TExES Generalist Ec-6 191 Exam (Practice Test I)

The only incorrect answer about metabolism is choice (B) fasting speeds up your metabolism. Fasting does not speed up metabolism; it shuts metabolism down in order to conserve energy due to little or no calories getting into the body. (A) is true because your basal metabolism (basal metabolic rate) is constantly burning calories and converting energy. (C) is correct because physical activity always stimulates metabolic function. (D) is correct in that metabolism slowly adjusts to the demands placed on the body over long periods of time. Competency 044

Alliteration is a technique to emphasize the connection between the consonant and the sound that it represents. In this particular case, the tongue twister is used to emphasize the sound of the /r/. (B) is incorrect because the technique goes beyond the use of a tongue twister. Tongue twisters are examples of alliteration, and they emphasize pronunciation and fluency. (C) is incorrect because the utterance does not represent an example of traditional nursery rhymes. Nursery rhymes are short poems, stories, or songs written to entertain children. Competency 002

The economy of the Southern Colonies was based on the crops of tobacco, rice, indigo, and cotton. Plantations produced agricultural crops in large scale and exploited workers as well as the environment. (A) is incorrect because it was the economy of the Middle Colonies that was based on farming, shipping, fishing, and trading. (B) is incorrect because it was the economy of the New England colonies that was based on farming and very small industries such as fishing, lumber, and crafts. (C) is incorrect because trading was a part of the Middle Colonies economy. Competency 022

The analysis of the structure of the words for decoding and comprehension is definitely part of structural analysis. Competency 005

The Earth is divided into 24 zones based on the meridians of longitude, which are determined using the rotation of the Earth and its exposure to sunlight. This rotation creates day and night, and consequently the concept of time. Competency 021

This problem provides unnecessary information to solve the problem. The fact that Stacy discovers 10 extra nickels in her pocket is inconsequential to the solution of the problem. Since a nickel is $0.05 and she had $9.55 in nickels in her purse, divide $9.55 by $0.05 to obtain the number of nickels she had in her purse. Competency 015

Reference maps show the locations of places, and boundaries of countries, states, counties, and towns. Atlases or road maps are examples of reference maps. (B) is incorrect because thematic maps show a particular topic such as population density, distribution of world religions, or physical, social, economic, political, agricultural, or economic features. (C) is incorrect because a physical map is a thematic map that shows the topography of the land including land features and elevations. (D) is incorrect because population maps are thematic maps that are used to show where people live in a particular region. Competency 021

Two-year-old children are primarily concerned with sensory experiences in their earliest art activities. (A) is incorrect because children do not begin to self-express in their artwork until around age five years. (B) is incorrect because children do not begin to use personal symbols in their artwork until around age four years. (D) is incorrect because children do not begin to repeat themes or be concerned with photographic realism until the middle years of elementary school. Competency 042

A compass rose is a design printed on a chart or map for reference. It shows the orientation of a map on Earth and shows the four cardinal directions (north, south, east, and west). A compass rose may also show in-between directions such as northeast or northwest. (B) is incorrect because a map scale shows the distance between two places in the world. (C) is incorrect because features such as elevations and divisions are represented by different colors. (D) is incorrect because the ratio of the distance between two points on the earth and the distance between the two corresponding points on the map is represented by a scale and not by a compass rose. Competency 021

All three instruments, running records, teacher observations, and the checklist, are examples of informal assessment. (A) is incorrect because at least one of the instruments, running records, is not a teacher-developed instrument. (C) is incorrect based on the information previously stated. (D) is incorrect because all three instruments require some level of subjectivity. Competency 012

Heat stroke is best recognized and described by red, hot, dry skin due to lack of hydration-a condition not allowing the body to cool itself efficiently. Unconsciousness is another sign of heat stroke in extreme situations. (A) does not include the typical signs of heat stroke rather heat exhaustion which is not as severe. (C) and (D) may accompany heat stroke but are not by themselves primary indicators of the problem. Competency 044

An irrational number is a number that cannot be expressed as a fraction. Pi is one of the most well-known irrational numbers. Additionally, the square root of 2 and Euler's number (e) are well-known numbers that are irrational (at no known point does a pattern appear in the decimals of these numbers). Competency 018

