Study Guide

Field 069: Middle School English Language Arts
Sample Multiple-Choice Questions

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Domain I—Language, Reading, and Literature

Objective 0001
Apply knowledge of language acquisition and development.

1. Which of the following phonological developments would most typically occur during the middle grades?

  1. Students begin to recognize words that violate rules of English syllabication.
  2. Students are better able to discriminate words spoken in a noisy environment.
  3. Students master the pronunciation of the phonetic spellings of most words.
  4. Students are able to distinguish individual allophones within most words.
Answer
Correct Response: B.
Phonological awareness is a broad skill involving the ability to perceive and manipulate spoken sounds at the phoneme, syllable, and word level. It is an essential precursor to learning to read. Research has shown that students' ability to perceive speech affects their acquisition of phonological awareness and of reading skills. In classrooms with high levels of background noise (e.g., traffic, ventilation systems, fluorescent lighting) and poor acoustics, young children may have difficulty perceiving speech. As a result, they may also have difficulty acquiring phonological awareness. Research has also shown that speech perception in noisy environments improves as children age; the ability to focus on speech amid background noise is typically fully developed when children reach the age of 13–15.
Objective 0001
Apply knowledge of language acquisition and development.

2. Which of the following pairs of words entered the English language from the French language?

  1. waltz, eiderdown
  2. folio, orchestra
  3. passport, province
  4. harmonica, balcony
Answer
Correct Response: C.
Thousands of French words entered the English language during French rule of England that began after the Norman Conquest in 1066. The origin of the English word passport is the Middle French word passeport, which was formed by combining the French verb passer (to pass) with the French noun port (port). The English word province comes from Anglo-French, a dialect of medieval French.
Objective 0002
Apply knowledge of vocabulary development and reading comprehension.

3. Which of the following reading skills typically develops during early adolescence?

  1. relating personal experience to a text
  2. understanding metaphorical language
  3. distinguishing between fact and opinion
  4. visualizing fictional settings and characters
Answer
Correct Response: B.
Early adolescents' cognitive development typically leads to an increased ability to apply analogical reasoning and working memory, both of which are required to understand metaphorical language. Studies have shown that children usually demonstrate the ability to understand metaphors by age 11, and this ability continues to develop into young adulthood.
Objective 0003
Apply knowledge of a wide range of literature from a variety of genres, time periods, and cultures and of strategies for comprehending, interpreting, and evaluating literature.

4. Which of the following excerpts from works of poetry illustrates the use of iambic pentameter?

  1. When I do count the clock that tells the time
  2. Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more,
  3. Seals of love, but sealed in vain, sealed in vain.
  4. Oh mistress mine! where are you roaming?
Answer
Correct Response: A.
Iambic pentameter is a common metrical pattern in English poetry. It is illustrated in the line "When I do count the clock that tells the time," which contains five pairs of syllables, or feet, each with an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable, as shown below.
Objective 0003
Apply knowledge of a wide range of literature from a variety of genres, time periods, and cultures and of strategies for comprehending, interpreting, and evaluating literature.

5. Which of the following excerpts from a short story best illustrates the use of foreshadowing?

  1. He had taken a dreary road, darkened by all the gloomiest trees of the forest, which barely stood aside to let the narrow path creep through, and closed immediately behind.
  2. There was one voice, of a young woman, uttering lamentations, yet with an uncertain sorrow, and entreating for some favor, which, perhaps, it would grieve her to obtain; and all the unseen multitude, both saints and sinners, seemed to encourage her onward.
  3. Hardly had he spoken when he found himself amid calm night and solitude, listening to a roar of the wind which died heavily away through the forest.
  4. It was all as lonely as could be; and there is this peculiarity in such a solitude, that the traveller knows not who may be concealed by the innumerable trunks and the thick boughs overhead; so that with lonely footsteps he may yet be passing through an unseen multitude.
Answer
Correct Response: D.
Foreshadowing is a literary device used to suggest that something as yet unknown will occur later in a narrative. Modals such as may, might, would, and should can indicate foreshadowing, as in the phrases "the traveller knows not who may be concealed" and "he may yet be passing through an unseen multitude." These phrases suggest that the unknown and the unseen will be revealed later in the story.
Objective 0004
Apply knowledge of a wide range of of nonfiction texts from a variety of genres, time periods, and cultures and of strategies for comprehending, interpreting, and evaluating nonfiction texts.

