Reading for Praxis II ParaPro Test Prep Practice Problems

The study guides for this practice quiz can be found at:

• Reading Skills and Knowledge for Praxis II ParaPro Test Prep Study Guide
• Additional Reading Skills and Knowledge for Praxis II ParaPro Test Prep Study Guide
• Application of Reading Skills and Knowledge for Praxis II ParaPro Test Prep Study Guide

Directions: Each of the following questions is followed by four answer choices. Choose the best answer choice by filling in the corresponding answer choice on your answer sheet.

Answer questions 1–2 based on the following passage.

(1) Though some of the world's largest creatures may be scary, such as the great white shark or the boa constrictor, some of the smallest creatures pose the greatest threat. (2) The poison dart frog, for example, may seem adorable with its minute size, but the level of its toxicity is no joking matter. (3) The adults of some species never grow larger than one inch in length, but they still contain enough poison to kill 10 adult humans. (4) It may be hard to imagine that a creature that weighs only 2 grams can have such deadly capabilities. (5) However, it is important to remember that size does not matter when comparing the dangers of Earth's creatures.

1. The main idea of the passage is that
   1. large animals like great white sharks are the scariest.
   2. some adult frogs don't grow to be more than one inch in length.
   3. sometimes small animals can be deceptively dangerous.
   4. the poison dart frog seems adorable.
2. The word minute in sentence 2 most closely means
   1. a period of time.
   2. modern.
   3. unimportant.
   4. tiny.

Answer questions 3–4 based on the following passage.

The Brooklyn Bridge has many admirers for its historical and cultural significance. Built in 1883, the bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world—by far—until the early twentieth century. In fact, when it was built, the towers that hold the bridge's cables were the tallest structures in the western hemisphere. The bridge connected the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn, even though Brooklyn was its own city until 1898. The ancient bridge, an icon of New York City, became a national historic landmark in 1964. Despite all of these reasons to admire the Brooklyn Bridge, I just like it because it's beautiful.

3. The author states all of the following reasons to appreciate the Brooklyn Bridge EXCEPT its
   1. size.
   2. cost.
   3. age.
   4. beauty.
4. The passage suggests that the Brooklyn Bridge
   1. is not the longest suspension bridge in the world.
   2. is one of the most highly trafficked bridges in the world.
   3. inspired Brooklyn to become part of New York City.
   4. is the oldest suspension bridge in the world.

Answer questions 5–6 based on the following section of an index from an astronomy textbook.



5. On which page would a reader most likely find information about the types of rocks that make up the planet Mars?
   1. 199
   2. 213
   3. 214
   4. 215
6. The first American astronauts to reach space were a part of the Mercury missions. On which page might a person learn about these early astronauts?
   1. 197
   2. 257
   3. 443
   4. 508

Answer questions 7–8 based on the following excerpt from a short story about a group of children at a park.

The neighborhood kids gathered at Anderson Park on Saturday morning, as they had for as long as any of them could remember. Owen brought the football, and he and his friend Yuri met to begin the usual process of picking teams. This time, however, something was on Owen's mind.

"The last time we picked teams, Ollie was upset that he was picked last," Owen said to Yuri.

"That's true," Yuri agreed. "But how can we pick fair teams for a football game if we don't pick in order of who we want first?"

Owen thought for a moment. Then he suggested, "We could pick our teams in private. Then we could just tell everyone which team they're on."

Yuri smiled and nodded. "No one will know who was selected first or last!" he said in agreement. The two boys walked away from the crowd and began to plan their teams in private.

7. The primary purpose of this story is to tell about
   1. two children's unique solution to a sensitive problem.
   2. the outcome of a neighborhood pickup football game.
   3. how children can be mean when they play sports.
   4. the growing friendship between two boys.
8. What inspired Owen to change the system in which he and Yuri picked teams?
   1. Owen did not want Ollie on his team again.
   2. It isn't fair for the same people to make the teams each Saturday.
   3. The teams that were selected were not evenly matched.
   4. Ollie's feelings were hurt the last time they picked teams.

Answer question 9 based on the following graph.



