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
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.

Other Related Questions

Which THREE of the following words contain diphthongs?
  • A. Boy
  • B. Mother
  • C. Buy
  • D. Apple
  • E. Coin
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A,C,E

Diphthongs are complex vowel sounds that begin with one vowel sound and glide into another within the same syllable. Option A, "Boy," contains the diphthong /ɔɪ/, where the sound transitions from "o" to "i." Option C, "Buy," features the diphthong /aɪ/, transitioning from "a" to "i." Option E, "Coin," includes the diphthong /ɔɪ/, moving from "o" to "i." In contrast, Option B, "Mother," has a single vowel sound /ʌ/, and Option D, "Apple," contains the vowel sound /æ/, both lacking the glide characteristic of diphthongs. Thus, A, C, and E correctly identify words with diphthongs.
Which of the following most effectively combines the statements above into a single coherent and grammatically correct sentence?
  • A. Much of the Great Wall of China, which is actually a network of walls and towers, was built in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.
  • B. The Great Wall of China, this is actually a network of walls and towers, much of it is built in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.
  • C. Much of the Great Wall of China, building in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, and it is actually a network of walls and towers.
  • D. Actually a network of walls and towers, they built much of the Great Wall of China in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A

Option A effectively combines the statements into a coherent sentence by using a relative clause ("which is actually a network of walls and towers") to provide additional information about the Great Wall of China without disrupting the main thought. Option B incorrectly uses a comma splice, creating two independent clauses that are improperly joined. Option C introduces a participial phrase that makes the sentence awkward and unclear, failing to maintain grammatical structure. Option D starts with a fragment, lacking a clear subject, and misattributes the building of the wall, leading to confusion about who built it.
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.
Which of the following identifies the number of phonemes in the word "key"?
  • A. Zero
  • B. One
  • C. Two
  • D. Three
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C

The word "key" contains three distinct phonemes: /k/, /i/, and the glide /j/ at the end, which is crucial for its pronunciation. Option A (Zero) is incorrect because there are phonemes present in the word. Option B (One) is also incorrect; while "key" has a single vowel sound, the presence of the initial consonant and the glide means there are multiple phonemes. Option D (Three) mistakenly suggests an excess count, as there are only three phonemes in total. Thus, the accurate identification of phonemes in "key" is three.