praxis reading language arts 5002 practice test

A series of tests developed by ETS to assess the skills and knowledge of prospective teachers.

The following passage is from There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom, by Louis Sachar. There are some kids—you can tell just by looking at them who are good spitters. That is probably the best way to describe Bradley Chalkers. He looked like a good spitter. He was the oldest and the toughest-looking kid in Mrs. Ebbel's class. He was a year older than the other kids. That was because he had taken the fourth grade twice. Now he was in the fifth grade for the first, but probably not the last, time. Jeff stared at him, then gave him a dollar and ran away. Bradley laughed to himself, then watched all the other kids have fun.
Based on the information in the passage, which of the following is an appropriate student inference?
  • A. Bradley is old.
  • B. Bradley is a bully.
  • C. Bradley is a good spitter.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B

The inference that Bradley is a bully is supported by evidence in the passage that describes his interactions with peers in a negative light, suggesting aggressive behavior. Option A, stating that Bradley is old, lacks textual support and does not relate to his behavior or character. Option C, claiming that Bradley is a good spitter, might be inferred humorously but does not align with the serious context of bullying presented in the passage. Thus, the most logical inference focuses on Bradley's negative social interactions, indicating bullying behavior.

Other Related Questions

Which of the following statements best explains the impact of fluency on comprehension?
  • A. Students who read at a very fast rate are more likely to comprehend what they read.
  • B. Students who decode slowly exhibit better overall comprehension.
  • C. Students who fluently reread familiar books repeatedly demonstrate greater comprehension.
  • D. Students who attend to punctuation and decode words fluently have increased comprehension.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D

Fluency significantly enhances comprehension by allowing readers to focus on meaning rather than decoding. Option D highlights that attending to punctuation and decoding words fluently enables students to process text more efficiently, leading to improved understanding. Option A is misleading; while speed can play a role, it doesn't guarantee comprehension. Fast readers may overlook meaning. Option B suggests that slow decoding leads to better comprehension, which is not necessarily true; slow readers may struggle to grasp overall meaning due to cognitive overload. Option C, while true in some contexts, lacks the broader applicability of fluency in diverse texts.
Which of the following best explains how fluency can improve reading comprehension?
  • A. Fluency encourages readers to focus on accuracy rather than speed.
  • B. Fluency means readers can effectively process ideas in a linear order.
  • C. Fluency allows readers to recognize words and understand them at the same time.
  • D. Fluency helps readers concentrate on decoding words rather than understanding concepts.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C

Fluency enhances reading comprehension primarily by enabling readers to recognize words and understand their meanings simultaneously. This automaticity frees cognitive resources for deeper comprehension. Option A is misleading; while accuracy is important, fluency emphasizes both speed and accuracy, not prioritizing one over the other. Option B, while partially correct, oversimplifies fluency by suggesting a linear processing of ideas, which does not capture the complexity of comprehension. Option D incorrectly implies that fluency hinders understanding by focusing on decoding, whereas true fluency integrates decoding with comprehension, enhancing overall understanding.
Which THREE of the following words are best to use in a lesson on using roots and affixes to determine meaning?
  • A. Family
  • B. Review
  • C. Careful
  • D. Endanger
  • E. Because
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B,C,D

Using roots and affixes to determine meaning involves analyzing the components of words. **Review (B)** contains the prefix "re-" meaning "again," allowing students to explore its meaning by breaking it down into "view" and understanding the concept of looking at something again. **Careful (C)** combines the prefix "care-" with the suffix "-ful," illustrating how adding a suffix alters the meaning to indicate being full of care. **Endanger (D)** includes the prefix "en-" meaning "to cause to be," which helps students grasp how the word conveys the idea of putting someone or something in danger. **Family (A)** and **Because (E)** do not contain clear roots or affixes that lend themselves to this type of analysis, making them less suitable for the lesson focus.
During an oral presentation, which of the following strategies will best help a speaker facilitate audience comprehension of the material presented?
  • A. Varying vocal volume
  • B. Articulating words clearly
  • C. Wearing proper attire
  • D. Using hand gestures
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B

Articulating words clearly directly enhances audience understanding, ensuring that key points are communicated effectively. This clarity is essential for comprehension, particularly in complex topics. Varying vocal volume (A) can engage the audience but may not significantly aid in comprehension if the words are not articulated clearly. Wearing proper attire (C) contributes to professionalism but does not impact the audience's understanding of the material. Using hand gestures (D) can support engagement and emphasize points but, without clear articulation, may lead to confusion rather than clarity.