9. Which conclusion is supported by the information in the double-bar graph?
   1. The year in which Hickory Hills Farm produced the most eggs was 2006.
   2. Hickory Hills Farm makes more money selling organic eggs.
   3. More customers are buying organic produce than ever before.
   4. The first year that Hickory Hills Farm produced more organic eggs than non-organic eggs was 2010.

Answer questions 10–11 based on the following passage.

(1) While Hawaii is famous for its beaches and surfing, it is the north shore of the Hawaiian island of O'ahu that is truly the greatest surfing spot in the world. (2) With storms in the North Atlantic driving swells south to Hawaii, the waves at the north shore can be gigantic. (3) When the weather conditions are right, waves can grow to be 35 feet tall—or higher. (4) These waves are simply terrifying to behold. Yet it is these very same waves that draw the best surfers to the north shore. (5) In fact, there are several worldclass surfing competitions held on its beaches. (6) One of them actually requires that the waves are at least 20 feet tall. (7) The men and women who surfboard professionally risk injury and death for the conquest of these monstrous waves. (8) In no place can they achieve as much glory as at O'ahu's north shore.

10. Which of the following sentences from the passage is an example of a fact rather than an opinion?
    1. "While Hawaii is famous… spot in the world."
    2. "When the weather conditions are right… or higher."
    3. "These waves… terrifying to behold."
    4. "In no place… O'ahu's north shore"
11. What is the best meaning of the word draw from the passage in sentence 4?
    1. bring
    2. sketch
    3. create
    4. infer

Answer questions 12–14 based on the following passage.

Junko Tabei was born in 1939 in Japan. When she was 10 years old, she went mountain climbing on a school trip with a teacher. She was so small that other students would make fun of her and call her names. But when she was on the mountain, her small size did not matter. In fact, she enjoyed that she did not have to compete with other people on the mountain. As an adult, she only grew to be 4 feet, 9 inches tall.

In 1969 Tabei formed the Ladies' Climbing Club: Japan. She continued to improve her mountain climbing skills. By 1975, she was part of an all-woman team which climbed Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world. An avalanche knocked her unconscious and buried her in snow, but she did not give up on her goal. On May 16, 1975, she became the first woman to reach the peak of Mount Everest. After that, she continued to add to her impressive climbing experience by reaching the highest peak of each of the seven continents on the planet. She was also the first woman to achieve this feat, completing the last of the "Seven Summits" at the age of 59. Now in her 70s, Tabei does not climb as many mountains, but she is still involved with improving the mountain climbing experience. She is the director of the Himalayan Adventure Trust of Japan, where she works to protect mountains for climbers.

12. In what way is the passage organized?
    1. A series of facts are presented in an increasing order of importance.
    2. A broad statement is offered and then backed up with details.
    3. The reasons for a climber's obsession are provided with several causes.
    4. The events are told in the order in which they happened.
13. It can be inferred from the passage that
    1. Junko Tabei was the first woman to climb Mount McKinley, the tallest mountain in North America.
    2. Junko Tabei's height was an advantage when climbing mountains.
    3. Junko Tabei has climbed Mount Vinson, the highest peak in Antarctica.
    4. Junko Tabei was the oldest person to climb Mount Everest.
14. Mountain climbing was appealing to Junko Tabei because
    1. she wanted to be the first woman to climb the tallest mountains.
    2. she was not scared by avalanches and other dangers of the mountain.
    3. she was able to go at her own pace without having to race others.
    4. there were not enough female mountain climbers before her.

Answer question 15 based on the following passage.

Airline pilots need to complete rigorous instruction before they can fly in the cockpit. Pilots need to be trained at a good flight school to earn their private license. They need a college degree, preferably one relating to aviation. They also need to be certified to fly a particular aircraft, as well as pass a medical check. Before they can be pilots—and for the rest of their careers—they take many tests, both written and oral. They also perform checkrides, which are tests performed on an aircraft to show that the pilot has the necessary flying skills. However, none of these credentials are as important to good flying as one critical qualification: experience.

15. The author of the passage is mostly concerned with
    1. the different types of aircraft that a pilot can fly.
    2. the importance of flying experience for a pilot.
    3. the glamorous lifestyle of a professional pilot.
    4. the different kinds of tests that a pilot must pass.

