Study Guide

Field 207: English 
Sample Selected-Response Questions

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General Test Directions

This test consists of two sections: 1) a section with selected-response questions and 2) a constructed-response section.

Each question in the first section is a selected-response question with four answer choices. Read each question and answer choice carefully and choose the  start uppercase ONE end uppercase  best answer.

Try to answer all questions. Even if you are unsure of an answer, it is better to guess than not to answer a question at all. You will  start uppercase NOT end uppercase  be penalized for guessing.

The second section of this test consists of one constructed-response assignment. You will be asked to provide a written response to the assignment. Directions for completing your written response to the constructed-response assignment appear immediately before the assignment.

You may  start uppercase NOT end uppercase  use any type of calculator or reference materials during the test session.

Sample Selected-Response Questions

Competency 0002 
Apply knowledge of active listening, speaking, and participating in academic discussions.

1. A student is reluctant to take part in discussions because they feel uncomfortable disagreeing with classmates. To help the student overcome this obstacle, the teacher asks them to prepare written comments ahead of an upcoming discussion and invites the student to share the comments with the teacher beforehand. Which further action by the teacher would best help promote the student's future participation in class discussions?

  1. asking the student to practice presenting their comments at home
  2. having several classmates read the student's comments before the discussion
  3. providing the student with focused feedback on the comments
  4. posting the student's comments for classmates to read during the discussion

Correct Response: C. The teacher can best help the student by providing focused feedback in response to their written comments. For example, the teacher can guide the student in selecting relevant supporting evidence, clarifying ideas, and conveying their opinion in a way that is respectful of other students' viewpoints. The teacher's feedback will help the student gain confidence in expressing disagreement, thus promoting their future participation in class discussions.

Competency 0003 
Apply knowledge of strategies for developing reading comprehension through vocabulary knowledge.

2. Read the sentence below; then answer the question that follows.

Although he tried to be tactful when providing feedback, Arlo's critique of Lucy's writing nonetheless left her feeling quite upset.

Which of the following words from the sentence would provide the best context clue to the meaning of the word tactful in the sentence?

  1. tried, nonetheless
  2. Although, upset
  3. feedback, critique
  4. providing, feeling

Correct Response: B. The word tactful means "careful to avoid offending or upsetting someone." In the sentence, the word although in the introductory clause signals a contrast between Arlo's attempt "to be tactful" and the fact that his feedback caused Lucy to feel "upset." Understanding these context clues would help a reader determine the meaning of tactful.

 start bold Read the excerpt below from "Good Growing in Oklahoma, Year Round," an article on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's website; then answer the question that follows.  end bold 

Hoop houses, also known as high tunnels, are temporary greenhouses that allow farmers across the state to supply Oklahoma's Farm to School Program with fresh, local products from the start of classes in August to the final bell in June.

"With the use of hoop houses, more farmers can grow in the fall, throughout winter, and into early spring to provide wonderful food in our schools year round," said Chris Kirby, Farm to School Program Administrator for the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry.

To keep these kinds of opportunities growing throughout the state, Kirby works to connect farmers with needed resources. USDA's1 Natural Resources Conservation Service has a Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative that provides cost-sharing for hoop houses. "If we provide economic opportunities to the farmers, we can get the food to schools," said Kirby.

In late winter and early spring, when it is too cold for outdoor planting, hoop houses allow garden-fresh favorites to flourish. Students in Oklahoma might enjoy fresh greens at the salad bar for lunch in February, root vegetables at snack time in March and even tomatoes before school is out.

1footnote 1USDA: U S Department of Agriculture

Competency 0004 
Apply knowledge of comprehension strategies for reading informational and argumentative texts.

3. Which of the following conclusions can be reasonably drawn from the information provided in the excerpt?

  1. Oklahoma students prefer fresh fruits and vegetables to frozen and canned produce.
  2. Oklahoma is the only state participating in the USDA's Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative.
  3. The cost of maintaining hoop houses is beyond the means of many Oklahoma farmers.
  4. The use of hoop houses to grow food during the off-season is rare outside Oklahoma.