The use of flash cards with pictures representing concepts and concrete objects can definitely be effective in teaching vocabulary to preschool children. (B) is incorrect because parents can teach a word every day to the child, but the child might not be able to participate effectively because preschoolers generally do not have the vocabulary development to teach parents new words. (C) is also incorrect because preschoolers might not have the necessary vocabulary development to participate in a game dealing with antonyms and synonyms. (D) is incorrect because the practice of memorizing vocabulary is quite boring and ineffective for children of all ages. Competency 005

Alternative assessment describes the process of gathering performance data as part of instruction. This type of assessment is student-centered and authentic in nature. (B) is incorrect because alternative assessment is generally formative in nature, and it does not have to use instruments approved by the State. (C) is incorrect because it is difficult to determine if all the data collected is easily collected and evaluated. (D) is incorrect because alternative assessment does not emphasize students' weaknesses only. Instead, it tries to assess the overall performance of students in real-life and meaningful situations. Competency 029

The Virginia House of Burgesses was the first legislature established in the English colonies. It was established in 1619 and became the first form of government in the colony. (A) is incorrect because the U.S. government did not exist during this time (1619). (B) is incorrect because England regulated trading with the colonies. (D) is incorrect because, there was no official entity in the colony to regulate the establishment of religions. Competency 023

Both animals, the crocodile and the bird, benefit from this relationship. The bird gets food and at the same time cleans the teeth of the crocodile. (A) is incorrect because the term commensalism describes a relationship in which only one organism benefit, from the interaction, while the second organism is not affected by the interaction. (B) is incorrect because in a parasitism relationship; only one organism benefits from the interaction. The term predator-prey (C) relationship does not describe the interaction between the bird and the crocodile. Competency 027

During the prewriting stage, students should be guided to develop an outline that reflects the order of the ideas in the composition. They also can benefit from guiding questions to keep them focused on the topic and the intended audience. Choice (A) is incorrect because learning about grammar structures and pronunciation will not necessarily affect the organization and coherence of the composition. (C) is incorrect because it addresses speaking ability as opposed to the writing process. (D) is a strong distracter but not the best answer. Modeling effective writing is always a good strategy, but examples only might not provide the necessary guidance to make permanent changes in the students' writing style. (B) is a better choice because it provides a strategy that, once learned, can be used in multiple future situations. Competency 010

In 1929, the Texas State Legislature adopted Texas, Our Texas as the state song. (A) is incorrect because the song Home on the Range is the state song of Kansas. (B) is incorrect because the song Deep in the Heart of Texas is a well-known song elaborating on the qualities of the state. (C) is incorrect because the song The Yellow Rose of Texas is a well-known song in the state. It is a patriotic song popularized by Texan soldiers during the American Civil War. Competency 043

Fish of the same kind have a better chance of reproducing themselves. Aquarium B contains fish of the same kind, while aquarium A has different varieties. Competency 035

Cognitive or academic vocabulary is the vocabulary needed to understand the concepts of school. In other words, it is the vocabulary of teaching and learning. Based on this explanation, options (A), (B), and (D) are incorrect. Competency 019

The Maya and the Aztecs occupied the area of Central America and Southern Mexico called Mesoamerica. Both groups were accomplished builders, astronomers, and mathematicians. (A) is incorrect because the Inca civilization was not a Mesoamerican group. They developed an advanced civilization in South America, in present-day Peru and Ecuador. (C) is incorrect because only the Toltecs were from Mesoamerica; the Pueblo Indians were from present-day New Mexico in North America. (D) is incorrect because only the Olmecs were a Mesoamerican group. The Iroquois civilizations developed in North America. Competency 020

The rhythm is typically called the melodic rhythm or word rhythm found in the song. The beginning of Happy Birthday ("Happy birthday to you") has the same word rhythm as "Oh, say can you see." (A) is incorrect because the word rhythm "My country 'tis of thee" is not the same as "Happy Birthday to you." (C) is incorrect because the word rhythm "Take me out to the ball game" is not the same as "Happy Birthday to you." (D) is also incorrect because "Oh beautiful for spacious skies" is not the same as "Happy Birthday to you." Competency 043

