. the code of chivalry of European knights

Which of the following was most responsible for the development of a national market in the United States during the late nineteenth century? A. the expansion of the railroad and telegraph network B. the growth of the iron and steel industry C. the formation of the Interstate Commerce Commission D. the increased mobility of the industrial labor force

A. the expansion of the railroad and telegraph network

During the 1990s Latino political power in California grew at an unprecedented rate. Which of the following was the most important reason or reasons for this political renaissance? A. the growing proportion of Latinos in the California population B. the increased geographical mobility of Latinos within California C. the growth of Spanish-language radio, television, and newspapers in the state D. efforts by the national Republican and Democratic parties to court Latino voters

A. the growing proportion of Latinos in the California population

Which of the following best describes a shared function of the mission, the presidio, and the pueblo in early California history? A. to maintain social order B. to transmit cultural values C. to promote trade D. to convert non-Christians

A. to maintain social order

The style of the passage most clearly reflects the style of many traditional folk tales in its: A. use of a simple narrative structure with repeated words and phrases. B. reliance on dialogue rather than exposition to advance the plot. C. use of personification to develop psychological complexity. D. reliance on extended metaphor to develop the primary theme.

A. use of a simple narrative structure with repeated words and phrases.

Which of the following best describes an important development in California society during the era of Mexican rule (1821-1848)? A. The decline of the ranchero class opened up new opportunities for poorer settlers. B. Growing criticism of the mission system prompted efforts to transfer mission holdings into private hands. C. The creation of an effective judicial system reduced conflict among settlers. D. The collapse of commercial relations with foreign states undermined the economy.

B. Growing criticism of the mission system prompted efforts to transfer mission holdings into private hands

12. Which of the following changes could best improve the logical organization of the passage? A. Move Sentence 4 so that it follows Sentence 1. B. Move Sentence 4 so that it follows Sentence 6. C. Move Sentence 7 so that it follows Sentence 1. D. Move Sentence 7 so that it follows Sentence 4.

B. Move Sentence 4 so that it follows Sentence 6.

In which of the following ways did geographic factors have an important influence on the development of Inca civilization between the eleventh and fifteenth centuries C.E. (A.D.)? A. The dispersal of population within the Inca Empire made it necessary to employ a highly decentralized form of government that gave considerable autonomy to local regions. B. The mountains of western South America were an impediment to building an empire, prompting the development of sophisticated engineering technologies. C. The danger of tropical storms to Inca fishing and agriculture prompted the systematic application of meteorological observations, data collection, and predictions. D. The existence of numerous rivers enabled Inca rulers to collect natural resources from the interior and trade them throughout the hemisphere.

B. The mountains of western South America were an impediment to building an empire, prompting the development of sophisticated engineering technologies.

According to current research, reading difficulties that are not the result of limited intelligence or lack of educational opportunity are most often caused by: A. poorly developed visual discrimination skills. B. a deficit in phonological processing. C. poorly developed oral language abilities. D. a lack of motivation.

B. a deficit in phonological processing.

Increasing the rate of speech in an oral presentation would be most effective for: A. compensating for poor acoustics in a room. B. conveying a feeling of excitement. C. stating the conclusion of a logical argument. D. emphasizing an important point.

B. conveying a feeling of excitement.

According to current research, which of the following competencies best predict a child's success in learning to read in the primary grades? A. logical and analytical abilities B. letter knowledge and phonemic awareness C. perceptual and motor skills D. concept knowledge and oral vocabulary

B. letter knowledge and phonemic awareness

In this poem, the repetition of words and rhythms reinforces the poem's: A. metrical regularity. B. mood of anxiety. C. rhetorical emphasis. D. hostile tone.

B. mood of anxiety.

Which of the following best describes the geographical setting in which the first civilizations of Asia and Africa emerged? A. mountainous areas where settle- ments could be easily defended against invasion B. river valleys where there was an abundance of fertile soil and fresh water C. inland prairies where families could subsist on food obtained from hunting and gathering activities D. elevated plateaus where there was ample grazing land for cattle and sheep

B. river valleys where there was an abundance of fertile soil and fresh water

The narrator of the poem can best be characterized as: A. angry at himself. B. seeking to evade emotional pain through restless activity. C. desperate for human companionship. D. unwilling to acknowledge the fact of his wife's death.