Correct Response: C. According to the excerpt, Chris Kirby "works to connect farmers with needed resources," such as the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service's Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative, which provides cost-sharing for hoop houses. From this information, it is reasonable to conclude that many Oklahoma farmers would be unable to afford hoop houses on their own without such financial assistance.

 start bold Read the excerpt below from "Discovery of the New World," a poem by Carter Revard; then answer the question that follows.  end bold 

The creatures that we met this morning
marveled at our green skins
and scarlet eyes.
They lack antennae
and can't be made to grasp
your lawful proclamation that they are
our lawful food and prey and slaves
nor can they seem to learn
their body-space is needed to materialize
our oxygen absorbers—
which they conceive are breathing
and thinking creatures whom they implore
at first as angels or (later) as devils
when they are being snuffed out
by an absorber swelling
into their space. . . .
We need their space and oxygen
which they do not know how to use,
yet they will not give up their gas unforced,
and we feel sure,
whatever our "agreements" made this morning,
we'll have to cook them all:
the more we cook this orbit,
the fewer next time around.

Competency 0005 
Apply knowledge of comprehension strategies for reading literary texts.

4. Which of the following statements best describes the way in which a literary technique is used in this excerpt to draw the reader into an unexpected point of view?

  1. A metaphor from science fiction is extended to reveal a particular sensibility.
  2. A distinctive diction and vivid sensory images create a convincing aura of exoticism.
  3. A meditative monologue unfolds the speaker's most intimate thoughts and feelings.
  4. A passionate poetic voice makes an emotional appeal that is difficult to resist.

Correct Response: A. The science-fiction metaphor of a conquering race occupying a planet and killing the native inhabitants for their resources reveals a particular sensibility that is characteristic of the many indigenous peoples around the world who throughout history have been forced to suffer cruel and inhuman treatment by colonizing peoples.

 start bold Read the excerpt below from Antigone, a play by Sophocles; then answer the question that follows. end bold 

In this excerpt, Antigone has been sentenced to death for illegally burying her brother's body.

CHORUS. Acts reverent and devout
May claim devotion's name,
But power, in one who cares to keep his power,
May never be defied;
And thee thy stubborn mood,
Self-chosen, layeth low.
ANTIGONE. Unwept, without a friend,
Unwed, and whelmed in woe,
I journey on the road that open lies.
No more shall it be mine (O misery!)
To look upon the holy eye of day,
And yet, of all my friends,
Not one bewails my fate,
No kindly tear is shed.

Competency 0006 
Apply knowledge of literature representing a range of historical, cultural, ethnic, and global perspectives from a variety of genres.

5. In this excerpt, the Chorus reflects which of the following cultural attitudes?

  1. loyalty to family
  2. respect for authority
  3. aversion to conflict
  4. fear of the unknown

Correct Response: B. The Chorus, as representative of the ancient Greeks generally, declares that "power, in one who cares to keep his power, / May never be defied." This statement suggests that ancient Greeks respected the authority of the state and attempted to discourage rebellion by punishing individuals who defied the state's authority.

Competency 0007 
Apply knowledge of recursive writing processes.

6. A student is preparing the final draft of a short story for inclusion in an end-of-the-semester portfolio. The student wants to ensure that the story contains a consistent voice and logical sequence of events. Which of the following proofreading strategies would be most appropriate for the student to use?

  1. creating an outline of the story
  2. reading the story aloud
  3. skimming the story
  4. reading the story backward

Correct Response: B. Hearing a text read aloud can help writers recognize grammatical mistakes, awkward sentences and transitions, and issues in organization that they may not notice when reading silently. Additionally, readers typically read more slowly aloud than silently, which encourages attention to details such as voice and logical sequence.

Competency 0008 
Apply knowledge of strategies for composing narratives.

7. A writer is developing a short story about Brianna, a sixteen-year-old girl who works on her family's pine tree farm. Which of the following versions of a paragraph from the story most effectively establishes Brianna's point of view?

