EQAO Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: On the OSSLT, a 'series of paragraphs' writing task requires students to write in how many paragraphs at minimum?
- One paragraph
- Two paragraphs
- Three paragraphs (Correct answer)
- Five paragraphs
Correct answer: Three paragraphs
The series-of-paragraphs task on the OSSLT requires at least three paragraphs to receive a passing score.
Question 2: When reading a graphic text on the OSSLT, which element is MOST important to analyze first?
- The font size of any caption
- The title and labels to establish context (Correct answer)
- The colour scheme used in the graphic
- The source citation at the bottom
Correct answer: The title and labels to establish context
Titles and labels establish the subject and scale of a graphic text, giving essential context before interpreting data.
Question 3: Which sentence best demonstrates the correct use of a semicolon tested on the OSSLT?
- She studied all night; and passed the test.
- The test was difficult; however, she passed. (Correct answer)
- He read the passage; quickly.
- They arrived early; to get good seats.
Correct answer: The test was difficult; however, she passed.
A semicolon correctly joins two independent clauses, especially when followed by a transitional word like 'however.'
Question 4: In the OSSLT news report writing task, what does the term 'inverted pyramid structure' mean?
- Starting with background details and ending with the main event
- Presenting the most important information first, then supporting details (Correct answer)
- Writing equal amounts of information in each paragraph
- Beginning with a quote and ending with a statistic
Correct answer: Presenting the most important information first, then supporting details
The inverted pyramid places the most newsworthy facts in the opening paragraph, with supporting details following in decreasing importance.
Question 5: A student reads: 'The council voted unanimously to reject the proposal.' What does 'unanimously' mean in this context?
- By a narrow majority
- With great reluctance
- With every member in agreement (Correct answer)
- After lengthy debate
Correct answer: With every member in agreement
'Unanimously' means all members voted the same way, with no dissenting votes.
Question 6: Which reading strategy is MOST effective when a student encounters an unfamiliar word in an OSSLT passage?
- Skip the word and continue reading
- Look for context clues in surrounding sentences (Correct answer)
- Re-read the entire passage from the beginning
- Choose the answer option that contains the unfamiliar word
Correct answer: Look for context clues in surrounding sentences
Context clues in surrounding sentences often reveal a word's meaning through examples, contrast, or explanation.
Question 7: On the OSSLT, a student is asked to identify the 'main idea' of an informational text. Where is the main idea MOST commonly found?
- Only in the final paragraph
- Only in quoted material within the text
- In the opening paragraph, often in the first few sentences (Correct answer)
- Exclusively in subheadings and bullet points
Correct answer: In the opening paragraph, often in the first few sentences
In informational texts, the main idea is most commonly stated in the opening paragraph, often in a clear topic or thesis sentence.
EQAO Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test 2
On the OSSLT, a 'series of paragraphs' writing task requires students to write in how many paragraphs at minimum?