In a normal deck of cards there are 52 total cards. Of the 52 cards, there are four suits and 13 cards per suit. Therefore, there are four queens in the deck. Additionally, of the four suits, two are black and two are red. So, there are two black fours giving a grand total of six cards of 52 that meet the criteria. Competency 017

Pitch describes how high (up) and low (down) sounds are produced. (A) is incorrect because it describes characteristics of rhythm. (B) is incorrect because it describes characteristics of dynamics. (D) is incorrect because it describes characteristics of weight. Competency 043

Brazil is located in the Southern Hemisphere, and the United States is located in the Northern Hemisphere; thus, if the United States is in the winter season, then in Brazil it is summer. (A), (C), and (D) are incorrect based on the previous explanation. Competency 021

An easy way to solve this problem is to use basic algebra. Knowing that there are 16 oz. in a pound and that there are 2,000 lbs. in a ton helps ease the difficulty of the problem. We want to find out the number of cans x it will take to obtain a ton. Therefore, we have . If both sides of the equation are multiplied by 16 and then we divide both sides by 14, we will obtain the approximate number of cans it will take to obtain one ton. . We see that many of the answers are close to this value. When we round this number, we will obtain 2,286. Competency 015

The teacher can discuss the theory of continental drift, which gave rise to the current theory of plate tectonics. According to this theory, the crust of the Earth is broken down into several floating tectonic plates, which move and change locations. (A) is incorrect because it describes how organisms evolve throughout history. It also alludes to the work of Charles Darwin. (B) is incorrect because it refers to the religious belief that the universe was created by a supreme being. (C) describes the process by which organisms living on one continent manage to migrate to other continents or to other regions within a continent. Competency 038

Reading and discussing the biographies and the accomplishments of scientists from a variety of backgrounds can minimize the stereotypical views that children may have about them. (A) and (D) are incorrect because both address the gender misconception only. Providing generic information about the diversity in the science field (B) might not be the best strategy for first graders. They might need more tangible evidence of the information. Competency 025

Locomotor activities describe the types of movement that children use to move from one place to the other. In this case, hopping is the only choice that accomplishes this goal. (A) is incorrect because bending is not a locomotor activity, rather a non-locomotor activity. (B) and (C) are also incorrect because they are manipulative skills requiring interaction with equipment or objects. Competency 045

A mixture is a physical combination of two or more substances that retain their own chemical properties; i.e., the mixture can be separated into the original substances—acetic acid and water. (A) is incorrect because in a compound the substances are chemically combined, and in the case of vinegar the substances are only mixed physically. (C) and (D) are incorrect because they lack the specificity required of the answer. Competency 021

The Orff approach uses both unpitched rhythm instruments (e.g., wood blocks, triangles, etc.) and melodic or barred instruments (e.g., xylophones, metallophones, and glockenspiels). The Kodály Method (B) is incorrect because the primary goal is to teach music literacy and singing is the vehicle to achieve this goal. Mariachi (C) is a group of musicians that play violins, trumpets, a Spanish guitar, and a guitarrón. Tejano music (D) features the accordion, and the Tejano orchestra has been influenced by Mexican, Cuban, German, and Czech brass bands. Competency 043

Since Mrs. Cameron does not want any seams in her carpet, the carpet must be 20 ft long (at least) to cover the entire space. Since the room is only 14 ft. wide and the carpet is 16 ft wide, there will be 2 ft of wasted carpet for the entire length of the room (20 ft). Therefore, the amount of carpet that is wasted is 20 x 2 = 40 ft.2 of carpet. Competency 016

Checklists, retelling stories, and the use of anecdotal records are examples of informal assessment measures commonly used to assess the development of communication skills among ELLs. The informal nature of these assessment strategies eliminates the stress associated with formal assessment procedures. Multiple-choice, cloze tests, and informal reading inventory (B) are not generally used to assess oral communication skills. Audiotaping can be used to assess oral language development, but written cloze tests and standardized achievement tests (C) are not. Repetition drills, choral reading, and chants (D) are generally used to assess pronunciation, which is only one component of oral communication skills. Competency 005