B. seeking to evade emotional pain through restless activity.

Which of the following best illustrates the influence of ancient Rome on the later development of European civilization? A. the art and architecture of Spain B. the legal code of France C. the educational system of Great Britain D. the literature of Germany

B. the legal code of France

Which of the following best describes a shared aim of the voyages of exploration commanded by John Cabot, Jacques Cartier, and Henry Hudson? A. to control the North American fur trade B. to discover a westward route to Asia C. to establish bases for the destruction of Spanish shipping D. to convert American Indians to Christianity

B. to discover a westward route to Asia

Use the excerpt below from the "Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions" of the Seneca Falls Convention of 1848 to answer the question that follows. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, following unchangingly the same object, shows a plan to bring them under absolute control and tyranny, it is their duty to throw off such government, and to provide new safeguards for their future security. Such has been the patient suffering of women under this govern- ment, and such is now the necessity which forces them to demand the equal position to which they are entitled. Which of the following was the main reason that the authors of the declaration employed the language used in the excerpt above? A. to demand that public officials extend to women the freedoms contained in the Bill of Rights B. to link the demands of women to the grievances of the Revolutionary generation C. to remind Americans of the contributions that women made to the struggle for independence D. to urge women to organize a movement to replace the U.S. Constitution

B. to link the demands of women to the grievances of the Revolutionary generation

Some common vowel patterns are associated with more than one pronunciation (e.g., steam and bread). Which of the following nonsense words illustrates a vowel pattern that is highly consistent in its pronunciation? A. stook B. troan C. spow D. mough

B. troan

• Annual floods enriched lands used for farming and cattle raising. • Timber and iron ore deposits provided the basis for a thriving iron industry. • Its capital city was strategically located on major trade routes. • Riches from gold and emerald mines added to the kingdom's prosperity. The geographic characteristics listed above best describe which of the following ancient civilizations? A. Israel B. Phoenicia C. Kush D. Persia

C. Kush

1Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is the regular meeting site of an international society of engineers who specialize in bridge building. 2This choice of locale is no accident. 3Pittsburgh is famous for the dozens of bridges spanning the city's three rivers. 4Almost every conceivable type of bridge can be found in or around Pittsburgh. 5Many of these bridges have idiosyncratic features, due to the unique requirements posed by the city's undulating terrain. Which of the following is the topic sentence of this paragraph? A. Sentence 1 B. Sentence 2 C. Sentence 3 D. Sentence 4

C. Sentence 3

Which sentence most strongly suggests that the speech is persuasive in its intent? A. Sentence 1 B. Sentence 2 C. Sentence 4 D. Sentence 5

C. Sentence 4

13. Which of the following revisions of a sentence would best improve the style of the passage? A. Sentence 1: Political opposition in Congress led to the defeat of John Quincy Adams by Andrew Jackson in the presidential election of 1828. B. Sentence 3: The opposition was led by Senator Martin Van Buren, who hailed from New York. C. Sentence 5: Van Buren cleverly made it appear that Adams had raised tariffs on imported goods. D. Sentence 7: The party that occurred during the inauguration could not be contained within the walls of the White House.

C. Sentence 5: Van Buren cleverly made it appear that Adams had raised tariffs on imported goods.

Which of the following best describes the significance of a major military development of the American Revolution? A. The British victory at the Battle of Bunker Hill (1775) forced patriot leaders to abandon plans to conquer Canada. B. The victories of troops commanded by George Rogers Clark gave the Americans control of the southern colonies for much of the war. C. The patriot victory at the Battle of Saratoga (1777) prompted France to sign a treaty with American leaders. D. The victories of ships commanded by John Paul Jones forced Great Britain to abandon its blockade of American coastal areas.

C. The patriot victory at the Battle of Saratoga (1777) prompted France to sign a treaty with American leaders.

In which of the following sentences is the underlined word used correctly? A. When my supervisor spoke with me, she [inferred] that I'd better start showing up on time. B. To what do you [infer] this sudden change in the weather? C. When I made that remark, I didn't mean to [imply] that you had caused a problem. D. I'm not sure it's possible to [imply] much of anything from this data.