  1. From the barn I could see the stream of cars making their way to Richardson's Tree Farm. Some of the cars wore fuzzy red noses or furry brown antlers in keeping with the season. My father directed traffic, a wheel of twine looped around one arm. Before noon, our lot—really just a patch of gravel—would be packed with cars.
  2. My mother was in charge of baling the trees. My older brother sawed off the stumps so the firs could absorb water with a fresh cut. My younger brothers hefted Frasers and balsam over their shoulders as if they weighed nothing. I drove the tractor, a thankless job for which I was rarely thanked and even more rarely, tipped.
  3. Our farm was far out of town, straddling the county line. We grew conifers, pastured horses and llamas, and sold red and gold potatoes by the bushel. Other farm stands in the neighborhood were busy only during the summer and fall harvest season, but ours was busiest in the winter, when we sold our fir trees.
  4. I had had enough of driving the tractor from the parking lot to the tree lot and back again. What did my parents think I was—a team of Clydesdale horses? A pack of sled dogs? As I towed yet another wagon full of cheerful people wearing knit pompon hats, I mourned the trees that we had hacked down and sold as holiday cheer.

Correct Response: D. A writer can effectively establish a character's point of view by using diction and figurative language to reveal the character's attitude and feelings. In the paragraph, Brianna expresses her discontent through vivid images ("What did my parents think I was—a team of Clydesdale horses? A pack of sled dogs?"). Her negative attitude toward her job sets her apart from her passengers, the "cheerful people wearing knit pompon hats." In the paragraph's final sentence, the juxtaposition of "mourned" and "hacked down" with "holiday cheer" further highlights Brianna's derisive tone.

Competency 0009 
Apply knowledge of strategies for composing informative essays, reports, and technical writing.

8. Which of the following statements would provide a writer with the strongest thesis for an informative essay?

  1. Oklahoma has a cultural history rich in contributions to music, dance, and art.
  2. The Tulsa Ballet company is one of the best ballet companies in the United States.
  3. University of Oklahoma is known for its longstanding dance program.
  4. The Native American ballerinas known as the Five Moons reshaped ballet.

Correct Response: D. A strong thesis statement should be focused, defensible, and appropriate to the scope of the essay. Response D clearly introduces a topic that is specific and focused ("The Native American ballerinas known as the Five Moons") as well as engaging and debatable ("the Five Moons reshaped ballet"). This thesis can be appropriately developed into a focused essay with supporting evidence.

Competency 0010 
Apply knowledge of strategies for composing arguments.

9. A student is drafting an essay in which they argue that students should be allowed to have their cell phones in the classroom. Which of the following paragraphs would present the most logical sequence of claims, counterclaims, and evidence?

  1. Cell phones are often perceived as a distraction, but this is not inherently the case. The phones are communication devices that can be used for academic purposes. Indeed, there are many educational applications that teachers can use to incorporate phones into learning.
  2. Cell phones are an essential part of twenty-first-century life. People use them for many purposes, including finding information and sending e-mail. If schools want to prepare students with skills for the twenty-first-century workforce, they should not take our phones away.
  3. For many students, cell phones are an important part of social life. They allow us to keep in touch with friends and share memories with one another. If we were not allowed to have our phones in school, we would not be able to communicate with one another as easily.
  4. Many people express concern about students' use of cell phones in school. According to some estimates, teenagers put in an average of seven hours of screen time each day. Nevertheless, schools do not have the right to invade our privacy or take away our personal property.

Correct Response: A. This paragraph effectively introduces and responds to a counterclaim using evidence. The writer introduces the potential counterargument that cell phones can be a distraction, then responds by claiming that cell phones "can be used for academic purposes." The writer then introduces evidence to support this claim by noting that "there are many educational applications that teachers can use to incorporate phones into learning."

Competency 0011 
Apply knowledge of research strategies for acquiring, refining, and sharing knowledge.

10. A student is conducting research for an informational essay about the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in agriculture. One source they have located is a newspaper editorial in which the author argues that GMOs are beneficial. Which of the following questions would most effectively help the student evaluate the strengths and limitations of the source for their purpose?

  1. Does the author's opinion support or contradict the claim?
  2. What factual evidence does the author provide to support their opinion?
  3. Does the author consider opposing viewpoints when stating their opinion?
  4. What are the author's background experience and qualifications?

Correct Response: B. A newspaper editorial presents a writer's opinion on a particular topic. When assessing the strengths and limitations of an editorial as a source for an informational essay, the student should consider the objective, factual evidence the writer presents to support their opinion and whether it is accurate and verifiable.