TEKS introduces social studies beginning with what the child knows to what the child does not know. Students begin studying about themselves and from there they study the school, community, and, finally, the state. The focus on TEKS for fourth grade is the history of Texas. (A) is incorrect because TEKS is available only in K–12. For prekindergarten, teachers use instructional guidelines. (B) is incorrect because the focus of first grade is the school and the community. (C) is incorrect because in grade 3 the focus is the individual and how each affects the community. Competency 019

Since tossing two separate coins does not effect the outcome of the other coin, we know that the probability of getting a head on either coin is 1/2. The probability of the outcome is then 2/4 or 0.5. Competency 017

Knowing that with a pair of dice there are 36 possible outcomes allows us to view all of the possible outcomes. Of the possible outcomes, half are odd and half are even. Competency 017

The convergence of the Tigris and the Euphrates created a fertile region where some of the greatest civilizations of the world emerged. This part of the world has been called the Fertile Crescent, and it is part of the area called the Cradle of Civilizations. (A) is incorrect because the Nile gave birth to the Egyptian civilization, and the Amazon River is located in South America, far away from Mesopotamia. (C) is incorrect because the Indus River is located in modern-day India. (D) is incorrect because the Volga and Danube rivers are located in Europe. Competency 020

Learning centers allow children opportunities to explore mathematics reasoning in a play and low anxiety format. (B) is incorrect because it addresses only one component of the benefit—the use of manipulatives. (C) is incorrect because, traditionally, learning centers are not used to teach deductive reasoning. Instead, students learn inductively through the use of manipulatives and the input from teachers. (D) is incorrect because learning centers do not use a highly structured format. On the contrary, learning centers are designed to be a low anxiety environment in which children can explore on their own. Competency 013

This problem is easily solved by using some basic algebraic reasoning. Since we are interested in determining the number of oranges that are in the basket, we will set this as a variable called o. The number of apples, a, and the number of oranges, o, sum to a total of 62. We also know that there are 16 more apples than oranges (a = o + 16). This gives o + (o + 16) = 2o + 16 = 62. Solving for o yields 23 oranges in the basket. Competency 015

A globe is a scale model of the Earth shaped like a sphere. Because a globe is the same shape as the Earth, it shows sizes and shapes more accurately than a Mercator projection map (a flat representation of the Earth). (A) is incorrect because a compass rose is a design used to show orientation and not a representation of the Earth. (C) is incorrect because a map scale is used to show the distance between two places in the world. (D) is incorrect because thematic maps are not used to show the size and shape of the Earth. Competency 021

Perception, creative expression, historical/cultural heritage, and critical evaluation are precisely the four strands identified in the state curriculum for fine arts and visual arts. (A) is incorrect because, although art production, appreciation, and evaluation may be included in the four strands under slightly different terminology, art advocacy is not. (B) is incorrect because, although sensory awareness, creativity, and art production may be included in the four strands under slightly different terminology, crafts are not. (D) is incorrect because the wording of each strand has been changed. Competency 042

The overall purpose of the shared book experience is to guide children to be successful in reading and to develop an interest in learning to read. The story is read to the students in a very supportive environment using visuals to enhance comprehension. The main goal is to make reading an enjoyable activity and to motivate children to read on their own. (B) is incorrect because reading with the whole class is a by-product of the shared book experience, but it is not the main goal. (C) and (D) are true statements. Traditionally, books used in shared reading use big letters and attractive pictures, and children like big books, but these features are not the main reason for conducting shared reading. Competency 004

The Declaration of Independence pronounced the colonies free and independent states. It consists of a preamble or introduction followed by three main parts. The third part announces the creation of the new country. (B), (C), and (D) are incorrect because these choices stress rights that are not explicitly stated in the Declaration of Independence. The unalienable rights, stated in the first part of the Declaration of Independence, are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Competency 023

The Apache and the Comanche domesticated the horse and became skillful hunters and warriors. These skills allowed them to fight the whites for many years for control of the Central and Great Plains of Texas. (A) is incorrect because the tribes from the plains were nomads and did not develop an advanced civilization. (B) is incorrect because both the Comanche and the Apache were nomads and did not leave permanent constructions. (D) is incorrect because the tribes from the area had to hunt for survival and they had to move continuously to find adequate food supplies. Competency 020

