CAASPP CAASPP Informational Text 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of informational text as assessed on the CAASPP?
- To entertain readers with fictional stories
- To convey factual information, explain ideas, or argue a position (Correct answer)
- To describe the author's personal feelings only
- To provide instructions for games
Correct answer: To convey factual information, explain ideas, or argue a position
Informational texts convey facts, explain concepts, or argue positions — all central to the CAASPP's nonfiction reading strand.
Question 2: A student reads an article about climate change. Which text structure is being used if the article explains causes of warming and their effects on ecosystems?
- Chronological order
- Cause and effect (Correct answer)
- Compare and contrast
- Problem and solution
Correct answer: Cause and effect
Identifying cause-and-effect structure is a key informational text skill tested on the CAASPP ELA assessments.
Question 3: On the CAASPP, students are expected to determine the central idea of an informational text. What is the central idea?
- The first sentence of the article
- The most important point the author makes about the topic (Correct answer)
- A random detail mentioned once
- The title of the article
Correct answer: The most important point the author makes about the topic
The central idea is the most important point developed throughout the text, not just a single detail or the title.
Question 4: Why do informational texts use text features like headings, subheadings, and captions?
- To make the text look longer
- To help readers navigate content and understand key information quickly (Correct answer)
- To replace the main body of text
- To confuse readers about the topic
Correct answer: To help readers navigate content and understand key information quickly
Text features organize information and help readers preview, navigate, and locate key content efficiently.
Question 5: A student reads two articles about the same historical event. What skill does the CAASPP expect students to use?
- Choose which article has better pictures
- Compare and contrast the authors' perspectives and how each presents the information (Correct answer)
- Read only the longer article
- Summarize only the last paragraph of each
Correct answer: Compare and contrast the authors' perspectives and how each presents the information
Comparing multiple texts on the same topic — including authors' perspectives and evidence — is a key CAASPP informational reading skill.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes an author's 'point of view' in an informational text?
- The font style used in the article
- The author's perspective or stance on the topic being discussed (Correct answer)
- The number of paragraphs in the text
- The year the article was published
Correct answer: The author's perspective or stance on the topic being discussed
An author's point of view refers to their perspective and stance, which shapes the selection and presentation of information in the text.
CAASPP CAASPP Informational Text 1
What is the primary purpose of informational text as assessed on the CAASPP?