Praxis 5511 Fundamental Subjects Practice Test

Question 1

A teacher is a person who is patient. A teacher is dedicated. A teacher helps others. Which of the following revisions to the sentence best demonstrates parallel structure?

Your Answer: Option(s)

Correct Answer: Option(s) A

Rationale

A teacher is a person who is patient, dedicated, and helpful.

This revision maintains a consistent grammatical structure by using a series of adjectives followed by a consistent verb form, thus enhancing the clarity and flow of the sentence.

A) A teacher is a person who is patient, dedicated, and helpful.
This choice effectively uses parallel structure by aligning the descriptors "patient," "dedicated," and "helpful" as adjectives that describe the teacher. This uniformity creates a rhythmic and cohesive list, making the characteristics easier to read and understand.

B) A teacher is patient, likes to be dedicated, and to help.
This option disrupts parallel structure by mixing verb forms. While "patient" is an adjective, "likes to be dedicated" shifts to a verb phrase, and "to help" is an infinitive. This inconsistency in structure makes the sentence awkward and less effective.

C) A teacher is a person who is patient, dedicated, and likes to help.
In this choice, the descriptors "patient" and "dedicated" are adjectives, but "likes to help" introduces a verb phrase that breaks the parallelism. This lack of uniformity between the items listed detracts from the overall clarity and effectiveness of the sentence.

D) A teacher is patient, dedicated, and helps.
Although this option maintains a more parallel structure than some others, it introduces a mix of adjectives ("patient," "dedicated") and a verb ("helps"). This inconsistency can lead to confusion about whether the focus is on traits or actions, thereby weakening the sentence's impact.

Conclusion
Establishing parallel structure is essential for clarity and coherence in writing. Choice A exemplifies this principle by presenting a consistent series of adjectives that effectively describe a teacher, enhancing the overall readability of the sentence. The other options fail to maintain this structure, leading to confusion and reducing the sentence's effectiveness.

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Question 2

The following excerpt is from the introduction to The Way to Rainy Mountain by N. Scott Momaday.
Once there was a lot of sound in my grandmother's house, a lot of coming and going, feasting and talk. The summers there were full of excitement and reunion. The Kiowas are a summer people; they abide the cold and keep to themselves, but when the season turns and the land becomes warm and vital they cannot hold still; an old love of going returns upon them.

The 'old love of going' mentioned in the last line of the passage most likely refers to the

Your Answer: Option(s)

Correct Answer: Option(s) A

Rationale

Kiowas' fondness for traveling during the summer.

The phrase "old love of going" suggests a deep-rooted cultural inclination of the Kiowa people to travel and engage in communal activities during the warmer months, reflecting their vibrant summer lifestyle.

A) Kiowas' fondness for traveling during the summer
This choice accurately captures the essence of the passage, highlighting the Kiowas' excitement and joy associated with the arrival of summer. The text emphasizes their tendency to be active and social during this season, indicating a strong desire to travel and reunite with one another.

B) Kiowas' fondness for spending summer in solitary contemplation
This option contradicts the passage's portrayal of the Kiowas as a people filled with activity and social interaction during the summer. The excerpt describes a vibrant atmosphere filled with "feasting and talk," which does not align with solitary contemplation.

C) tendency of the Kiowas to leave their houses during the winter months
While the passage notes that the Kiowas "abide the cold and keep to themselves," it does not imply that they have a tendency to leave their homes in winter. Instead, it illustrates their preference for solitude during that season, making this choice irrelevant to the "old love of going."

D) speaker's desire to go to his grandmother's house during the summer
Although the speaker may have a personal desire to visit his grandmother, the phrase "old love of going" refers more broadly to the Kiowa people's cultural practices rather than a singular individual's wish. Therefore, this option does not accurately reflect the communal aspect highlighted in the passage.

Conclusion
The excerpt from The Way to Rainy Mountain encapsulates the Kiowas' cultural vibrancy in summer, emphasizing their collective joy and movement during this season. The phrase "old love of going" signifies their inherent connection to travel and celebration in warmer months, contrasting sharply with themes of solitude or individual desire. This understanding of the communal spirit is crucial in appreciating the Kiowa way of life as depicted by Momaday.

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Question 3

Which of the following sentences would be most likely to begin an essay intended to explain?

Your Answer: Option(s)

Correct Answer: Option(s) D

Rationale

In order to train dogs to listen to your commands, you must set up a system that rewards their positive responses.

This statement clearly introduces a process and outlines a specific method, which is essential for an explanatory essay. It sets the stage for a detailed discussion on dog training techniques and the reasoning behind positive reinforcement.

A) Even though mobile phones are seen as more convenient, there are many advantages to maintaining a landline.
This sentence presents a comparative argument rather than an explanation. While it hints at advantages, it lacks a clear direction for elaboration and does not establish a straightforward informational framework necessary for an explanatory essay.

B) It always calmed my nerves when my father sat on the back porch drinking tea from a flowered mug and humming 'Old Man River.'
This choice offers a personal ane\cdote, which is more suited for a narrative or reflective essay. It focuses on a personal experience rather than explaining a concept or process, making it inappropriate as a starting point for an explanatory essay.