Reading a story and asking a child to retell it promotes interest in writing. When the teacher writes down the dictated story, the child can see the connection of oral and written work. (A) and (B) are incorrect because the children at the emerging stage don't have sufficient command of written language to correct their own writing or write a composition based on prompts. (D) is incorrect because reading for 30 minutes a day without any kind of explicit or implicit writing support might not be effective for children at the emerging stage for writing. Competency 009

The best way to teach vocabulary to ELLs is to present the word together with a visual or concrete representation—a word concept. The introduction of word concepts can avoid any possible cultural conflict with similar concepts in the students' cultures. (B) is incorrect because translation can teach the word but fail to teach the concept that the word represents. (C) is incorrect because it would be very difficult to teach every single word in a contrasting fashion. Plus, most ESL classes contain speakers of various languages, which makes this activity impractical. (D) is incorrect because with ELLs, we cannot deemphasize the role of vocabulary development. Using context alone to obtain meaning will not work for children new to the English language. Competency 008

The use of household items in place of pure chemicals can reduce the danger for children. Moreover, its use can make science more relevant and practical for students. Avoiding experiments (A) with chemicals (D) is not an option in the upper grades. True scientific experimentation often requires the use of chemicals, thus, substituting the required chemical with plain water is not an option either (C). Competency 024

There are equal numbers of blue and red marbles in each bag. For a single bag on a single draw, the probability of pulling a red or a blue marble is equal to 4/8 or 1/2 . Selecting a marble from one bag does not affect the probability of selecting a specific marble from the other bag, therefore these events are said to be independent. When dealing with the probability of independent events, one may multiply the probabilities together to obtain the overall probability. In this case, we know the probability of selecting a blue marble is 1/2 for the first bag and it is also 1/2 for the second bag. Therefore, the overall probability of the independent events is 1/4. Competency 017

The state curriculum states that experiences in critical evaluation for kindergartners should include expressing ideas about personal artworks, and the artworks of peers or professional artists. Critical evaluation is one of the four strands in the state curriculum for fine arts and visual arts. (B) is incorrect because the standards indicate that experiences in critical evaluation should begin in kindergarten rather than first grade. (C) is incorrect because the standards indicate that experiences in critical evaluation should begin in kindergarten rather than second grade. (D) is incorrect because the standards indicate that experiences in critical evaluation should begin in kindergarten rather than third grade. Competency 042

A prime number is a number whose only factors are one and itself. Even numbers greater than 2 can always be factored by 2, eliminating (B). (A) can be factored as 3 times 3 and (C) can be factored as 7 times 7. Therefore, (D) must be the right answer as it only has factors of 1 and 67. Competency 014

Readers' theater is a student-centered activity. They read the story, summarize it, work in groups, develop the characters and story line, and implement the activity. While watching a video version of the story (D) can help students get into the characters of the story, this activity is not required to implement readers' theater. Thus, options (A), (B) and (C) are typically used as part of the preparation to implement reader's theater. Competency 006

Corals live in a symbiotic relationship with algae because both exchange nutrients or other kinds of services in order for both to survive. (A) is incorrect because corals are not parasites living off algae. Instead, parasites and corals provide support services to each other for their mutual survival. (B) and (D) might be true statements, but they do not define the term symbiosis. Competency 036

All language skills are interrelated, including reading and writing. Given appropriate instruction, the skills of reading and writing can be introduced and acquired concurrently. Current research does not support the idea that children learn language skills in a sequential manner (A). Based on the explanation given, options (C) and (D) are incorrect. Competency 005

The use of interactive journals allows children opportunities to communicate in meaningful and real-life situations. (A) and (D) are incorrect because listening and speaking abilities are not emphasized in interactive journals. (C) is incorrect because corrective feedback is not encouraged in communication activities. Teachers can provide indirect corrective feedback through modeling. Competency 010

Semantic, structural, and visual cuing systems are all used by newly fluent readers to aid in their comprehension of texts. They also make use of graphophonemic cuing systems. These are used to self-monitor what they are reading as well as to begin to correct their errors without much support. Competency 003

