Test Information Guide

Field 76: Middle School Humanities
Sample Multiple-Choice Questions

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Literature and Language

Objective 0001
Apply knowledge of literature that represents a range of perspectives reflecting diversity of ability; gender; race; ethnicity; sexual orientation; nation of origin; religion; age; and cultural, economic, and geographic backgrounds.

1. Read the excerpt below from China Men (1977),1 a novel by Maxine Hong Kingston; then answer the question that follows.

Instead of acrobatics and shuttlecock, he liked studying. Ah Po kept her boy close. She sewed little scholar's caps and scholar's gowns. She used the leftover black scraps for knee patches on her other sons' pants. Even before BiBi could talk, she fed and lodged itinerant scholars, who stayed the night or week to read to him. They drew giant words and held them over his crib. "How intelligent he looks," they told her. When he was old enough for regular lessons, his brothers sometimes came inside from their chores to rest on the floor at the tutor's feet. Ah Po did not stop them, did not chase them back out. If they overheard some learning, all the better; they would have it to ponder during their years in the fields. Soon the farming brothers' heads nodded; when they suddenly jerked awake, it embarrassed them that the tutor might have seen them bored.

Which of the following thematic ideas is most clearly conveyed in the excerpt?

  1. the effects of a comprehensive education on developing life skills
  2. the importance of an education to ensure economic prosperity
  3. the impact of a parent/guardian who is attentive to their children's needs
  4. the consequences of an overbearing parent/guardian on their children's behavior
Answer
Correct Response: C.
Objective 0002
Apply knowledge of informational texts.

2. Read the excerpt below from "The Fundamental Truth Halloween Reveals About Ourselves" (2014),2 an article by Robert Biswas-Diener; then answer the question that follows.

In a classic study conducted on Halloween night, researchers observed the behavior of a huge range of costumed children participating in trick-or-treating. At some houses the researchers—working with homeowners—instructed the hosts to identify neighborhood children by name when they were recognizable. In another study condition, children were left anonymous behind their masks and under their wigs.

In all cases, the kids were asked to step inside and take a single piece of candy from an alluring bowl of treats. Secretly, the researchers recorded the number of candies kids actually took. They discovered that the anonymous children were far more likely to break the rules and snatch extra candies—whole handfuls in some cases. The children who had been addressed by name, on the other hand, were far more likely to follow the rules. In the end, only 1 in 5 of the identified children grabbed extra candy while 57 percent of the anonymous kids did the same.

In instances when we lose track of our individual identity, we become disinhibited and more likely to act out in ways that we normally wouldn't. This is why crowds are more likely to erupt into looting or rock throwing even when its individual members might not normally engage in that behavior. This lack of inhibition can work the other way as well: Some people may be more willing to lend a hand or donate ostentatious sums of money if they know they can do so anonymously.

Which of the following statements best expresses the central idea of the excerpt?

  1. Behavioral studies show that observing people encourages them to be honest.
  2. Covert research methods have provided a clear understanding of deceitful people.
  3. There is sufficient evidence to conclude that anonymity affects individual behavior.
  4. Data suggest that calling individuals by their name develops their sense of identity.
Answer
Correct Response: C.
Objective 0003
Apply knowledge of theory, research, and instructional practice related to language acquisition and reading.

3. Use the sentence below to answer the question that follows.

An English learner is confused when peers use the American slang words sick, rad, and wicked to describe something that is appealing to them.

Which of the following activities would most effectively develop the English learner's understanding of these slang words?

  1. hearing the words used in a variety of contexts
  2. researching how the words' meaning evolved over time
  3. writing a sentence that contains each word
  4. referring to a dictionary for the definition of each word
Answer
Correct Response: A.

Expressive and Receptive Communication

Objective 0004
Apply knowledge of the writing process and techniques for writing arguments, informative/explanatory texts, and narratives.

4. A student drafts the claim below for an argumentative essay.

Work from home opportunities improve physical and mental wellness; they effectively boost employees' production levels and morale.

Which of the following details would provide the strongest support for the claim?

  1. A labor study found that employees who achieve work-life balance tend to be efficient workers.
  2. In a job satisfaction survey, 71 percent of employees who worked remotely claimed to have more family time.
  3. A psychology experiment suggests that 22 percent of workers in the United States are satisfied with their current job.
  4. Human resources data indicate pressure to excel in the workplace as the primary reason why employees resign from their position.
Answer
Correct Response: A.
Objective 0005
Apply knowledge of techniques for conducting academic research.

5. Read the excerpt below from the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; then answer the question that follows.

How sunscreen works. Most sunscreen products work by absorbing, reflecting, or scattering sunlight. They contain chemicals that interact with the skin to protect it from UV rays. All products do not have the same ingredients; if your skin reacts badly to one product, try another one or call a doctor.

SPF. Sunscreens are assigned a sun protection factor (SPF) number that rates their effectiveness in blocking UV rays. Higher numbers indicate more protection. You should use a broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher.

Reapplication. Sunscreen wears off. Put it on again if you stay out in the sun for more than two hours and after swimming, sweating, or toweling off.

Expiration date. Check the sunscreen's expiration date. Sunscreen without an expiration date has a shelf life of no more than three years, but its shelf life is shorter if it has been exposed to high temperatures.

