Test Information Guide

Field 178: General Curriculum
Subtest 1: Language Arts and History/Social Science
Sample Multiple-Choice Questions

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Language Arts

Objective 0001
Apply knowledge of major genres and works of literature, including literature written for children, that represent a range of perspectives, with regard to gender; race; ethnicity; diversity of ability; sexual orientation; nation of origin; religion; age; and cultural, economic, and geographic backgrounds.

1. Read the poem below, "I Ask My Mother to Sing" (1986), by Li-Young Lee1; then answer the question that follows.

She begins, and my grandmother joins her.
Mother and daughter sing like young girls.
If my father were alive, he would play
his accordion and sway like a boat.

I've never been in Peking, or the Summer Palace,
nor stood on the great Stone Boat to watch
the rain begin on Kuen Ming Lake, the picnickers
running away in the grass.

But I love to hear it sung;
how the waterlilies fill with rain until
they overturn, spilling water into water,
then rock back, and fill with more.

Both women have begun to cry.
But neither stops her song.

Which of the following themes is explored in the poem?

  1. the importance of preserving family unity
  2. the benefits of living in harmony with nature
  3. the power of music to transcend time and place
  4. the challenges of adjusting to new environments
Answer
Correct Response: C.
Objective 0003
Apply knowledge of the characteristics of effective writing and research.

2. Read the paragraph below from the first draft of an argumentative essay; then answer the question that follows.

Most people know that stretching before and after exercise reduces risk of injury. But most people are unaware that stretching can also increase risk of injury. Static stretching, which involves holding one position for a period of time, puts stress on ligaments and tendons and may lead to muscle tears. Although static stretching has its benefits, dynamic stretching is more effective for injury prevention.  blank line  In order to meet health needs and fitness goals, a complete and safe exercise plan should include a dynamic stretching routine.

Which of the following sentences, if inserted in the blank, would best support the logical development of ideas in the paragraph?

  1. As with any new exercise regime, consulting a physician before incorporating dynamic stretching into a workout regimen is recommended.
  2. Some people mistakenly equate dynamic stretching with power training, which combines explosive movements with weights to build strength.
  3. Another term for dynamic stretching is "active stretching," because unlike static stretching, it is characterized by a continuous flow of movements.
  4. Dynamic stretches, such as arm circles, jump lunges, and leg swings, employ a range of rhythmic motion to relax the muscles and loosen the joints.
Answer
Correct Response: D.

History/Social Science

Objective 0005
Apply knowledge of basic economics, physical and human geography, and the relationships between geography and culture.

3. Which of the following instances of human movement most clearly illustrates a pattern of forced migration?

  1. the movement of people across the land bridge from Siberia to Alaska in prehistoric times
  2. the movement of ancient Israelite tribes from Mesopotamia to Canaan in the second millennium BCE
  3. the movement of the Cherokee in the Southeast to territory west of the Mississippi River in the nineteenth century
  4. the movement of Dominicans and Mexicans to the northeastern United States in the late twentieth century
Answer
Correct Response: C.
Objective 0008
Apply knowledge of the development, principles, structure, and functions of government in the United States.

4. Which of the following provisions of the Articles of Confederation (17 77) most contributed to the weaknesses of the first system of government of the United States?

  1. [T]he people of each State shall have free ingress and regress to and from any other State, and shall enjoy therein all the privileges of trade and commerce.
  2. No State shall be represented in Congress by less than two, nor by more than seven members; and no person shall be capable of being a delegate for more than three years in any term of six years.
  3. No two or more States shall enter into any treaty, confederation or alliance whatever between them, without the consent of the United States in Congress assembled.
  4. The United States in Congress assembled shall never engage in a war, … nor emit bills, nor borrow money on the credit of the United States, nor appropriate money, … unless nine States assent to the same.
Answer
Correct Response: D.
Objective 0009
Apply knowledge of methods, procedures, and sources used in the study of history and social science and of the guiding principles and instructional practices of effective history and social science education.

5. Use the graph below to answer the question that follows.

A graph labeled Voter Turnout in U.S. Presidential Elections. Showing 4 data points.

A graph labeled Voter Turnout in U.S. Presidential Elections. Showing 4 data points. Year nineteen seventy six turnout equals 53 point 7 percent. Year nineteen eighty turnout equals fifty two point eight percent. Year nineteen eighty four turnout equals fifty three point three percent. Year nineteen eighty eight turnout falls to fifty point three percent. The lowest value on the y axis is fifty percent.

The creator of the graph would most likely choose to use the limited percentage range on the y-axis for which of the following purposes?

  1. exaggerating the magnitude of the downward trend in voter turnout
  2. suppressing information about developments in voter turnout after 19 88
  3. obscuring the data for off-year or mid-term Congressional elections
  4. emphasizing the sense of near constancy in the data from 19 76 to 19 84
Answer
Correct Response: A.

Acknowledgments

1Li-Young Lee, "I Ask My Mother to Sing" from Rose. Copyright © 1986 by Li-Young Lee. Reprinted with the permission of The Permissions Company, Inc., on behalf of BOA Editions, Ltd., www.boaeditions.org.