Learning about computers and search engines (A) is a derivative of the process; it does not constitute the main benefit of the activity. (C) and (D) are incorrect because they represent a generic value and byproducts of the activity. Competency 026

The main purpose of reading to learn is to obtain content information efficiently and effectively. One way to accomplish this task is to make students aware of the format used in the content areas and to guide them to retrieve the information by reading for the main idea or scanning for information. Choice (A) is incorrect because it addresses only one component of the process—vocabulary development. (C) is incorrect because it does not address the issue of the complexity of expository writing. (D) is incorrect because it addresses only the issue of vocabulary development—connotation and denotation. Competency 008

Comparing and contrasting variations of a fairly tale, like Cinderella, can foster higher order thinking skills and critical reading. Students will have to analyze the new story to determine how it related to the traditional version, and how the theme is treated. (B), (C), and (D) are not focusing specifically on such higher-level reading as it relates to comparing and contrasting across multiple texts. Competency 007

The order of operations must be obeyed here. Remembering the saying Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally (PEMDAS) allows us to remember the order in which mathematical operations must be carried out, Parentheses Exponent Multiply Divide Add Subtract. Following this one will multiply 6 by 2 to obtain 12. Then, one will divide 3 by 3 obtaining 1. Finally, one will add the two results together to obtain 12 + 1 = 13. Competency 013

Homonyms are words that have the same spelling and pronunciation, but have different meanings. The only pair of words that is a true homonym is (B). In this case, the word club can refer to a night club or a wooden stick. Option (A) and (C) are incorrect because they represent two different words. Option (D) represents an example of homophones, words that are pronounced in the same way, have different meanings, and are spelled differently. Competency 002

The Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) allows the use of burners and hot plates beginning in fifth grade. Based on this information, the rest of the options are incorrect. Competency 025

The Fifteenth Amendment granted black males the right to vote. (A) is incorrect because the voting right was given to black males only, not women. (B) is incorrect because the Fourteenth Amendment granted citizenship to former slaves. (C) is incorrect because the Thirteenth Amendment granted freedom to slaves. Competency 023

The word thought is a long word, even though it is monosyllabic. It has three phonemes. The word contains two consonant diagraphs, th and ght, and a vowel digraph, ou, representing one sound each for a total of three sounds. Competency 001

The chart provides examples of words that follow grapheme-phoneme correspondence. It also provides examples of words that use different graphemes to represent the sounds. This chart provides students with tangible information to help them deal with graphophonemic inconsistencies. (A) is incorrect because this particular chart places more emphasis on graphophonemic inconsistencies than on consistencies. (C) is incorrect because the chart presents words in isolation; thus, it cannot present information about the intonation pattern used in sentences or larger units. (D) is a plausible answer, but it does not capture the true intent of the activity. The chart is designed to deal with specific, inconsistent sounds only. Competency 001

The country of Iraq is located in the region known as Mesopotamia. (A) is incorrect because the country of Iran is located east of the Tigris River. (B) is incorrect because Pakistan is located further southeast of these rivers. (C) is also incorrect because the State of Kuwait is located southwest of the area and south of Iraq. Competency 020

In order to solve a problem we must understand the problem, choose a strategy and/or make a plan, carry out the plan, and check our answer. The only answer that is not a critical component of the process is (D). Competency 018

To solve this problem, one again must use PEMDAS first on the exponential term. Once this is done, one obtains (2 · 10)3 = 11 · 103(2 · 10)3 = 11 · 103. Then, multiplying the two single-digit numbers (8 and 6), one gets 48. Continuing with the solution, we now can multiply 103 with 104 to obtain 107 by adding the exponents (this can be done because each number has a common base, 10). We are now left with 48 · 107. However, the last step is to write the answer in scientific notation, which is 4.8 · 108. Competency 013

A visual analysis of columns 4, 5, and 6 shows that the phoneme /sh/ can be represented by at least four different graphemes—ch, s, ss, and t—in words like chef, sure, mission, and caution. The grapheme ch is also inconsistent. Column 3 shows that the grapheme ch represents the sound /k/. This inconsistency affects the ability of ELLs to separate the two phonemes. (A), (B), and (C) are incorrect because the scenario does not provide evidence to suggest that ELLs cannot establish a difference or pronounce the two phonemes, or that they might not be interested in learning the difference between the two. Competency 001