C) Negative political ads should not be used in campaigns because they fail to give the public any reliable evidence about candidates.
While this sentence does present a claim that could lead to an explanation, it is more argumentative in nature. It advocates against negative political ads rather than simply explaining a subject, which does not align with the primary goal of an explanatory essay.

Conclusion
An effective introductory sentence for an explanatory essay clearly outlines a process or concept that will be elaborated upon. Option D stands out as it precisely describes the methodology for dog training, making it the best choice. In contrast, the other options lean towards narrative, comparative, or argumentative styles, which do not adequately serve the purpose of explanation.

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Question 4

The following is an excerpt from John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath (1939), a novel depicting the plight of migrant workers during the Great Depression.
In the passage, Tom Joad and his family have reached a government-sponsored tent camp where many migrant workers have settled. Tom is walking and surveying the camp in the early morning.
The ground of the street had been swept and sprinkled. From the tents came the snores of sleeping people. The whole camp buzzed and snorted. Tom walked slowly. He neared Number Four Sanitary Unit and he looked at it curiously, an unpainted building, low and rough. Under a roof, but open at the sides, the rows of wash trays. He sawthe Joad truck standing near by, and went quietly toward it. The tarpaulin was pitched and the camp was quiet. As he drew near a figure moved from the shadow of the truck and came toward him.
Ma said softly, "That you, Tom?
"Yeah." "Sh!" she said. "They're all asleep. They was tar'd out."
"You ought to be asleep too," Tom said.

Which of the following best describes the author's purpose in the passage?

Your Answer: Option(s)

Correct Answer: Option(s) C

Rationale

Describing a setting through a character's perspective.

In this passage, the author uses Tom Joad's observations to vividly paint the scene of a government-sponsored tent camp, illustrating the environment and atmosphere that migrant workers inhabit. This perspective allows readers to experience the setting through Tom's eyes, enhancing the imagery and emotional weight of the narrative.

A) Describing a character's feelings about a situation
While Tom's thoughts and feelings may be implied through his observations, the primary focus of the passage is not on his emotions but rather on the physical environment around him. The excerpt does not delve deeply into Tom's internal state, making this choice less accurate.

B) Exploring a character's relationship with another character
The interaction between Tom and Ma is brief and primarily serves to establish context within the setting rather than to explore their relationship. The passage does not provide significant depth regarding their dynamics, which makes this choice inappropriate for the author's purpose.

D) Exploring a conflict through a character's perspective
Although the broader narrative of "The Grapes of Wrath" deals with conflicts faced by migrant workers, this specific passage does not highlight any direct conflict. Instead, it focuses on setting and atmosphere, making this choice unsuitable for the author's intent in this excerpt.

Conclusion
The author's purpose in the passage is to describe the setting through Tom Joad's perspective, enabling readers to visualize the camp where migrant workers reside. By focusing on the physical details and atmosphere, the author immerses the reader in the experience of the characters, contributing to the overall themes of struggle and resilience present in the novel.

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Question 5

When the bill reaches committee, the committee members-groups of representatives who are experts on topics such as agriculture, education, or international relationsreview, research, and revise the bill before voting on whether or not to send the bill back to the House floor. If the committee members would like more information before deciding if the bill should be sent to the House floor, the bill is sent to a subcommittee. While in subcommittee, the bill is closely examined and expert opinions are gathered before it is sent back to the committee for approval.

Which of the following best describes the organization of the passage?

Your Answer: Option(s)

Correct Answer: Option(s) D

Rationale

Process order

The passage outlines the steps involved in how a bill is reviewed, revised, and voted on by committee and subcommittee members, illustrating a clear sequence of actions that occur in a specific order. This structure emphasizes the procedural nature of legislative review, showcasing how one step leads to another in the legislative process.

A) Cause and effect
This organizational style involves explaining how one event leads to another, focusing on the relationships between actions and their outcomes. The passage does not present a cause-and-effect relationship but rather describes the steps in a process, making this option inappropriate.

B) Chronological order
While the passage does follow a sequence, chronological order typically refers to events occurring over time, often with a focus on historical context. The passage is more focused on the specific procedural steps of legislative review rather than a timeline of events, so this choice does not accurately describe the organization.

C) Compare and contrast
This format highlights the similarities and differences between two or more subjects. The passage does not include any comparisons or contrasts between different legislative processes or bills, making this option unsuitable.

D) Process order
The passage clearly outlines a series of steps involved in the legislative process concerning bill review, detailing how committees and subcommittees function within that process. This sequential description of activities is characteristic of process order, where each step builds on the previous one.

Conclusion
The passage effectively illustrates the organization of the legislative review process through a clear description of the steps taken by committee and subcommittee members. By focusing on the sequence of actions, it exemplifies process order, distinguishing it from other organizational structures such as cause and effect, chronological order, or compare and contrast. Understanding this structure is crucial for grasping how legislation is developed and refined before reaching the House floor.

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A teacher is a person who is patient, dedicated, and helpful.

Kiowas' fondness for traveling during the summer.

In order to train dogs to listen to your commands, you must set up a system that rewards their positive responses.

Describing a setting through a character's perspective.

Process order

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