ABCTE PTK Exam Instructional Strategies Questions with
Correct Answers (Grade A+)
Question 1: Why should a teacher always spend time explaining classroom rules during the first few
days of class?
A. To allow more relaxed and friendly conditions to evolve later.
B. To establish authority.
C. To give students a chance to participate in making the rules.
D. To establish clear expectations for performance and behavior.
Answer: D. To establish clear expectations for performance and behavior.
Question 2: Which of the methods below will BEST hold students accountable for their full
participation in cooperative learning groups?
A. Allow students to evaluate each other on several measures of participation after the activity is completed.
B. Assign each student in the group a specific role in accomplishing the objectives of the activity.
C. Grade students' products from the activity individually and not based on group work.
D. Group students with friends so they are highly motivated to work together.
Answer: B. Assign each student in the group a specific role in accomplishing the objectives of the activity.
Question 3: When teachers share standardized test results with parents, there is a large amount of
information in the score report to be discussed. Which information will be of MOST use to the
typical parent?
A. How the student compares to other students in the nation
B. The student's approximate reading grade level
C. Specific areas of academic strength and weakness
D. Average scores in their child's school and grade
Answer: C. Specific areas of academic strength and weakness
Question 4: Suppose your objective for a lesson is "The student will demonstrate an ability to
differentiate among igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks." Which of the following is the
BEST activity for introducing students to the attributes of each type of rock?
A. Students examine rocks belonging to each group and identify the similarities and differences. The activity
is followed by a group discussion in which the teacher brings out the important characteristics of each type.
B. The teacher writes a list of different types of rocks on the chalkboard and talks about the differences.
C. Students take a field trip to a local park and find examples of each type of rock. This activity is followed by
having the students make bulletin boards about igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks.
Answer: A. Students examine rocks belonging to each group and identify the similarities and differences. The
activity is followed by a group discussion in which the teacher brings out the important characteristics of each
type.
Page 1
,Question 5: A group of students wants to produce an electronic magazine that publishes original
student writing and art. Their adviser is planning a unit to train them how to use a word-processing
application to create pages that include features such as images, multi-column layouts, sidebars,
headers, footers, links, and page backgrounds. Which of the following would be the BEST
culminating activity for this portion of the training
A. A mastery test that includes essay and multiple-choice questions and has a high standards for a passing
score
B. Each student producing a document under proctored conditions, using a set of specific features, and
without reference materials
C. Small teams producing a document under proctored conditions, using specified features, and within a time
limit
Answer: C. Small teams producing a document under proctored conditions, using specified features, and
within a time limit
Question 6: Which of the following is MOST likely to promote effective transfer of knowledge to
students?
A. Covering a large number of related topics quickly.
B. Having students work on their own with specific information related to a topic before giving an organizing
lecture.
C. Having an open discussion on a topic before any specific information related to the topic is given.
D. Covering organizational principles of a topic and then giving students information about specific
subtopics.
Answer: B. Having students work on their own with specific information related to a topic before giving an
organizing lecture.
Question 7: Students are about to take a paper and pencil test. If there is time for only one of the
following activities, which would BEST prepare the students for the test?
A. Students should go over their notes and homework assignments.
B. Students should make a chart of the important topics with notes on subtopics below each.
C. Students should play a teacher-developed game as a class, answering test-type questions.
D. Students should work individually on test-type questions.
Answer: B. Students should make a chart of the important topics with notes on subtopics below each.
Question 8: Which of the following learning objectives uses a higher order thinking skill?
A. The student will name the capitals of all 50 states.
B. The student will classify given astral bodies (given their important attributes) as comets or meteors.
C. The student will solve a quadratic equation.
D. The student will create a metaphor to describe an emotion.
Answer: D. The student will create a metaphor to describe an emotion
Page 2
, Question 9: Which of the following would provide the BEST introduction for a lesson on writing
bibliographic references?
A. Tell students to find a book with bibliographic references and copy the format.
B. Demonstrate to students the specific procedure and order expected.
C. Have students read bibliographies at the end of various texts and identify the elements of the citations.
D. Instruct students to list the important information given on the first two pages of the book.
Answer: B. Demonstrate to students the specific procedure and order expected.
Question 10: Which of the following phrases BEST completes the following sentence? "Vocabulary
should be taught
A. in every subject area in order for students to master the subject matter."
B. by giving students vocabulary lists to memorize every week."
C. as a separate subject area."
D. by the English department faculty because they are experts in teaching words."
Answer: A. in every subject area in order for students to master the subject matter."
Question 11: A social studies teacher wants students to consider the role of geography in population
patterns. She asks her class, "What role did geography play in the growth of Chicago as a major
U.S. city?" What should she do next?
A. Allow students to call out answers and write them on the board.
B. Tell students not to call out responses but to raise their hand when they think of an answer and wait to be
called on.
C. Call on a student and ask for an immediate response.
D. List some possible answers on the blackboard and ask students which they think are best.
Answer: B. Tell students not to call out responses but to raise their hand when they think of an answer and wait
to be called on.
Question 12: Consider the following two questions a teacher might ask a high school social studies
class. I: According to our textbook, what does the public welfare system do to solve the problems of
poverty? II: What are some ways our country might solve the problems of poverty? Which of the
following best describes the differences between these questions?
A. I invites more critical thinking than II.
B. II invites more divergent thinking than I.
C. II is closed-ended and I is open-ended.
D. I invites more divergent thinking than II.
Answer: B. II invites more divergent thinking than I.
Question 13: How should a teacher generally begin almost every class?
A. By engaging in some casual conversation with students.
B. By reminding students to pay attention.
C. By telling students what they will be covering that day.
D. By reviewing skills learned during the previous class session.
Answer: C. By telling students what they will be covering that day.