The metric system is a very precise system that allows for the measurement of very small amounts of matter. For example, the metric system uses measurements divided into thousands (millimeters or milligrams), while the English system uses larger units of measurement, like inches and ounces. (A) and (B) contain possible true statements and opinions but they fail to address the question. (D) is incorrect; the English system does not have a simple way to compute measures. On the other hand, the metric system is a base 10 system and the computations are typically easier. Competency 016

The teaching of the writing trait of "voice" can be taught through sharing examples, such as through reading aloud stories by authors who portray and exemplify strong voice in their unique style of writing. Teachers can ask their students what characteristics best exemplify this author's voice across multiple texts. Option (A) focuses less on voice and more on the ways in which the writing is structured. (C) and (D) focus more on syntax, grammar, and punctuation and less on voice, although they are related features to how authors construct voice. Competency 010

While other groups made significant contributions to mathematics, the Egyptians and Babylonians (third millennium BCE) were the first groups to make an impact on the development of modern-day mathematics. Competency 018

Students who are becoming literate are not yet writing conventionally. However, answers (A), (B), and (C) all represent features and characteristics of emergent writers. As young writers grasp the concept of the alphabetic principle and are able to better map speech onto print in conventional ways, their spelling will become closer approximations to conventional spelling. Competency 009

In the Language Experience Approach (LEA), the teacher is dictating the ideas and thoughts of the students. As the students share ideas, the teacher writes them down, thus connecting speech to print and also modeling how oral language is related to writing. Answer (B) is incorrect because in this approach, it is the teacher who "has the pen" and does the modeled writing as students contribute ideas. Answer (C) is incorrect because the focus is not on oral reading primarily; the emphasis is on both reading and writing for beginning readers with LEA. Answer (D) is incorrect because it focuses on the teacher's own ideas, whereas LEA focuses on the teacher dictating the ideas of the student or students. Competency 009

In 2008, The Texas economy ranked 12th in the world. The gross state product competes favorably with the gross national product (GNP) of countries like Mexico, India, Australia, and South Korea. Based on this information, (A), (C), and (D) are eliminated. Competency 022

The main purpose of the Federal Reserve System (FRS) is to keep the banking industry strong enough to ensure a supply of currency. When the banking industry is strong and there is an adequate supply of currency, fiscal stability and economic growth are more likely to occur. However, the direct role of the FRS is not to provide stimulus money to balance the economy (A), promote economic growth (B), nor create inflation and deflation (C) in the country. Policies adopted by the FRS can lead to a healthy economy—or a weak economy resulting in inflation or deflation. Competency 022

The child is having problems with word stress and syllabication, and both terms are part of phonological awareness. (B) is incorrect because the child is not having problems with phonemic awareness. He has mastered the ability to separate phonemes and blend them back to recreate the word. (C) and (D) are incorrect because neither of them individually can explain the needs of the child. The reality is that the child needs support in both components; thus, (C) or (D) individually cannot be the correct answer. Competency 002

Corals are invertebrates that fall under the animal kingdom. These small organisms can reproduce themselves sexually or asexually. (A) is incorrect because unlike corals, the kingdom Monera is made up of unicellular organisms with very rudimentary cellular organization. (C) and (D) are incorrect because corals are described in the question as invertebrates, a classification used exclusively for members of the animal kingdom. Competency 036

The feudal system characterized life in the Middle Ages. The attacks of the barbaric tribes forced people to live under the protection of a lord, usually within the walls of a castle. Muslim Turks took Jerusalem in 1095, and a year later, Christians began the Crusades to rescue the Holy Land. (A) is incorrect because both the Greek and Roman empires are part of the Ancient World. (C) is incorrect because one of the events is part of the Ancient World—Stonehenge. (D) is incorrect because Alexander the Great ruled the Ancient World. Competency 020