6. Use the excerpt below from the index of a nonfiction book to answer the question that follows.

A student who is developing a research report on Ben Jonson's contributions to English literature could locate additional relevant information in the book by:

  1. looking up the word playwright in the glossary
  2. cross-referencing "Jonson" with mentions of "imprisonment."
  3. consulting the "playwrights" entry in the index.
  4. looking in the table of contents for titles of Jonson's works.
Answer
Correct Response: C.
Standard indexes in informational texts often contain cross-references that point a reader to another index entry that might provide them with information related to the original topic. In the index provided, the note "See also playwrights" indicates that additional information about Ben Jonson can be found in the index under that entry.
Objective 0004
Apply knowledge of a wide range of nonfiction texts from a variety of genres, time periods, and cultures and of strategies for comprehending, interpreting, and evaluating nonfiction texts.

7. Read the excerpt below from a speech delivered by Patrick Henry in 1775 to the Virginia Convention; then answer the question that follows.

I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the house? Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with those warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation—the last arguments to which kings resort.
In the excerpt, an extended metaphor is used primarily to:

  1. appeal to listeners' desire for reconciliation.
  2. present an objective point of view.
  3. question the authority of the British ministry.
  4. establish the speaker's credibility.
Answer
Correct Response: D.
A metaphor is a figure of speech in which one thing is implicitly compared to another. In the excerpt, Patrick Henry compares his ten years of experience dealing with the British ministry to a lamp that illuminates a clear future course of action.

Domain II—Writing and Research

Objective 0005
Apply knowledge of the forms, purposes, and conventions of writing and the writing process.

8. Use the excerpt below from a writing sample to answer the question that follows.

1It's a rainy Sunday, and you're looking for something to do with your friends. 2You can't agree on a television show or a movie to watch, or even a video game to play. 3It's time to bring out the old standby board games and let the fun begin. 4________________________________________ 5Board games are a low-tech means to engage in healthy competition and cheerful social interaction. 6Long before computer games, TV game shows, or even radio quiz shows were invented, board games were entertaining people around the globe.

Which of the following sentences, if inserted as Sentence 4, would best support a logical development of the central idea?

  1. Most board games involve opposing players competing for points, either individually or in teams of two or more.
  2. Whether you play a game of chance, a trivia game, or a classic word game your intellect and funny bone will be stimulated.
  3. Learning the rules of any type of game may not take long, but developing a sense of strategy can take years of practice.
  4. Video games present an alternate reality where players can be heroes or villains in highly sophisticated, often violent plots.
Answer
Correct Response: B.
The central idea of the paragraph is that board games have long provided healthy competition and entertainment to people around the world. A sentence about different kinds of games and the different kinds of stimulation they provide would best support development of that idea.
Objective 0005
Apply knowledge of the forms, purposes, and conventions of writing and the writing process.

9. Which of the following sentences contains an error in punctuation?

  1. My favorite team is the Indiana Pacers; Reggie Miller is still my favorite player.
  2. Rolling and snapping, the alligator lunged at me; I was so frightened that I froze.
  3. Climbing a mountain is great exercise; I climb a different one every other weekend.
  4. The farmer soon realized the barn door was open however; the horses had escaped.
Answer
Correct Response: D.
A semicolon joins two independent clauses to form one sentence. When a semicolon is used with a transition such as however, the semicolon is placed before the transition, and the clauses on either side of the semicolon continue to function as independent clauses.
Objective 0005
Apply knowledge of the forms, purposes, and conventions of writing and the writing process.

