Praxis 5154 Practice Test

Question 1

Papa had promised to meet her in the garden and he never disappointed her. She bent over to pick a red bloom, fully opened, and pricked her finger on a vicious thorn. Big pearls of blood pulsed from the tip of her thumb and she automatically thought, “bad luck.” She quickly wrapped her hand in the corner of her apron and dismissed the premonition. Then she cautiously clipped the blown rose that had wounded her. Looking toward the horizon, she saw the last of the sun disappear behind the Sierra Madre. Darkness would settle quickly and a feeling of uneasiness and worry nagged at her. —Pam MuÃƒÆ’±oz Ryan, from *Esperanza Rising*

Which statement best explains the impact of the author's decision to use the word “vicious” in the passage?

Your Answer: Option(s)

Correct Answer: Option(s) A

Rationale

It contributes to the ominous tone.

The use of the word "vicious" to describe the thorn evokes a sense of danger and foreboding, enhancing the overall ominous tone of the passage. This choice of language suggests that the environment is not only beautiful but also has a cruel aspect, reflecting the character's feelings of unease and worry.

A) It contributes to the ominous tone.
This statement directly reflects the impact of the word "vicious" in shaping the mood of the passage. By describing the thorn as "vicious," the author instills a sense of threat and discomfort, aligning with the character's apprehensive emotions and foreshadowing potential trouble.

B) It provides a vivid visual description.
While the term "vicious" does create a strong image, its primary function in this context is to convey danger rather than just to enhance visual imagery. The vividness of the description is secondary to the emotional response it provokes, which is more aligned with an ominous tone than mere visual representation.

C) It establishes the conflict with nature.
Although the thorn represents a challenge in nature, the word "vicious" does not primarily serve to frame a conflict. Rather, it emphasizes the character's internal feelings of unease in relation to the beautiful yet perilous natural world, rather than presenting a direct conflict.

D) It conveys a sense of the supernatural.
The choice of "vicious" does not imply anything supernatural; instead, it highlights a real and tangible danger within the natural setting. The focus is on the physical threat posed by the thorn rather than any otherworldly influence, making this interpretation inaccurate.

Conclusion
The author's choice of the word "vicious" significantly enhances the ominous tone of the passage, reflecting the protagonist's feelings of anxiety and foreshadowing potential danger. This choice effectively conveys the duality of beauty and risk in nature, allowing readers to sense the underlying tension and emotional turmoil experienced by the character.

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Question 2

Papa had promised to meet her in the garden and he never disappointed her. She bent over to pick a red bloom, fully opened, and pricked her finger on a vicious thorn. Big pearls of blood pulsed from the tip of her thumb and she automatically thought, “bad luck.” She quickly wrapped her hand in the corner of her apron and dismissed the premonition. Then she cautiously clipped the blown rose that had wounded her. Looking toward the horizon, she saw the last of the sun disappear behind the Sierra Madre. Darkness would settle quickly and a feeling of uneasiness and worry nagged at her. —Pam Munoz Ryan, from *Esperanza Rising*

Which of the following statements summarizes the literal meaning of the passage?

Your Answer: Option(s)

Correct Answer: Option(s) A

Rationale

A girl becomes concerned while she waits for her father in the garden at the end of the day.

The passage describes a girl's experience in the garden as she waits for her father, highlighting her feelings of uneasiness and worry as dusk approaches. This summary encapsulates the main idea of the passage, focusing on her emotional state during this moment.

A) A girl becomes concerned while she waits for her father in the garden at the end of the day.
This choice accurately reflects the primary events and sentiments expressed in the passage. The girl's anticipation of her father's arrival and her growing concern as darkness falls perfectly summarize the literal meaning of the text.

B) After hurting herself on a thorn, a girl realizes that she may have caused something bad to happen.
While the girl does prick her finger and thinks about bad luck, the focus of the passage is more on her concern for her father and the atmosphere in the garden rather than any realization about causing harm. This choice misinterprets the central theme.

C) A girl cuts a rose that has hurt her in order to prevent it from causing further harm to those she loves.
This statement implies an intention to prevent harm to others, which is not explicitly stated in the passage. The girl cuts the rose after being pricked, but there is no mention of concern for others, making this choice an inaccurate representation of the literal meaning.

D) After waiting impatiently for her father, a girl recognizes signs that something sinister is about to happen.
Although the girl feels uneasy, the passage does not indicate that she recognizes any specific "sinister" signs. Instead, her focus is on her father and the setting, making this interpretation an exaggeration of her feelings and the situation.

Conclusion
The passage centers on a girl's emotional experience as she waits for her father in the garden, embodying a sense of concern as night approaches. Choice A effectively encapsulates this literal meaning, while the other options either misinterpret key elements or introduce themes not present in the text. Understanding the nuanced emotions expressed helps appreciate the underlying tension in the narrative.

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Question 3

You must vote for Torrance Knight for mayor! Five of the previous town mayors and four major labor unions have already endorsed him. Additionally, a poll of town residents shows that the majority will vote for Knight. Don’t you want to join them? Vote for Torrance Knight for town mayor.

The author of the passage uses which of the following propaganda techniques?

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Question 4

The lime-green of spring came one night and touched the river trees. Dark buds appeared on branches, and it seemed that the same sleeping sap that fed them began to churn through my brothers. I sensed their restlessness, and I began to understand why the blood of spring is called the bad blood. It was not because it brought growth, that was good, but because it raised from dark interiors the restless, wild urges that lay sleeping all winter. It revealed hidden desires to the light of the new warm sun. —Rudolfo Anaya, *Bless Me, Ultimo* AND April is the cruellest month, breeding Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing Memory and desire, stirring Dull roots with spring rain. Winter kept us warm, covering Earth in forgetful snow, feeding A little life with dried tubers. —T. S. Eliot, *The Waste Land*

The passages are similar in that both

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Question 5

(1) The first domestication of the horse, one of the greatest achievements of man in the animal kingdom, was not the work of a day; but like all other great accomplishments, was brought about by a gradual process of discoveries and experiments. (2) Man, in all his inventions and discoveries, has almost invariably commenced with some simple principle, and gradually developed it from one degree of perfection to another. (3) The first hint that we have of the use of electricity was Franklin’s drawing it from the clouds with his kite. (4) Now it is the instrument of conveying thought from mind to mind, with a rapidity that surpasses time. (5) The great propelling power that drives the wheel of the engine over our land, and ploughs the ocean with our steamers, was first discovered escaping from a tea-kettle. (6) And so the powers of the horse, second only to the powers of steam, became known to man only as experiments, and investigation revealed them. —P. R. Kincaid, from *The Archian Art of Taming and Training Wild & Victims Horses*

The purpose of sentence 5 is to

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It contributes to the ominous tone.

A girl becomes concerned while she waits for her father in the garden at the end of the day.

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