NJSLA NJSLA MCQ 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A student writes: 'Some people think homework is helpful, but research shows it causes stress.' This sentence functions as:
- A topic sentence introducing only facts
- A counterargument followed by a rebuttal (Correct answer)
- A conclusion summarizing all arguments
- A definition of the term 'homework'
Correct answer: A counterargument followed by a rebuttal
Acknowledging an opposing view ('some people think') and then challenging it ('but research shows') is the classic counterargument-rebuttal structure.
Question 2: A triangle has angles measuring 90° and 35°. What is the measure of the third angle?
- 45°
- 55° (Correct answer)
- 65°
- 35°
Correct answer: 55°
The sum of angles in a triangle is 180°; 180 − 90 − 35 = 55°.
Question 3: Which of the following best defines 'connotation' as used in language arts?
- The dictionary definition of a word
- The emotional or cultural associations a word carries beyond its literal meaning (Correct answer)
- The number of syllables in a word
- The part of speech a word belongs to
Correct answer: The emotional or cultural associations a word carries beyond its literal meaning
Connotation refers to the implied feelings or ideas associated with a word beyond its denotative definition.
Question 4: A recipe calls for 3/4 cup of sugar. If you want to make 1.5 times the recipe, how much sugar do you need?
- 1 cup
- 1 1/8 cups (Correct answer)
- 1 1/4 cups
- 2 cups
Correct answer: 1 1/8 cups
3/4 × 1.5 = 3/4 × 3/2 = 9/8 = 1 1/8 cups.
Question 5: In an informational text about ocean pollution, the author uses a graph showing plastic waste over 50 years. What is the primary purpose of including this graph?
- To make the article look more professional
- To provide visual evidence that supports the written claims (Correct answer)
- To replace the need for written explanations
- To confuse the reader with numbers
Correct answer: To provide visual evidence that supports the written claims
Graphs and visual aids in informational texts serve to visually reinforce and support the written claims with data.
Question 6: Which of the following number pairs are in a proportional relationship?
- (2, 5) and (4, 9)
- (3, 9) and (5, 15) (Correct answer)
- (4, 8) and (6, 10)
- (2, 6) and (5, 14)
Correct answer: (3, 9) and (5, 15)
(3, 9) has ratio 3:9 = 1:3 and (5, 15) has ratio 5:15 = 1:3, so they are proportional.
Question 7: A student is writing a research report and finds two sources: a peer-reviewed journal article and a personal blog post. Which is the more credible source and why?
- The blog, because it uses everyday language
- The journal article, because it is reviewed by experts before publication (Correct answer)
- The blog, because it was written more recently
- The journal article, because journal articles are always longer
Correct answer: The journal article, because it is reviewed by experts before publication
Peer-reviewed journal articles are vetted by subject-matter experts, making them more reliable than unreviewed personal blogs.
NJSLA NJSLA MCQ 5
A student writes: 'Some people think homework is helpful, but research shows it causes stress.' This sentence functions as: