praxis 5002 reading practice questions

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

A teacher passes out twenty slips of paper half with the beginnings of ten different jokes and half with the corresponding punch lines-to twenty students. Students are then asked to mingle and converse until each has found the student whose paper corresponds with his or her own and until everyone has learned one new fact about his or her partner. Which of the following best explains a primary benefit of the activity?
  • A. It improves students' inferential reading comprehension.
  • B. It helps students learn to integrate humor into their writing.
  • C. It gives students an opportunity to work on expressing their opinions clearly.
  • D. It allows students to practice communicating with diverse partners.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D

The activity primarily benefits students by allowing them to practice communicating with diverse partners (Option D). Engaging with different classmates fosters social skills and adaptability in conversation, essential for effective communication in varied contexts. Option A, improving inferential reading comprehension, is less relevant since the focus is on interaction rather than reading skills. Option B, integrating humor into writing, is not the activity's main goal, as it emphasizes collaboration over writing. Option C, expressing opinions clearly, is not the activity's focus; rather, it centers on finding connections and sharing information, not debating or opinion-sharing.

Other Related Questions

Before beginning work on a group project, students in the group draft a set of rules for their time together, including one person talks at a time" and "respect each other's ideas." The students can best be described as establishing guidelines for which of the following?"
  • A. Individual accountability
  • B. Dynamic oral presentations
  • C. Metacognitive reflection
  • D. Effective collaboration
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D

Establishing rules such as "one person talks at a time" and "respect each other's ideas" directly supports effective collaboration. These guidelines foster a respectful and organized environment, essential for teamwork. Option A, individual accountability, focuses on personal responsibility rather than group dynamics. Option B, dynamic oral presentations, pertains to the delivery of information rather than the collaborative process itself. Option C, metacognitive reflection, involves thinking about one's own thinking and does not specifically address group interaction. Thus, the chosen guidelines clearly align with promoting effective collaboration among students.
Which of the following parts of speech are the words "and," "but," "or," "nor," "for." "so," and "yet" classified as?
  • A. Adjectives
  • B. Adverbs
  • C. Interjections
  • D. Conjunctions
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D

The words "and," "but," "or," "nor," "for," "so," and "yet" function as conjunctions, which are used to connect words, phrases, or clauses within a sentence. This classification is essential for understanding sentence structure and coherence. Option A, adjectives, describes nouns and cannot connect clauses. Option B, adverbs, modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, not serving to link ideas. Option C, interjections, express emotions or exclamations but do not serve a grammatical function of connecting thoughts. Thus, only option D accurately identifies these words as conjunctions.
Which of the following strategies will best help a student to self-evaluate for verbal communication skills when preparing to deliver a speech?
  • A. Using voice projection to the back of the room during speech delivery
  • B. Looking in the mirror while delivering the speech
  • C. Listening to a recording of the speech delivery
  • D. Carefully organizing presentation notes before delivering the speech
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C

Listening to a recording of the speech delivery allows the student to hear their tone, pace, and clarity, enabling a comprehensive self-evaluation of verbal communication skills. This method provides direct feedback, highlighting areas for improvement. Option A, using voice projection, focuses on delivery but does not allow for reflection on other verbal skills. Option B, looking in the mirror, may help with body language but does not address vocal aspects. Option D, organizing notes, is essential for structure but does not facilitate self-evaluation of verbal communication itself.
What is the primary reason for using figurative language in the preceding sentence?
  • A. To make a reference to a different point in time
  • B. To describe a comparison between two unlike things
  • C. To exaggerate a point and reveal a sense of humor
  • D. To name an action by imitating a sound associated with it
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C

Using figurative language primarily serves to exaggerate a point and reveal a sense of humor, enhancing the reader's engagement and understanding. This technique allows for a more vivid expression of ideas, making them memorable and relatable. Option A is incorrect as it implies a temporal reference, which is not the main function of figurative language. Option B, while relevant to similes and metaphors, does not capture the essence of humor in the context. Option D focuses on onomatopoeia, which is a specific type of figurative language, but does not encompass the broader purpose of humor and exaggeration.