10. Use the excerpt below from a writing sample to answer the question that follows.

1All afternoon the solitary figure stood alone at the shoreline. 2Gentle waves lapped at his feet as he dug small craters in the sand with his heels. 3Time after time, the sea filled the craters and then receded. 4The sun slowly descended to the horizon and finally sank heavily into the sea, spraying the sky with pinks, oranges, and purples. 5The man gazed across the water as if he expected a ship to appear carrying a lost love back to him. 6__________________________________________________

Which of the following sentences, if inserted as Sentence 6, would effectively help maintain consistent diction and tone?

  1. Even the bright, smiling moon and twinkling stars could not entice the man to give up.
  2. The man remained motionless for a prolonged period, ignorant of the lunar orb above.
  3. Darkness slowly overtook the sky, lengthening the man's shadow, and still he kept his patient vigil.
  4. When the stars came out, the man remained standing, a solemn sentry at the gates to eternal love.
Answer
Correct Response: C.
Consistent diction, or word choice, and tone are achieved when a writer chooses words and phrases that are similar in register and that work together to evoke similar images and create a particular rhythm. The figurative language and rhythm in the sentence "Darkness slowly overtook the sky, lengthening the man's shadow" reflect the language and rhythm of the other sentences in the excerpt, thus maintaining consistent diction and tone.
Objective 0006
Apply knowledge of strategies for argumentative writing.

11. A student is developing an essay in which she will argue that the primary method of public school funding—property taxes in individual school districts—should be amended to provide all schools with equal funding. As part of the essay, the student will respond to critics' claims that property taxes should not be redistributed to schools outside a district unless the schools can demonstrate gains in student achievement. Which of the following responses to these claims would be most effective for the student to use in the essay?

  1. Underfunded schools make significant educational sacrifices that affect students' ability to learn. For example, poor schools cannot afford basic lab supplies, so hands-on learners suffer. Wealthier schools provide not only lab supplies, but laptop computers as well.
  2. In areas where property taxes are higher, schools receive more funding, and the schools are better, so they are more attractive to parents/guardians. People move into the area, thus generating even more funding from property taxes. Taxes from area businesses also contribute to funding local schools.
  3. Districts should close underperforming schools and redistribute the students to surrounding schools. Doing so will provide more money and improve the overall quality of education students receive. Also, closing underperforming schools may help increase home property values.
  4. Access to more money does not mean schools offer a better education. Districts need to be mindful of how they distribute funds. All schools do not necessarily need the same improvements. Establishing a funding board is the best way to make decisions about how to apportion money appropriately.
Answer
Correct Response: A.
One way for a writer to strengthen an argument is to anticipate and address counterarguments. Strong statements in argumentative essays should be provable and specific; otherwise they are empty claims. The student's main argument is that all public schools should receive equal funding. By pointing out that underfunded schools lack basic lab supplies, the student uses a specific fact to suggest that a lack of educational resources may contribute to the achievement gap between students in underfunded school districts and those in wealthier districts. The student thus strengthens the argument in favor of equal funding for public schools while exposing the faulty reasoning behind critics' claims that underfunded schools should be required to demonstrate gains in student achievement to qualify to receive funds from another school district.
Objective 0009
Apply knowledge of strategies for narrative writing.

12. A student is developing a narrative essay about hiking. Which of the following versions of a paragraph from the essay uses sensory details most effectively to convey a vivid image of the student's hiking experiences?

