AEPA Middle Grades Language Arts/Reading Exam

The Middle Grades Language Arts/Reading test measures your knowledge according to the Arizona Academic Standards. Success on the test indicates that you are qualified to teach this subject in Arizona public schools. The test content is drawn from four subareas based on AEPA learning objectives: Reading Process and Comprehension (35% of the test); Writing Process, Conventions, and Applications (35%); Listening and Speaking (18%); and Viewing and Presenting (12%). The test covers strategies for developing reading comprehension skills for diverse texts, as well as the role of phonological and phonemic awareness in reading. The test also measures knowledge of historical, social, and cultural aspects of literature. Test-takers should know how to write correctly and effectively for different purposes (description, analysis, etc.) and know strategies for effective listening, speaking, and presenting (e.g., how to analyze and evaluate visual images).

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AEPA Middle Grades Language Arts/Reading Practice Questions

1. Select the correct underlined section of the following sentence: "We had the best time"! Cindy yelled as she jumped into the car.

A: time!" Cindy
B: time", Cindy
C: time!," Cindy
D: Correct as is

2. Informal expressions that are used in everyday conversations are known as _____.

A: malapropisms
B: non sequiturs
C: solecisms
D: colloquialisms

3. The process of quickly reading to obtain the main points of a text is called _____.

A: screening
B: scanning
C: scaling
D: skimming

4. Select the correct underlined section of the following sentence: Danny and Carl bought a new television; its a big-screen model.

A: television, its
B: television, Its
C: television; it's
D: Correct as is

5. Which kind of verb does NOT take an object?

A: transitive
B: auxiliary
C: intransitive
D: irregular

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Answer key

1. A. The exclamation point precludes the need for a comma and is considered to be part of the direct quotation.
2. D. Colloquial expressions should not be used in formal writing or speech.
3. D. Skimming is differentiated from scanning, which is reading quickly for specific details.
4. C. The semi-colon is acceptable in this case, but the contraction form of it is requires an apostrophe.
5. C. Some common intransitive verbs include sleep, die, and travel.