Praxis Reading : Craft, Structure, and Language Skills in Brief Statements
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Praxis Reading
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Praxis Core Skills: Reading
Kevin's performance leaves a lot to be desired. His appearance is sloppy, his punctuality is lacking, and he's a traitor.
The use of the word "traitor" serves which of the following purposes in this passage?
It does not change the tone at all. The tone remains negative throughout.
None of these
It subtly shifts the tone of the passage from negative but professional to emotionally charged and angry
It suddenly shifts the tone from charged and angry to discrete and professional
It suddenly shifts the tone of the passage from negative but professional to emotionally charged and angry
It suddenly shifts the tone of the passage from negative but professional to emotionally charged and angry
The first sentence expresses a negative evaluation of Kevin, but it does so in neutral, professional language. Even the two claims that follow about his appearance and punctuality, while maybe a bit stronger ("sloppy"), remain in this register. The emotionally charged, judgmental term "traitor" suddenly shifts the mood to a more intense and emotional one.
Example Question #2 : Brief Statements
If what the reader is looking for is careful craft, minute attention to detail, and detailed plotting, they may doubt the talents of Richard Browler. If, on the other hand, the reader values the higher values to be found in literature, originality, style, humor, grace and intellectual engagement, they will find much to love in the Browler canon.
The author of this passage _______________.
believes that Browler's work is of value, as his strengths are of more value than his bad traits are of negative value
believes that Browler's literary vices and virtues are equally balanced
does not express, nor give hints about his/her, opinion on the nature of Browler's work
believes that Browler is a sloppy writer whose plots are lacking
None of these
believes that Browler's work is of value, as his strengths are of more value than his bad traits are of negative value
This brief statement begins by enumerating the factors that may lead a reader to "doubt the talents of Richard Browler," and then pivots into describing the virtues of his work. The key to figuring out which side of these vices and virtues the author lies can be found in the phrase "the higher values to be found in literature," which clearly lets the reader that the author values the positive traits as more important than the negative ones.
Example Question #2 : Praxis Core Skills: Reading
According to the 2011 Census, just under 33,000 Canadians self-identified as Buddhist. As a devoted member of a secluded Buddhist community, that number seemed low to me.
The first sentence of the passage expresses a(n) ____________ while the second expresses a(n) ________________.
educated opinion . . . invalid opinion
example . . . quantifiable fact
statistic . . . educated opinion based on private research
opinion . . . quantifiable fact
quantifiable fact . . . opinion
quantifiable fact . . . opinion
This question asks you to make a simple distinction between fact and opinion. The first sentence cites a statistical, quantifiable fact (note that the number quoted is particular to the number on the Census, and no broader claim is made), the second expresses a purely speculative opinion based on anecdotal evidence particular to the speaker's experiences and cultural context.
Example Question #1 : Craft, Structure, And Language Skills In Brief Statements
Kelvyn is a bully and a misanthrope, not to mention that his hygiene leaves much to be desired. Last week his odor remained in my nostrils for days after he left.
The bolded and underlined phrase "not to mention that," serves what purpose in the passage overall?
It facilitates a transition from listing negative qualities to listing positive qualities
It facilitates a sudden transition from listing negative qualities to describing neutral qualities
It continues the trend of enumerating negative qualities that began in the first clause, but facilitates a transition into a different kind of negative quality
None of these
It facilitates a purely grammatical transition
It continues the trend of enumerating negative qualities that began in the first clause, but facilitates a transition into a different kind of negative quality
This is a pretty simple question. "Not to mention that" is a transition phrase used to signal an addition that matches in spirit with a statement that has already been made. The first clause identifies Kelvyn as a bully and a misanthrope, both negative qualities, before adding on another, somewhat unrelated, negative quality, poor hygiene.
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