Cosmetics. Some makeup and lip balms contain some of the same sun-protective ingredients used in sunscreens. If they do not have SPF 15 or higher, be sure to use other forms of protection as well, such as sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat.

A student wants to integrate information from the excerpt into an informative essay. Which of the following paragraphs most effectively integrates the information while maintaining a logical flow of ideas and avoiding plagiarism?

  1. Information published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that sunscreens work simply by absorbing, reflecting, or scattering sunlight. In more technical terms, they contain chemicals that interact with the skin to protect it from UV rays. In addition, not all sunscreens are created equal. "All products do not have the same ingredients; if your skin reacts badly to one product, try another one or call a doctor."
  2. Many beachgoers make the mistake of applying sunscreen just once prior to spending a whole day under the sun. But in hot weather conditions, sunscreen dissolves on the skin quickly. "Sunscreen wears off," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Advocating for the regular reapplication of sunscreen, the agency advises, "put it on again if you stay out in the sun for more than two hours and after swimming, sweating, or toweling off."
  3. SPF is an acronym for "Sun Protection Factor." Although shoppers may be tempted to buy sunscreen with an SPF of 30, 50, or even 100, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises that an SPF of 15 provides enough protection from the sun's harmful UV rays. For those who use cosmetics, the CDC offers the following advice: "Some makeup and lip balms contain some of the same sun-protective ingredients used in sunscreens. If they do not have SPF 15 or higher, be sure to use other forms of protection as well, such as sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat."
  4. Like most skin care products, sunscreens have an expiration date. Therefore, it behooves consumers to check the expiration date on the bottle before applying its contents. Moreover, "sunscreen without an expiration date has a shelf life of no more than three years, but its shelf life is shorter if it has been exposed to high temperatures" (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). For more information about proper sunscreen use, visit the CDC's Web page.
Answer
Correct Response: B.

History

Objective 0007
Apply knowledge of major social, cultural, political, economic, and technological developments in ancient to early modern societies (to approximately the mid-nineteenth century common era) around the world.

6. Which of the following statements best characterizes the relationship between the ancient Kingdom of Kush in Nubia and ancient Egypt?

  1. Kush began as a colonial outpost of Egyptian civilization and later separated to form part of the society of Phoenicia.
  2. The two societies competed for control over trans-Saharan trade routes, with Egypt eventually conquering and absorbing Nubia.
  3. Ancient Egypt's expansion into the lands of Canaan and Palestine was stopped by the power of the Kingdom of Kush.
  4. The two distinct societies interacted along the Nile valley for many centuries, with each one ruling over the other for a period.
Answer
Correct Response: D.

Read the excerpt below from an essay by John L. O'Sullivan (1839); then answer the two questions that follow.

The far-reaching, the boundless future will be the era of American greatness. In its magnificent domain of space and time, the nation of many nations is destined to manifest to mankind the excellence of divine principles; to establish on earth the noblest temple ever dedicated to the worship of the Most High – the Sacred and the True. Its floor shall be a hemisphere. …

Objective 0009
Apply knowledge of major political, economic, social, and cultural developments in the history of the United States from 18 25 to the present.

7. The ideas expressed in the excerpt were used as justification for which of the following developments in the history of the United States during the nineteenth century?

  1. support for the creation of the Monroe Doctrine
  2. religious revival of the Second Great Awakening
  3. formation of the doctrine of Popular Sovereignty
  4. acquisition of Texas and the Mexican-American War
Answer
Correct Response: D.
Objective 0012
Apply knowledge of the guiding principles and instructional practices of effective history and social science education.

8. A teacher using the excerpt in a unit of instruction on U.S. history could best add which of the following perspectives to provide contrast and context for O'Sullivan's views?

  1. members of the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery
  2. Cherokee people's experiences following the Indian Removal Act
  3. the political leaders who originally founded the Republican Party
  4. people involved with helping enslaved African Americans escape to freedom
Answer
Correct Response: B.

Geography, Government, and Civic Life

Objective 0010
Apply knowledge of physical and human geography across the following regions: Western Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, North America, Central America, Caribbean Islands, South America, Central and South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania.

9. The construction and opening of the Panama Canal had the most significant effect on:

  1. irrigation of agriculture in Central America.
  2. the ability to control infectious diseases and improve public health.
  3. opportunities for international shipping.
  4. diplomatic relations between Panama and neighboring countries.
Answer
Correct Response: C.
Objective 0011
Apply knowledge of government and civic life.

10. The U.S. Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010) most effectively serves as a case study of the conflict between which of the following pairs of civic principles or priorities?

  1. judicial review and representative democracy
  2. free speech and limiting the power of interest groups in public life
  3. the rule of law and the system of checks and balances
  4. the rights of individuals and the separation of church and state
Answer
Correct Response: B.

Acknowledgments

1Excerpt(s) from CHINA MEN by Maxine Hong Kingston, copyright 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980 by Maxine Hong Kingston. Used by permission of Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of the Knopf Doubleday Publishing group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. All rights reserved.

2The Fundamental Truth Halloween Reveals About Ourselves. Credit: Doctor Robert Biswas-Diener. WWW dot positive acorn dot com