Answer questions 16–18 based on the following passage.

Two of the most famous and popular children's book authors are Eric Carle and Theodor Seuss Geisel, who is most commonly known as Dr. Seuss. Each author has published more than 60 books, many of which have been translated into multiple languages. Not only have Seuss and Carle written dozens of famous books, but they have illustrated them as well. Both authors were born in the northeastern United States, raised by parents of German descent.

Carle uses a unique collage process to illustrate his books, including his most famous book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar. To create the collages, he cuts brightly painted paper and uses the pieces to form recognizable shapes. Seuss, on the other hand, created most of the illustrations for his books, such as the legendary The Cat in the Hat, by drawing cartoons by hand. Regardless of the process used to illustrate their books, the end result was the same for Seuss and Carle's creations: Millions of children loved the stories and were inspired to read.

16. Why does the author mention the heritage of the two children's book authors?
    1. to show that the best children's authors always come from Germany
    2. to explain the ways in which Eric Carle created his illustrations
    3. to demonstrate the importance of a strong family life
    4. to show another way in which the two writers were alike
17. The passage mentions that both Eric Carle and Dr. Seuss have both done all of the following EXCEPT
    1. written and illustrated children's books.
    2. lived in the northeastern part of the United States.
    3. drawn the illustrations for their books by hand.
    4. inspired millions of children with their books.
18. The author most likely mentions Eric Carle's collage process in order to
    1. show students an easy and fun way to create beautiful artwork.
    2. give an example of Eric Carle's level of brilliance as an artist.
    3. show the reasons for the wild success of The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
    4. demonstrate the difference between the illustration styles of Carle and Seuss.

Answer questions 19–21 based on the following passage, which is being read by a student in class.

It was a completely ordinary evening. I was walking down the beach after dinner, which I do every night to clear my head. The cloudless night revealed a thin crescent moon and a countless array of stars sparkling like jewels. I walked a few steps toward the ocean, admiring the reflection of the lights on the surface of the water. Just then, I noticed a new light develop in the mirror reflection. I looked up to see a fireball screaming down from the heavens. A meteor lit up the night as it slashed a burning streak through the sky. A moment later, the light was gone and the sky returned to normal. No one else was on the beach. I began to wonder if anyone else had seen the unusual event.

19. Students are learning about how writers use comparisons to tell a story. The students are asked to find an object from the story that is described using a comparison. Which of the following is compared to something else in the passage?
    1. the stars
    2. the ocean
    3. the meteor
    4. the moon
20. Students are learning how some letters can have different sounds. They are beginning to understand that the letter C can sound like the letter S in words like snake or sad. Which word from the passage would be a good model to show how the letter C can have this sound?
    1. completely
    2. ocean
    3. clear
    4. noticed
21. Students are learning about compound words, and they have each written down a word from the story that they believe is a compound word. Which student's answer is a compound word?
    1. ordinary
    2. fireball
    3. screaming
    4. unusual

Answer questions 22–25 based on the following excerpt from a book which is being read by a student in class.

Maximilian's Year

Chapter 1: The Surprise Party

(1) Maximilian awoke on the morning of his thirteenth birthday with a smile. (2) He got out of bed and looked in the mirror, staring for the first time at the reflection of himself as a teenager. (3) He walked downstairs to the kitchen, expecting his parents and his sister to shower him with birthday wishes on the Sunday morning.

(4) "Good morning, Max," said his father, not taking his eyes off the television in the living room. (5) No one else even looked at Max.

(6) "Hi, everyone!" shouted Max, assuming that they would remember that today was the big day. (7) Max's mother looked up from the newspaper. (8) His sister kept working on her homework at the desk.

(9) Max couldn't believe it. (10) No one remembered his birthday! (11) He plopped down on the couch by himself, dejected. (12) He slumped back in misery.

(13) "The stove is acting up," said Max's mom. (14) "I thought we would go out for brunch this morning."

(15) Max's dad and sister both casually said "sure," but Max was too depressed to even answer.

