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 titled "Where Do Old Satellites Go When They Die?" by NASA. Like every other machine, satellites do not last forever. Whether their job is to observe weather, measure greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, or point away from Earth to study the stars, eventually all satellites grow old, wear out, and die, just like old washing machines and vacuum cleaners. So what happens when a trusty satellite's time has come? These days there are two choices, depending on how high the satellite is. For the closer satellites, engineers will use its last bit of fuel to slow it down. That way, it will fall out of orbit and burn up in the atmosphere. The second choice is to send the satellite even farther away from Earth. It can take a lot of fuel for a satellite to slow down enough to fall back into the atmosphere. That is especially true if a satellite is in a very high orbit. For many of these high satellites, it takes less fuel to blast it farther into space than to send it back to Earth.
Which of the following statements expresses a main idea of the entire passage?
  • A. When satellites stop working, they have to be moved from orbit.
  • B. Satellites are sent to orbit Earth for many different purposes.
  • C. After satellites are slowed down, they burn up in the atmosphere.
  • D. Satellites are designed to work for only a limited amount of time.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A

Option A effectively captures the main idea by emphasizing the necessity of relocating non-functional satellites, highlighting a critical aspect of their lifecycle. Option B, while relevant, only addresses the initial purpose of satellites rather than their entire operational journey. Option C discusses a specific consequence of satellites slowing down, which is too narrow to represent the overall theme. Option D mentions the limited lifespan of satellites but does not encompass the broader implications of their eventual decommissioning and the need for orbital management.

Other Related Questions

Which TWO of the following scenarios demonstrate proper active listening?
  • A. Lana claps enthusiastically as a speaker concludes.
  • B. Martin raises his hand to ask a speaker a relevant question.
  • C. Juan busily takes notes on the content of a speech.
  • D. Luke looks around the room while a speaker begins.
  • E. Alison smiles at a speaker and nods her head when she agrees.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B, C

Active listening involves fully engaging with the speaker and demonstrating understanding and attention. Option B exemplifies this by Martin raising his hand to ask a relevant question, showing he is processing the information and seeking clarification. Option C also reflects active listening, as Juan takes notes, indicating he is focused on the content and intends to retain the information. In contrast, Option A, while enthusiastic, does not reflect engagement with the speaker's message. Option D shows Luke's lack of attention, as looking around suggests distraction. Option E, though positive, does not demonstrate active engagement with the content being presented.
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.
I got my parrot Rosie last year, she is green and yellow and can talk. The sentence contains which of the following errors?
  • A. Misplaced modifier
  • B. Comma splice
  • C. Unclear pronoun reference
  • D. Inconsistent verb tense
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B

The sentence contains a comma splice, which occurs when two independent clauses are improperly joined by a comma without a coordinating conjunction. In this case, the phrases "I got my parrot Rosie last year" and "she is green and yellow and can talk" should be connected with a conjunction or separated into distinct sentences. Option A, misplaced modifier, is incorrect as the modifiers accurately describe the subject. Option C, unclear pronoun reference, does not apply here since "she" clearly refers to "Rosie." Option D, inconsistent verb tense, is also not an issue; both clauses maintain a consistent past and present tense.
Place each of the following stages of writing development in order from beginning to most advanced.
  • A. Scribbling
  • B. Letter-like symbols
  • C. Strings of letters
  • D. Letter-sound correspondence
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D,C,B,A

Understanding the stages of writing development is crucial for recognizing how young learners progress. - **Letter-sound correspondence (D)** represents an advanced stage where children begin to connect sounds with specific letters, indicating a deeper understanding of language. - **Strings of letters (C)** follow, where children start to combine letters, even if not forming actual words, showing their grasp of letter formation and sequencing. - **Letter-like symbols (B)** come next; at this stage, learners create shapes that resemble letters but may not have consistent meanings. - **Scribbling (A)** is the initial stage, where children express themselves through random marks, laying the foundation for later writing. This progression highlights the increasing complexity of writing skills.