C. When I made that remark, I didn't mean to [imply] that you had caused a problem.

As a result of the Mexican War of the 1840s, California became a territory of the United States. Which of the following was the immediate cause of the war? A. commercial rivalry between the United States and Mexico B. Mexican opposition to U.S. efforts to acquire the Oregon Territory C. a boundary dispute between the United States and Mexico D. U.S. opposition to Mexican expansionism on the Pacific Coast

C. a boundary dispute between the United States and Mexico

Hinduism most strongly influenced which of the following features of ancient Indian civilization? A. principles of economic exchange B. structure and organization of government C. relations among social groups D. methods of scientific investigation

C. relations among social groups

Which of the following qualitative factors would likely contribute most significantly to the difficulty level of the passage for sixth-grade students? A. the author's use of conventions of the memoir genre B. demands on students' knowledge of a specific setting C. the author's use of figurative language to express ideas D. demands on students' knowledge of archaic language

C. the author's use of figurative language to express ideas

The Catholic Church most influenced which of the following developments in medieval Europe? A. the settlement of new lands B. the revival of trade C. the emergence of universities D. the growth of towns

C. the emergence of universities

Which of the following was an important factor in the abandonment of Radical Republican plans for Reconstruction? A. the establishment of the share- cropping system B. the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson C. the outcome of the 1876 presidential election D. the westward migration of African Americans from the South

C. the outcome of the 1876 presidential election

Which of the following acts established the basis for a substantial increase in the Asian population of California? A. Displaced Persons Act of 1948 B. Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 C. Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962 D. Immigration Reform Act of 1965

D. Immigration Reform Act of 1965

Which of the following research questions would provide the most appropriate starting point for an objective investi- gation of issues raised in this excerpt? A. Are there other respects in which D.C. residents lack full citizenship rights? B. Are there any groups of citizens other than felons who are denied voting rights? C. Why do D.C. residents pay relatively high per capita income taxes? D. What arguments are raised by opponents of Congressional representation for D.C.?

D. What arguments are raised by opponents of Congressional representation for D.C.?

Which of the following word identification strategies typically is most advanced? A. applying phonics knowledge B. using context clues C. recognizing sight words D. analyzing word structure

D. analyzing word structure

On the eve of European colonization, most of California's American Indians belonged to: A. pastoral societies in which people domesticated herd animals for food and clothing. B. horticultural societies in which people cultivated a variety of crops for consumption and exchange. C. handicraft societies in which artisans produced a wide range of trade goods. D. hunting and gathering societies in which people fished, hunted, and harvested wild plants.

D. hunting and gathering societies in which people fished, hunted, and harvested wild plants.

This passage is typical of many traditional folk tales in its: A. subtle characterization. B. satire of inept government officials and political factions. C. intricate plot. D. inclusion of a character who is a trickster.

D. inclusion of a character who is a trickster.

All political power is inherent in the people. Government is instituted for their protection, security, and benefit, and they have the right to alter or reform it when the public good may require. The excerpt above best illustrates which of the following principles of the California Constitution? A. freedom of assembly B. limited government C. equal protection of the law D. popular sovereignty

D. popular sovereignty

40. The government established by the Articles of Confederation was designed primarily to: A. create a uniform legal system for the new nation. B. mobilize the nation's resources for war. C. promote economic development in the new nation. D. protect the sovereignty of the states.

D. protect the sovereignty of the states.

An extensive oral vocabulary is most likely to contribute to a reader's decoding skills by helping the reader: A. apply phonics generalizations to sound out a word. B. use syntactic cues to determine the meaning of an unfamiliar word. C. relate an unfamiliar word to known words with similar spellings. D. recognize a word after sounding it out.

D. recognize a word after sounding it out.

The last two lines of the poem most clearly support which of the following themes? A. the importance of perseverance B. the cowardice of individuals who deny their true feelings C. the triumph of courage over fear D. the isolation and alienation of modern life

D. the isolation and alienation of modern life

In this poem, the image of "the creature" most clearly symbolizes the: A. psychological disorientation that results from loss of religious faith. B. self-destructive dimensions of human behavior. C. fragmented consciousness that results from self-deception. D. unavoidable, persistent anguish of personal loss.

D. unavoidable, persistent anguish of personal loss.