Page 3
Correct Answers (Grade A+)
Question 1: Why should a teacher always spend time explaining classroom rules during the first few
days of class?
A. To allow more relaxed and friendly conditions to evolve later.
B. To establish authority.
C. To give students a chance to participate in making the rules.
D. To establish clear expectations for performance and behavior.
Answer: D. To establish clear expectations for performance and behavior.
Question 2: Which of the methods below will BEST hold students accountable for their full
participation in cooperative learning groups?
A. Allow students to evaluate each other on several measures of participation after the activity is completed.
B. Assign each student in the group a specific role in accomplishing the objectives of the activity.
C. Grade students' products from the activity individually and not based on group work.
D. Group students with friends so they are highly motivated to work together.
Answer: B. Assign each student in the group a specific role in accomplishing the objectives of the activity.
Question 3: When teachers share standardized test results with parents, there is a large amount of
information in the score report to be discussed. Which information will be of MOST use to the
typical parent?
A. How the student compares to other students in the nation
B. The student's approximate reading grade level
C. Specific areas of academic strength and weakness
D. Average scores in their child's school and grade
Answer: C. Specific areas of academic strength and weakness
Question 4: Suppose your objective for a lesson is "The student will demonstrate an ability to
differentiate among igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks." Which of the following is the
BEST activity for introducing students to the attributes of each type of rock?
A. Students examine rocks belonging to each group and identify the similarities and differences. The activity
is followed by a group discussion in which the teacher brings out the important characteristics of each type.
B. The teacher writes a list of different types of rocks on the chalkboard and talks about the differences.
C. Students take a field trip to a local park and find examples of each type of rock. This activity is followed by
having the students make bulletin boards about igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks.
Answer: A. Students examine rocks belonging to each group and identify the similarities and differences. The
activity is followed by a group discussion in which the teacher brings out the important characteristics of each
type.
Page 1
,Question 5: A group of students wants to produce an electronic magazine that publishes original
student writing and art. Their adviser is planning a unit to train them how to use a word-processing
application to create pages that include features such as images, multi-column layouts, sidebars,
headers, footers, links, and page backgrounds. Which of the following would be the BEST
culminating activity for this portion of the training
A. A mastery test that includes essay and multiple-choice questions and has a high standards for a passing
score
B. Each student producing a document under proctored conditions, using a set of specific features, and
without reference materials
C. Small teams producing a document under proctored conditions, using specified features, and within a time
limit
Answer: C. Small teams producing a document under proctored conditions, using specified features, and
within a time limit
Question 6: Which of the following is MOST likely to promote effective transfer of knowledge to
students?
A. Covering a large number of related topics quickly.
B. Having students work on their own with specific information related to a topic before giving an organizing
lecture.
C. Having an open discussion on a topic before any specific information related to the topic is given.
D. Covering organizational principles of a topic and then giving students information about specific
subtopics.
Answer: B. Having students work on their own with specific information related to a topic before giving an
organizing lecture.
Question 7: Students are about to take a paper and pencil test. If there is time for only one of the
following activities, which would BEST prepare the students for the test?
A. Students should go over their notes and homework assignments.
B. Students should make a chart of the important topics with notes on subtopics below each.
C. Students should play a teacher-developed game as a class, answering test-type questions.
D. Students should work individually on test-type questions.
Answer: B. Students should make a chart of the important topics with notes on subtopics below each.
Question 8: Which of the following learning objectives uses a higher order thinking skill?
A. The student will name the capitals of all 50 states.
B. The student will classify given astral bodies (given their important attributes) as comets or meteors.
C. The student will solve a quadratic equation.
D. The student will create a metaphor to describe an emotion.
Answer: D. The student will create a metaphor to describe an emotion
Page 2
, Question 9: Which of the following would provide the BEST introduction for a lesson on writing
bibliographic references?
A. Tell students to find a book with bibliographic references and copy the format.
B. Demonstrate to students the specific procedure and order expected.
C. Have students read bibliographies at the end of various texts and identify the elements of the citations.
D. Instruct students to list the important information given on the first two pages of the book.
Answer: B. Demonstrate to students the specific procedure and order expected.
Question 10: Which of the following phrases BEST completes the following sentence? "Vocabulary
should be taught
A. in every subject area in order for students to master the subject matter."
B. by giving students vocabulary lists to memorize every week."
C. as a separate subject area."
D. by the English department faculty because they are experts in teaching words."
Answer: A. in every subject area in order for students to master the subject matter."
Question 11: A social studies teacher wants students to consider the role of geography in population
patterns. She asks her class, "What role did geography play in the growth of Chicago as a major
U.S. city?" What should she do next?
A. Allow students to call out answers and write them on the board.
B. Tell students not to call out responses but to raise their hand when they think of an answer and wait to be
called on.
C. Call on a student and ask for an immediate response.
D. List some possible answers on the blackboard and ask students which they think are best.
Answer: B. Tell students not to call out responses but to raise their hand when they think of an answer and wait
to be called on.
Question 12: Consider the following two questions a teacher might ask a high school social studies
class. I: According to our textbook, what does the public welfare system do to solve the problems of
poverty? II: What are some ways our country might solve the problems of poverty? Which of the
following best describes the differences between these questions?
A. I invites more critical thinking than II.
B. II invites more divergent thinking than I.
C. II is closed-ended and I is open-ended.
D. I invites more divergent thinking than II.
Answer: B. II invites more divergent thinking than I.
Question 13: How should a teacher generally begin almost every class?
A. By engaging in some casual conversation with students.
B. By reminding students to pay attention.
C. By telling students what they will be covering that day.
D. By reviewing skills learned during the previous class session.
Answer: C. By telling students what they will be covering that day.
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