GED Adult Literacy & Basic Skills Instruction 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following is an example of metacognitive strategy instruction for adult readers?
- Drilling vocabulary definitions using flashcards
- Teaching learners to self-monitor comprehension and re-read when confused (Correct answer)
- Assigning timed reading tests to build speed
- Having learners highlight every unknown word in a passage
Correct answer: Teaching learners to self-monitor comprehension and re-read when confused
Metacognitive strategies involve teaching learners to think about their own thinking, such as recognizing when comprehension breaks down and applying fix-up strategies.
Question 2: A GED instructor is helping adult learners understand informational texts. Which text feature should be explicitly taught to improve navigation of these texts?
- Rhyme scheme and meter
- Headings, subheadings, captions, and sidebars (Correct answer)
- Protagonist and antagonist identification
- Alliteration and assonance
Correct answer: Headings, subheadings, captions, and sidebars
Text features like headings, subheadings, and captions help readers navigate and preview informational texts, a key GED reading skill.
Question 3: Which of the following adult learner behaviors is most consistent with a learning disability rather than a lack of prior education?
- Difficulty with academic vocabulary due to limited schooling
- Consistent reversal of letters and numbers despite repeated instruction over time (Correct answer)
- Slow reading rate caused by infrequent reading practice
- Gaps in background knowledge about specific content areas
Correct answer: Consistent reversal of letters and numbers despite repeated instruction over time
Persistent letter and number reversals after extended targeted instruction may indicate a learning disability such as dyslexia, rather than simply limited prior education.
Question 4: In adult basic education, the 'Matthew Effect' refers to:
- The tendency for adult learners to learn best in morning sessions
- The phenomenon where stronger readers read more and improve faster while weak readers fall further behind (Correct answer)
- A federally mandated benchmark for GED readiness
- The principle that adult learners retain 80% of what they teach others
Correct answer: The phenomenon where stronger readers read more and improve faster while weak readers fall further behind
The Matthew Effect, coined by Stanovich, describes how early reading advantages compound over time, widening the gap between skilled and struggling readers.
Question 5: A GED instructor is teaching adults to write in response to source texts. Which skill is most directly assessed by this type of writing task?
- Handwriting legibility and spelling accuracy
- Ability to synthesize, analyze, and cite evidence from texts (Correct answer)
- Memorization of grammar rules in isolation
- Personal narrative storytelling from life experience
Correct answer: Ability to synthesize, analyze, and cite evidence from texts
GED extended response tasks require learners to analyze arguments and cite textual evidence, reflecting evidence-based analytical writing skills.
Question 6: Which instructional model is most aligned with andragogy, the theory of adult learning?
- Teacher-centered lecture with passive student note-taking
- Problem-centered learning connected to the learner's real-life goals and experiences (Correct answer)
- Strict curriculum sequencing with no learner input on topics
- Rote memorization drills administered daily
Correct answer: Problem-centered learning connected to the learner's real-life goals and experiences
Andragogy, developed by Malcolm Knowles, emphasizes that adult learners are self-directed and motivated by learning that is relevant to their real-life needs.
Question 7: When a GED instructor uses 'think-alouds' during a reading lesson, the primary purpose is to:
- Entertain students with a dramatic reading of the text
- Model the internal thought processes skilled readers use while reading (Correct answer)
- Assess whether students are paying attention
- Reduce the amount of independent reading students must do
Correct answer: Model the internal thought processes skilled readers use while reading
Think-alouds make invisible reading strategies visible by verbalizing the instructor's thought process, providing a model for learners to internalize.
GED Adult Literacy & Basic Skills Instruction 5
Which of the following is an example of metacognitive strategy instruction for adult readers?