Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators:
Practice Questions with Answers and Rationales
Question 1
*"The Industrial Revolution transformed society in ways that extended far beyond manufacturing. While factories multiplied and cities swelled,
the more profound change occurred in the daily lives of ordinary people. Time, once measured by the rhythms of sun and season, now became
,dictated by the factory whistle. Family structures shifted as work moved from home to distant workplaces, and the very concept of childhood
evolved as children were removed from the workforce in favor of schooling."*
The author's main point is that the Industrial Revolution:
A) Primarily affected manufacturing and factory production
B) Changed fundamental aspects of how people lived their lives
C) Was most significant for its impact on urban growth
D) Benefited factory owners more than workers
Answer: B) Changed fundamental aspects of how people lived their lives
Rationale: The passage explicitly states that while factories and cities were affected, the "more
profound change" was in daily lives—how time was measured, family structures, and childhood. This makes B the best answer. A is too narrow,
C ignores the deeper social changes, and D is not supported by the text.
---
Question 2
*"Despite the widespread availability of antibiotics, bacterial resistance has emerged as a critical global health crisis. Overuse of these
medications in both human medicine and agriculture has accelerated the natural evolutionary process, allowing resistant strains to thrive. The
development of new antibiotics has slowed dramatically, as pharmaceutical companies find these drugs less profitable than treatments for
chronic conditions. Consequently, common infections that were once easily treatable now pose serious threats."*
,According to the passage, a major reason for the development of antibiotic resistance is:
A) The natural evolutionary process accelerating on its own
B) Overuse of antibiotics in medicine and agriculture
C) Lack of funding for medical research
D) Patients not completing their prescribed courses
Answer: B) Overuse of antibiotics in medicine and agriculture
Rationale: The passage directly identifies overuse as the cause: "Overuse of these medications in both
human medicine and agriculture has accelerated the natural evolutionary process." While other factors may contribute, only B is explicitly
stated in the text as a cause.
---
Question 3
*"The artist's early works, characterized by muted earth tones and rural landscapes, stand in stark contrast to her later period, when she
embraced brilliant primary colors and abstract urban scenes. Critics have speculated that her move from the countryside to the city in 1938
triggered this dramatic shift. However, her personal journals reveal a more complex transformation: she had been experimenting with color
theory for years before the move, and the city merely provided new subject matter for techniques she had already developed."*
What can be inferred about the artist's change in style?
A) It was caused entirely by her move to the city
B) The move to the city was less influential than critics believed
, C) She abandoned landscape painting altogether
D) Her early works were superior to her later works
Answer: B) The move to the city was less influential than critics believed
Rationale: The passage states that while critics speculated the move caused the shift, her journals
reveal she had been experimenting with color theory for years before the move. This supports the inference that the city was less influential
than critics thought. A contradicts the text; C and D are not supported.
---
Question 4
*"The coral reefs of the Caribbean have experienced unprecedented decline over the past fifty years. Rising ocean temperatures, ocean
acidification, and pollution have all contributed to widespread bleaching events. However, recent studies indicate that some reefs demonstrate
remarkable resilience. Reefs with higher fish diversity appear better able to recover from bleaching, as herbivorous fish keep algae in check,
allowing new coral to settle and grow."*
The main purpose of this passage is to:
A) Describe the causes of coral reef decline
B) Argue for increased protection of Caribbean reefs
C) Explain both the problems facing reefs and a factor in their recovery
D) Compare Caribbean reefs to reefs in other regions
Practice Questions with Answers and Rationales
Question 1
*"The Industrial Revolution transformed society in ways that extended far beyond manufacturing. While factories multiplied and cities swelled,
the more profound change occurred in the daily lives of ordinary people. Time, once measured by the rhythms of sun and season, now became
,dictated by the factory whistle. Family structures shifted as work moved from home to distant workplaces, and the very concept of childhood
evolved as children were removed from the workforce in favor of schooling."*
The author's main point is that the Industrial Revolution:
A) Primarily affected manufacturing and factory production
B) Changed fundamental aspects of how people lived their lives
C) Was most significant for its impact on urban growth
D) Benefited factory owners more than workers
Answer: B) Changed fundamental aspects of how people lived their lives
Rationale: The passage explicitly states that while factories and cities were affected, the "more
profound change" was in daily lives—how time was measured, family structures, and childhood. This makes B the best answer. A is too narrow,
C ignores the deeper social changes, and D is not supported by the text.
---
Question 2
*"Despite the widespread availability of antibiotics, bacterial resistance has emerged as a critical global health crisis. Overuse of these
medications in both human medicine and agriculture has accelerated the natural evolutionary process, allowing resistant strains to thrive. The
development of new antibiotics has slowed dramatically, as pharmaceutical companies find these drugs less profitable than treatments for
chronic conditions. Consequently, common infections that were once easily treatable now pose serious threats."*
,According to the passage, a major reason for the development of antibiotic resistance is:
A) The natural evolutionary process accelerating on its own
B) Overuse of antibiotics in medicine and agriculture
C) Lack of funding for medical research
D) Patients not completing their prescribed courses
Answer: B) Overuse of antibiotics in medicine and agriculture
Rationale: The passage directly identifies overuse as the cause: "Overuse of these medications in both
human medicine and agriculture has accelerated the natural evolutionary process." While other factors may contribute, only B is explicitly
stated in the text as a cause.
---
Question 3
*"The artist's early works, characterized by muted earth tones and rural landscapes, stand in stark contrast to her later period, when she
embraced brilliant primary colors and abstract urban scenes. Critics have speculated that her move from the countryside to the city in 1938
triggered this dramatic shift. However, her personal journals reveal a more complex transformation: she had been experimenting with color
theory for years before the move, and the city merely provided new subject matter for techniques she had already developed."*
What can be inferred about the artist's change in style?
A) It was caused entirely by her move to the city
B) The move to the city was less influential than critics believed
, C) She abandoned landscape painting altogether
D) Her early works were superior to her later works
Answer: B) The move to the city was less influential than critics believed
Rationale: The passage states that while critics speculated the move caused the shift, her journals
reveal she had been experimenting with color theory for years before the move. This supports the inference that the city was less influential
than critics thought. A contradicts the text; C and D are not supported.
---
Question 4
*"The coral reefs of the Caribbean have experienced unprecedented decline over the past fifty years. Rising ocean temperatures, ocean
acidification, and pollution have all contributed to widespread bleaching events. However, recent studies indicate that some reefs demonstrate
remarkable resilience. Reefs with higher fish diversity appear better able to recover from bleaching, as herbivorous fish keep algae in check,
allowing new coral to settle and grow."*
The main purpose of this passage is to:
A) Describe the causes of coral reef decline
B) Argue for increased protection of Caribbean reefs
C) Explain both the problems facing reefs and a factor in their recovery
D) Compare Caribbean reefs to reefs in other regions