Angle xyz is an inscribed angle (its vertex is on the circle). Angle xCz is a central angle (its vertex is at the circle's center). When two such angles intercept (or "cut off") the same arc of the circle, a specific size relationship exists between the two angles. The measure of the central angle will always be double the measure of the inscribed angle. In this case, that means that the measure of angle xCz must be 80°. Thus, minor arc xz also measures 80°. Every circle (considered as an arc) measures 360°. This means major arc xyz measures 280° (360 – 80). The explanation shows that (A), (C) and (D) are incorrect. Competency 016

Complex carbohydrates should comprise at least half of the calories consumed for the healthy diet of an active person (a little less for an inactive person). Carbohydrates are the primary and most efficient source of energy for the body. Based on this, choices (A), (B), and (D) are incorrect. Competency 044

The kingdom Monera is composed of unicellular organisms and primitive cells called prokaryotes. (B), (C), and (D) are incorrect because all three have more sophisticated cellular systems called eukaryotes. Competency 034

Formative evaluations are the ongoing measures of how students are doing during regular classroom instruction. They are typically given throughout the school year. Summative evaluations are given at the end of a grading cycle or at the end of the school year. Therefore, options (A), (B), and (D) are incorrect because they represent examples of summative assessment rather than formative (ongoing) assessment.Competency 012

Developmentally appropriate practices emphasize active learning and engagement, allowing children to explore and construct their own understanding of literacy concepts. Worksheets and drills can be tedious and may not be effective for all learners. The other options are more engaging and developmentally appropriate:

Providing a print-rich environment exposes children to the uses and functions of print in their everyday lives.

Interactive read-alouds and discussions promote language development, comprehension skills, and a love of reading.

Encouraging children to express themselves through drawing and storytelling fosters creativity and helps them connect oral language with written expression.

Inquiry-based science learning emphasizes active exploration and discovery, not rote memorization. Students are encouraged to ask questions, conduct investigations, and construct their own explanations based on evidence.

In this problem it is necessary to perform the order of operations as well as look at equivalent representations of numbers. Since there are no exponents in any of the solutions, it may be beneficial to carry this out within the problem before proceeding further. Doing so results in 17(64 + 64) – 64. This may also be written as 17 x 64 x 2 – 64. Since 64 appears in the first multiplication sequence as well as being a subtrahend, it may be factored to produce 64(17 x 2 – 1) = 64(34 – 1) = 64 x 33 . Competency 014

The standards state that second graders should use art principles, like emphasis, patterns, and rhythm to create artworks. The principles of art are included in the curriculum strand of Perceptions. (A) is incorrect because the standards indicate that children's first experiences with art principles should occur in second grade rather than kindergarten. (C) is incorrect because the standards indicate that children's first experiences with the art principles should occur in second grade rather than fourth grade. (D) is incorrect because the standards indicate that children's first experiences with the art principles should occur in second grade rather than sixth grade. Competency 042

Story grammar focuses on the key elements in a story. By being able to recollect these key features common to many narrative stories, students can develop their understanding of commonalities across texts as well as their understanding of the specific story they are reading. (A) is incorrect because it focuses mainly on meanings at the sentence or word level rather than across the entire text. (B) is incorrect because it is a specific cognitive strategy the learner uses while reading any text. Shared reading (D) is a way to read a text together and is not specific to analyzing features of a text. Competency 007

This problem requires critical thinking and some basic knowledge of math. Solving for the volume of the bathtub one obtains 45 ft.3 and the volume of the bucket is p . 0.52 . 1 » 0.7854 ft.3 To find how many buckets of water it will take to fill the tub, we must divide 45 by 0.7854. This gives approximately 57 buckets. Competency 015

In the inductive method, teachers guide students to discover principles in an indirect fashion. In this indirect way of teaching, teachers create the opportunities for the students to develop their own learning. (B) is incorrect because it describes a teaching style in which concepts are presented through direct instruction. The term "hands-on" (C) and "student-centered method" (D) is part of the "engage" stage of the 5-E model, but they do not fully describe the type of strategy being used. Competency 025

Charts, tables, and graphs can be used to present, summarize, and/or complement the message being conveyed. These are not designed to provide detailed explanations (C) of topics covered in class. Regardless of their use, students must be aware that their use should never be intended to entertain (B) or contradict (D) any of their information. Competency 011