AEPA
, Middle Grades ELA (036) Practice Test
2026
Domain I: Reading Process and Comprehension
1. Which of the following is the primary purpose of a reader's use of activating prior
knowledge or schema during reading?
A) To memorize the text
B) To make connections and enhance comprehension
C) To increase reading speed
D) To identify all unfamiliar words
Answer: B) To make connections and enhance comprehension
Explanation: Schema theory posits that comprehension is a process of integrating new
information with existing knowledge, which deepens understanding.
2. A student who reads text accurately but with little expression or attention to punctuation
likely needs to improve:
A) Decoding skills
B) Phonemic awareness
C) Prosody
D) Vocabulary knowledge
Answer: C) Prosody
Explanation: Prosody refers to reading with appropriate rhythm, stress, and intonation, which is
a key component of fluency.
3. Which scaffolding strategy is most effective before reading a complex historical fiction
novel?
A) Conducting a picture walk of the text
B) Providing a K-W-L chart and pre-teaching key historical context
C) Asking students to write a summary
D) Having students read the final chapter first
Answer: B) Providing a K-W-L chart and pre-teaching key historical context
Explanation: This builds necessary background knowledge and sets a purpose for reading, which
is crucial for scaffolding complex texts.
4. An author's use of flashbacks in a narrative primarily serves to:
A) Increase the story's pace
B) Provide background or reveal character motivation
, C) Foreshadow future events
D) Create a humorous tone
Answer: B) Provide background or reveal character motivation
Explanation: Flashbacks interrupt chronological sequence to present events that happened
earlier, offering crucial context.
5. When a student consistently misreads sight words like "where" for "were" and "then" for
"than," the teacher should first:
A) Recommend vision screening
B) Provide more phonics instruction on blends
C) Focus on targeted practice with high-frequency word recognition
D) Ignore it as a developmental phase
Answer: C) Focus on targeted practice with high-frequency word recognition
Explanation: These are common visual word confusions. Explicit, multisensory practice with
these sight words is needed for automaticity.
6. The term "close reading" in an ELA context refers to:
A) Reading a text multiple times for different purposes
B) Skimming a text for main ideas
C) Reading silently without interruption
D) Reading texts that are physically close together
Answer: A) Reading a text multiple times for different purposes
Explanation: Close reading involves careful, sustained analysis of a text, focusing on significant
details and patterns to develop deep understanding.
7. Which graphic organizer is best for analyzing cause-and-effect relationships in a nonfiction
article about deforestation?
A) Venn Diagram
B) Timeline
C) Flow Chart/Cause-and-Effect Map
D) Word Web
Answer: C) Flow Chart/Cause-and-Effect Map
Explanation: A flow chart or specific cause-effect organizer visually delineates actions and their
consequences.
Domain II: Reading Various Text Forms
8. In a poem, the speaker is best defined as:
A) The author of the poem
, Middle Grades ELA (036) Practice Test
2026
Domain I: Reading Process and Comprehension
1. Which of the following is the primary purpose of a reader's use of activating prior
knowledge or schema during reading?
A) To memorize the text
B) To make connections and enhance comprehension
C) To increase reading speed
D) To identify all unfamiliar words
Answer: B) To make connections and enhance comprehension
Explanation: Schema theory posits that comprehension is a process of integrating new
information with existing knowledge, which deepens understanding.
2. A student who reads text accurately but with little expression or attention to punctuation
likely needs to improve:
A) Decoding skills
B) Phonemic awareness
C) Prosody
D) Vocabulary knowledge
Answer: C) Prosody
Explanation: Prosody refers to reading with appropriate rhythm, stress, and intonation, which is
a key component of fluency.
3. Which scaffolding strategy is most effective before reading a complex historical fiction
novel?
A) Conducting a picture walk of the text
B) Providing a K-W-L chart and pre-teaching key historical context
C) Asking students to write a summary
D) Having students read the final chapter first
Answer: B) Providing a K-W-L chart and pre-teaching key historical context
Explanation: This builds necessary background knowledge and sets a purpose for reading, which
is crucial for scaffolding complex texts.
4. An author's use of flashbacks in a narrative primarily serves to:
A) Increase the story's pace
B) Provide background or reveal character motivation
, C) Foreshadow future events
D) Create a humorous tone
Answer: B) Provide background or reveal character motivation
Explanation: Flashbacks interrupt chronological sequence to present events that happened
earlier, offering crucial context.
5. When a student consistently misreads sight words like "where" for "were" and "then" for
"than," the teacher should first:
A) Recommend vision screening
B) Provide more phonics instruction on blends
C) Focus on targeted practice with high-frequency word recognition
D) Ignore it as a developmental phase
Answer: C) Focus on targeted practice with high-frequency word recognition
Explanation: These are common visual word confusions. Explicit, multisensory practice with
these sight words is needed for automaticity.
6. The term "close reading" in an ELA context refers to:
A) Reading a text multiple times for different purposes
B) Skimming a text for main ideas
C) Reading silently without interruption
D) Reading texts that are physically close together
Answer: A) Reading a text multiple times for different purposes
Explanation: Close reading involves careful, sustained analysis of a text, focusing on significant
details and patterns to develop deep understanding.
7. Which graphic organizer is best for analyzing cause-and-effect relationships in a nonfiction
article about deforestation?
A) Venn Diagram
B) Timeline
C) Flow Chart/Cause-and-Effect Map
D) Word Web
Answer: C) Flow Chart/Cause-and-Effect Map
Explanation: A flow chart or specific cause-effect organizer visually delineates actions and their
consequences.
Domain II: Reading Various Text Forms
8. In a poem, the speaker is best defined as:
A) The author of the poem