  1. Hiking is incredibly difficult. Constant steep ascents and descents are tough on the knees. Mosquitoes and other insects are an incredible nuisance, making hiking even more unpleasant. Having to think about rationing water is really distracting. The possibility of animals attacking is an additional anxiety-provoking aspect of hiking. Boulders and craters do not favor the hiker; indeed, they are obstacles that make hiking that much more unpleasant.
  2. Hiking is a Sisyphean task, a grinding repetition of a grueling act, a constant strain on mind and body. Hiking in hot weather is like being wrapped in a woolen blanket in a sweat lodge. The only luxury comes from tasting cool water trickle from a canteen down the back of one's throat. The summit appears at the perfect time, just before the body has surrendered to exhaustion.
  3. Hiking can be perceived as an easy hobby, but it is not. Hiking requires constant difficult maneuvering and extensive stamina. Hiking up a mountain requires determination. Having the endurance to hike up a steep mountain is an incredible ability. Understanding navigation and rescue techniques is also crucial. Hiking can be dangerous, so hikers must be prepared for any type of weather or medical emergency.
  4. Hiking up a mountain path on a cool but sunny afternoon is inspirational. Branches crunch under well-worn leather hiking boots. Startled gray squirrels resemble blurred plumes of smoke as they scamper over pine needles and click-clack claw their way up tree trunks. The sharp scent of pine, the circling of a distant hawk in a cloudless sky, provide incentive to climb on in spite of lengthening shadows. At the summit, delicate alpine flowers nod in greeting.
Answer
Correct Response: D.
Sensory detail enhances narrative writing by evoking vivid images and sensations to convey experiences. In the paragraph, the reader can hear the crunch of branches and the "click-clack" of squirrels' claws on a tree. The squirrels' resemblance to "blurred plumes of smoke" creates a vivid visual image, as does "the circling of a distant hawk in a cloudless sky." The "sharp scent of pine" further enhances the reader's sensory experience.

Domain III—Listening, Communicating, and Presenting

Objective 0010
Apply knowledge of strategies for listening and/or receptive communication.

13. Which of the following verbal responses most clearly indicates that active listening has occurred?

  1. "Of course it's difficult to train for a marathon, but if you stick to your regimen, you'll be ready."
  2. "It sounds to me like you believe you are not getting the recognition you deserve for your hard work."
  3. "Don't get your hopes up. You're deluding yourself if you think the team is going to win the championship."
  4. "Have you done enough research for this paper? You cannot write about a subject unless you fully understand it."
Answer
Correct Response: B.
Active listening involves carefully attending to what a speaker has to say with the intention of understanding the speaker's message. An active listener can respond to a speaker in a way that demonstrates that the speaker's message has been heard and understood. The phrase "It sounds to me" signals the speaker that the listener has been actively attending to the speaker's message. By paraphrasing the speaker's message, the listener confirms that the speaker's message has been understood.
Objective 0011
Apply knowledge of strategies for speaking and/or expressive communication and for presenting information.

14. Use the photograph below to answer the question that follows.


photo of train on tracks

In the foreground, two parallel train tracks extend into the distance. The space between the two tracks decreases until they appear to meet. There is gravel under and between the tracks. A passenger train is to the right of the empty tracks. In the foreground, the train's image is blurred, but it becomes less blurred as it extends into the distance. Above the tracks and train are cables that extend from the foreground into the background of the photograph.


In the photograph, which of the following elements of visual design conveys a sense of speed and power?

  1. line
  2. scale
  3. texture
  4. contrast
Answer
Correct Response: A.
Line is one element of visual composition. In the photograph, line is created by the train, the train tracks, and the overhead cables. Line draws attention to the difference in the focus in the foreground and background. In the foreground, the blurred image of the train contrasts with the sharpness of the tracks, revealing that the train is in motion. The blurred image of the moving train contrasted with the sharp focus of the stationary tracks creates additional lines that convey an impression of the train's speed and power.

Domain IV—Instruction and Assessment

Objective 0013
Apply knowledge of content-specific instruction and assessment in middle school English language arts.

15. A sixth-grade teacher wants to differentiate writing instruction to meet the needs of all students throughout the school year. Which of the following approaches would be most appropriate for the teacher to use for this purpose?

  1. providing examples of writing for the students to use as models
  2. having the students select their own topics for writing assignments
  3. developing sets of increasingly complex writing tasks for the students contrast
  4. implementing a rotating schedule for student-teacher writing conferences
Answer
Correct Response: C.
Effective differentiated instruction allows all students to access the same curriculum at various entry points based on their abilities and needs, and supports students' progress toward achievement of learning goals at individual rates of speed. By developing sets of increasingly complex writing tasks for the students, the teacher would facilitate all students' mastery of essential content and skills.