praxis reading language arts 5002 practice test

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

Now the Wicked Witch of the West had but one eye, yet that was as powerful as a telescope, and could see everywhere. So, as she sat in the door of her castle, she happened to look around and saw Dorothy lying asleep, with her friends all about her. 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. At once there came running to her from all directions a pack of great wolves. They had long legs and fierce eyes and sharp teeth. -L. Frank Baum, from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Which of the following are being compared by the simile in the highlighted sentence?
  • A. The Wicked Witch's anger and the power of a telescope
  • B. The Wicked Witch's power and the size of the kingdom
  • C. The Wicked Witch's vision and the strength of a telescope
  • D. The Wicked Witch's authority and the health of her eyes
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C

In the highlighted simile, the comparison is between the Wicked Witch's vision and the strength of a telescope. This suggests that her ability to see or perceive things is as powerful as a telescope, emphasizing her keen insight or awareness. Option A incorrectly compares anger and a telescope's power, which does not relate to vision. Option B misinterprets the comparison by linking power and size, which is unrelated to visual perception. Option D mistakenly connects authority and eye health, diverging from the theme of vision. Thus, option C accurately captures the essence of the simile.

Other Related Questions

Which of the following is the best description of repeated reading as an instructional strategy?
  • A. A student reads a passage aloud with corrections until he or she can read it fluently.
  • B. A teacher reads a passage aloud until the student feels comfortable enough to attempt it.
  • C. A student independently reads a passage aloud two to three times to demonstrate mastery.
  • D. A teacher reads a passage aloud one line at a time with the student repeating each line.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C

Repeated reading involves a student independently reading a passage multiple times to achieve fluency and comprehension, making option C the best description. This strategy allows learners to practice and reinforce their skills, leading to improved reading proficiency. Option A incorrectly emphasizes the role of corrections during reading, which can detract from fluency. Option B focuses on teacher-led reading, which does not align with the independent practice central to repeated reading. Option D suggests a choral approach, which may not provide the same level of individual practice necessary for mastery.
Which of the following is best identified as a simple sentence?
  • A. William, Jorge, and Roberto waited for the storm to pass.
  • B. The plane was late, so I did not get to see my grandfather.
  • C. The dogs went into the backyard, and then they ate their food.
  • D. Because they could not see the sun, the boys got lost on the hike.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A

A simple sentence consists of a single independent clause that expresses a complete thought. Option A, "William, Jorge, and Roberto waited for the storm to pass," meets this criterion as it contains a subject and a verb and does not include any dependent clauses or additional conjunctions. Option B features a compound sentence, combining two independent clauses with "so." Option C also presents a compound structure, linking two independent clauses with "and." Lastly, Option D is a complex sentence, as it includes a dependent clause ("Because they could not see the sun") along with an independent clause. Thus, only Option A qualifies as a simple sentence.
During writing, a student draws a picture and underneath creates a long line of forms and occasional numbers to approximate words. The writing described best exemplifies the emergence of which of the following writing stages?
  • A. Scribbling
  • B. Letter-like symbols
  • C. Strings of letters
  • D. Beginning sounds
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B

The writing described showcases the use of forms and numbers that resemble letters, indicative of the letter-like symbols stage. This stage is characterized by students experimenting with shapes that mimic letters, though not yet forming recognizable words. Option A, scribbling, involves random marks without any letter-like features. Option C, strings of letters, would show a sequence of actual letters, which is not evident here. Option D, beginning sounds, implies an understanding of phonetic spelling, which is absent in the student’s representation. Thus, the focus on forms and numbers aligns best with letter-like symbols.
Children at the phonetic stage of spelling are most likely to do which of the following?
  • A. Show an understanding of sound-symbol relationships
  • B. Include all the necessary letters in a word, though some letters may be reversed
  • C. Use morphology to spell unfamiliar words
  • D. Learn irregular spelling patterns
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A

Children at the phonetic stage of spelling primarily demonstrate an understanding of sound-symbol relationships, as they rely on their knowledge of sounds to represent words phonetically. Option B is incorrect because, while children may include some letters, they often omit or misplace letters rather than reversing them. Option C is not applicable at this stage, as children typically do not use morphological knowledge to spell unfamiliar words; they focus on phonetics instead. Option D is also inaccurate, as children at this stage are still mastering basic phonetic spelling and generally struggle with irregular spelling patterns.