(16) Max's family members started to get ready for the brunch. (17) Max peeled himself off the couch and figured maybe a good meal would cheer him up.

22. A student does not understand the meaning of the word dejected from sentence 11.What could a paraprofessional do to help the student best understand the meaning of the word?
    1. Ask the student to recognize the prefix of the word and then use that information to determine its meaning.
    2. Recommend that the student read the sentence with the word and the sentence after it to determine the tone of the word.
    3. Tell the student to ignore the word if they do not know a word or are unsure of its meaning.
    4. Explain to the student that the day in the story is also Maximilian's thirteenth birthday.
23. Students are beginning to use the elements of a book—including its title, chapter heading, and even the parts of the story—to help make predictions about what will happen. A paraprofessional asks the students in a class what they think will probably happen next. Which answer best shows that the student understands how to use the elements of the book to make an accurate prediction?
    1. Max's family will make breakfast in the kitchen.
    2. Max's family will take him to a surprise birthday party.
    3. Max will not get anything to eat.
    4. Max will have a terrible day because no one remembers his birthday.
24. The events from the excerpt are mixed up in the following list.
    1. Max's family got ready to go out.
    2. Max looked in the mirror.
    3. Max sat on the couch.
    4. Max walked to the kitchen.

A student in the class must put the events in the order that they happened in the excerpt. Which of the following shows the correct order?

1. II, IV, I, III
2. I, IV, III, II
3. IV, II, III, I
4. II, IV, III, I
25. What could a paraprofessional ask a student to find out if they understand the causes of Max's attitude near the end of this excerpt?
    1. How does Max react when he thinks no one remembers his birthday?
    2. How do you think Max feels now that he is a teenager?
    3. Why does Max decide to go out to brunch with his family?
    4. What is Max's sister doing when he comes downstairs?
26. Students in a class are working on a lesson about antonyms. Four groups of students write two words that they think are antonyms. Which words are antonyms?
    1. Serious and silly
    2. Whale and wail
    3. Undress and unless
    4. Amazing and incredible
27. A student reads the following sentence in a book:

"Squirrels prepare for the winter by assembling a store of nuts, which helps provide them with nutrients throughout the cold months."

store (noun). 1. A business where goods are sold; 2. a grocery; 3. a supply or stock; 4. a building or room for a business.

Which dictionary definition should the student use to understand the meaning of the word store in context?

1. dictionary definition 1
2. dictionary definition 2
3. dictionary definition 3
4. dictionary definition 4

Answer questions 28-30 based on the following lesson plan.

Lesson Plan for Homonyms

Objective: Students will use the context of homonyms in sentences to recognize that words that have identical sounds may have very different meanings.

Explanation: The teacher will prepare a series of index cards with a homonym on one side and a sentence that uses the homonym on the other side. Each homonym will have at least one other homonym with the same sound on another index card. The paraprofessional will supply each student with one homonym index card, making sure to create pairs or groups of students with matching homonym sounds. Students in each group will read the sentences on their index cards and compare the sounds and meanings of the homonyms. The students will then be asked to create their own sentences with the homonyms. The paraprofessional and the teacher will both walk around the room and ensure that students are using each word correctly. Once the students have demonstrated that they understand the meaning of the homonyms, the paraprofessional will collect the index cards, alphabetizing the words in each group.

28. Which direction will the paraprofessional NOT be expected to follow during the completion of this lesson plan?
    1. provide each student in the class with one homonym index card
    2. come up with sentences that use different homonyms correctly
    3. create groups of students with homonym cards with the same sounds
    4. collect the index cards from the students
29. One group of homonyms contains four different words. Which list shows the words listed in alphabetical order?
    1. caret, carat, carrot, karat
    2. carat, karat, caret, carrot
    3. karat, carat, caret, carrot
    4. carat, caret, carrot, karat
30. Four students write a sentence using a pair of homonyms. Which sentence demonstrates that the student needs additional help understanding the use of homonyms?
    1. Nadine sent a postcard with 28 one-cent stamps.
    2. Sebastian went to meet the butcher to buy some meat.
    3. Bella needs to do her homework before it is dew.
    4. Justin bought a pear and a pair of apples at the market.