praxis reading language arts 5002 practice test

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

Which of the following best describes the cognitive processes in which a reader must engage to summarize informational text effectively?
  • A. Evaluating the completeness and accuracy of the information in the text
  • B. Analyzing the structure of the passage and the stylistic features of the genre
  • C. Making judgments about what is important and what is not
  • D. Interpreting an author's perspective and purpose for writing on a topic
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C

Effective summarization of informational text requires a reader to discern key ideas and determine which information is essential. This process involves prioritizing content, allowing the reader to distill the main points without extraneous details. Option A, while important for critical reading, focuses on assessing information rather than summarizing it. Option B emphasizes structural analysis and stylistic features, which are less relevant to the act of summarization. Option D, interpreting perspective and purpose, is crucial for comprehension but does not directly address the summarization process. Thus, prioritizing what is important is key to summarizing effectively.

Other Related Questions

Which of the following best describes the controlling organizational feature of the passage?
  • A. General to specific
  • B. Specific to general
  • C. Spatial order
  • D. Sequential order
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D

The passage primarily follows a sequential order, presenting information in a step-by-step manner that reflects a chronological or logical progression. This structure allows readers to easily follow the development of ideas or events. Option A, general to specific, suggests a movement from broad concepts to detailed examples, which does not align with the passage's focus. Option B, specific to general, implies a reverse approach that is also not evident in the text. Option C, spatial order, refers to organizing content based on physical space or layout, which is unrelated to the passage's structure. Thus, sequential order best captures the passage's organization.
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.
Which TWO of the following are the primary reasons for engaging students in shared reading activities?
  • A. Providing additional support for struggling students
  • B. Encouraging students to make new friendships
  • C. Minimizing the need for a variety of classroom texts
  • D. Reducing the amount of text students need to memorize
  • E. Supporting students in building their sight-word knowledge
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A, E

Engaging students in shared reading activities primarily supports struggling students by offering guided instruction and modeling of reading strategies (A). This collaborative environment fosters comprehension and confidence, making it easier for them to grasp complex texts. Additionally, shared reading enhances sight-word knowledge (E), which is crucial for developing fluent reading skills, as students encounter and practice these words in context. In contrast, while encouraging friendships (B) is valuable, it is not a primary focus of shared reading. Minimizing the need for varied texts (C) overlooks the importance of exposing students to diverse materials. Lastly, reducing memorization (D) does not align with the goal of shared reading, which aims to enhance understanding and retention through active engagement with the text.
Write the sentence in the passage that best identifies the motive of the Wicked Witch.
  • A. They were a long distance off, but the Wicked Witch was angry to find them in her country; so she blew upon a silver whistle that hung around her neck.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: They were a long distance off, but the Wicked Witch was angry to find them in her country; so she blew upon a silver whistle that hung around her neck.

The selected sentence clearly illustrates the Wicked Witch's motive, which is her anger at the presence of intruders in her territory. This emotion drives her to take action by using the silver whistle, indicating her desire to assert control over her domain. Option A, while similar, does not capture the full essence of her motive. It merely states her anger without highlighting her subsequent action, which reveals her intent to confront the intruders. Other options may not mention her feelings or actions at all, failing to connect her emotions to her behavior, thus missing the core of her motivation.