Updated for 2026–2027 Standards
EXAM VERSION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF LITERACY ACQUISITION (QUESTIONS 1-110)
1. Which of the following best describes the relationship in the "Simple View of Reading"?
A. Reading Comprehension (RC) is the sum of Decoding (D) and Linguistic Comprehension (LC).
B. Reading Comprehension (RC) is the product of Decoding (D) and Linguistic Comprehension (LC).
C. Reading Comprehension (RC) is independent of Decoding (D).
D. Reading Comprehension (RC) is solely determined by Linguistic Comprehension (LC).
Answer: B
Rationale: The Simple View of Reading is a formula stating that Reading Comprehension (RC) is the
product of Decoding (D) and Linguistic Comprehension (LC), expressed as RC = D × LC. If either decoding
or linguistic comprehension is weak, reading comprehension will be impaired .
Incorrect Options:
A: The relationship is multiplicative, not additive.
C: Decoding is a critical component of reading comprehension.
D: Linguistic comprehension is one of two critical components.
2. Define phonological awareness.
A. The ability to identify and manipulate individual phonemes in words.
B. The broad understanding that oral language can be broken down into smaller components.
C. The understanding of letter-sound relationships.
D. The ability to read fluently with expression.
Answer: B
Rationale: Phonological awareness is the broad understanding that oral language can be broken down
into smaller components, such as words, syllables, onsets/rimes, and individual phonemes .
Incorrect Options:
A: This defines phonemic awareness, which is a subset of phonological awareness.
C: This defines phonics.
D: This defines fluency.
,3. What is the difference between phonological awareness and phonemic awareness?
A. They are the same concept.
B. Phonological awareness is the umbrella term; phonemic awareness is a subset focusing on individual
phonemes.
C. Phonemic awareness is broader than phonological awareness.
D. Phonological awareness only applies to written language.
Answer: B
Rationale: Phonological awareness is the umbrella term for all sound awareness skills. Phonemic
awareness is the most advanced subset, referring specifically to the ability to identify and manipulate
individual phonemes (sounds) in words .
Incorrect Options:
A: They are related but distinct concepts.
C: Phonological awareness is broader.
D: Phonological awareness applies to spoken language.
4. What is phonics?
A. The understanding that there is a predictable relationship between phonemes and graphemes.
B. The ability to identify individual sounds in words.
C. The ability to read fluently.
D. The understanding of word meanings.
Answer: A
Rationale: Phonics is the understanding that there is a predictable relationship between phonemes (the
sounds of spoken language) and graphemes (the letters that represent those sounds in written
language) .
Incorrect Options:
B: This describes phonemic awareness.
C: This describes fluency.
D: This describes semantics.
5. Name the six syllable types in the English language.
A. Closed, open, vowel-consonant-e, vowel team, r-controlled, and consonant-le.
B. Closed, open, vowel-consonant-e, vowel team, controlled-r, and consonant-le.
C. Closed, open, silent-e, vowel team, r-controlled, and consonant-le.
D. Closed, open, vowel-consonant-e, diphthong, r-controlled, and consonant-le.
, Answer: A
Rationale: The six syllable types in English are: closed, open, vowel-consonant-e, vowel team, r-
controlled, and consonant-le .
Incorrect Options:
B: "Controlled-r" is not the standard term; "r-controlled" is correct.
C: "Silent-e" is an informal term, not the formal name.
D: "Diphthong" is not one of the six syllable types.
6. What is the purpose of teaching the six syllable types?
A. To improve vocabulary.
B. To provide students with a reliable strategy for decoding unfamiliar multisyllabic words.
C. To teach spelling rules.
D. To improve reading fluency.
Answer: B
Rationale: Teaching the six syllable types provides students with a reliable strategy for decoding
unfamiliar multisyllabic words by helping them determine the vowel sound in each syllable .
Incorrect Options:
A: While syllable instruction may support vocabulary, the primary purpose is decoding.
C: Spelling rules are related but not the primary purpose.
D: Fluency may improve as a result, but decoding is the primary purpose.
7. Define orthographic mapping.
A. The process of learning letter names.
B. The mental process whereby readers create permanent storage of written words by connecting the
word's spelling, pronunciation, and meaning automatically.
C. The process of sounding out words.
D. The process of writing words correctly.
Answer: B
Rationale: Orthographic mapping is the mental process whereby readers create permanent storage of
written words by connecting the word's spelling, pronunciation, and meaning automatically. It is how
sight words are formed .
Incorrect Options:
A: Learning letter names is not orthographic mapping.
C: Sounding out is a decoding strategy.