Praxis Reading Exam 1 — Questions and Answers

Question 1: From this passage, we can infer that Edison:

A: knew all about animals.
B: hated the other boy.
C: lived in a city. (Correct answer)
D: read the newspaper every day.
E: could not climb a tree.

Correct answer: C: lived in a city.

Working as a newsboy, especially one who would 'fetch the captain' for a shipping company, strongly implies that Edison lived in an urban area or a town with a port. These activities are characteristic of a city environment, where newspapers are distributed and shipping operations are concentrated.

Question 2: Why did the shipping company ask Edison to fetch the captain?

A: he was a better captain
B: to stop trees from being cut down
C: another captain had retired
D: another captain had recently died (Correct answer)
D: another captain had recently died

Correct answer: D: another captain had recently died

In the context of a shipping company needing a new captain, the most direct and critical reason for such an urgent request would be the sudden unavailability of the previous captain. The death of a captain would necessitate immediate action to find a replacement to ensure the continuity of shipping operations.

Question 3: In contrast to the other boy, Edison was:

A: frightened of bears.
B: able to see the road.
C: a newsboy.
D: determined to get the job done. (Correct answer)
E: afraid of the dark.

Correct answer: D: determined to get the job done.

Thomas Edison is historically known for his perseverance and relentless pursuit of his goals, often working tirelessly to achieve his inventions. If the passage contrasts him with another boy, it is highly probable that it highlights Edison's strong determination and commitment to completing tasks, a trait central to his character and success.

Question 4: Why did Edison want an extra $10?

A: so that he could buy dinner on the way
B: so that he could get another boy to accompany him (Correct answer)
C: so that he could buy an extra lamp oil
D: because he was a slick negotiator
E: so that he could pay his electric bill

Correct answer: B: so that he could get another boy to accompany him

Edison requested an additional $10 to hire another boy to accompany him on his urgent delivery. This suggests the task was challenging or potentially dangerous, requiring assistance or companionship. The extra money was a practical request to ensure the successful and safe completion of the message delivery.

Question 5: The word "ravished" probably means:

A: burned
B: uplifted
C: dangerous
D: dark
E: cleared of trees (Correct answer)

Correct answer: E: cleared of trees

The word 'ravished' can mean to seize, devastate, or lay waste to something. In the context of a landscape or forest, 'cleared of trees' aligns with the idea of a destructive or transformative act. This interpretation suggests the area was stripped of its natural vegetation, likely by human activity.

Question 6: Which of the following phrases is an example of simile?

A: “up against a tree”
B: “dark as ink” (Correct answer)
C: “pitch-black night”
D: “a faint gleam of daylight”
D: “a faint gleam of daylight”

Correct answer: B: “dark as ink”

A simile is a literary device that directly compares two different things using the words 'like' or 'as'. The phrase 'dark as ink' explicitly uses 'as' to draw a comparison between the degree of darkness and the color of ink. This makes it a clear example of a simile.

Question 7: About how old was Edison when this story happened?

A: 28
B: 25
C: 45
D: 6
E: 14 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: E: 14

Historical accounts indicate that Thomas Edison was around 14 years old when he worked as a newsboy and 'candy butcher' on the Grand Trunk Railway. This period of his life is often associated with early entrepreneurial ventures and significant learning experiences, such as the one described in the passage.

Question 8: Why did the message have to be delivered that night?

A: so that the captain could catch the morning train (Correct answer)
B: so that the captain could get a good night’s sleep
C: so that the captain could brush his teeth
D: so that Edison could earn his money
E: so that Edison could learn a lesson

Correct answer: A: so that the captain could catch the morning train

The message had to be delivered that night because the captain needed the information to catch the morning train. This detail highlights the urgency of the task and the critical role Edison played in ensuring the captain's timely departure. The captain's travel schedule was dependent on the immediate delivery of the message.

Question 9: This passage was probably taken from:

A: a collection of folklore
B: a biography of Thomas Edison (Correct answer)
C: a novel about steamboat captains
D: a history of the forest
E: the memoirs of the steamboat captain

Correct answer: B: a biography of Thomas Edison

Given that multiple questions refer to Thomas Edison and a specific event in his early life, the passage is most likely an excerpt from a biography. Biographies recount the life story of an individual, often detailing significant experiences and lessons learned, which aligns with the content implied by the questions.

Question 10: What lesson din Edison learn from this experience?

A: to be prepared (Correct answer)
B: to always hold out for more money
C: to learn about animals
D: to buy extra lamp oil
E: to climb a tree

Correct answer: A: to be prepared

Edison's experience, likely involving a challenging or unexpected situation during his delivery, taught him the importance of foresight and readiness. Being prepared for potential obstacles, such as needing extra help or supplies, is a common lesson derived from such adventurous or demanding tasks. This emphasizes the value of planning ahead.

Question 11: Which of the following factors did NOT drive crop prices down after the Civil War?"

A: increase in supply
B: advances in transportation
C: decrease in supply (Correct answer)
D: advances in communication
E: None of the above.

Correct answer: C: decrease in supply

A decrease in supply, assuming demand remains constant, typically leads to an *increase* in prices, not a decrease. Factors like an increase in supply, advances in transportation (making goods cheaper to move), and advances in communication (improving market efficiency) would all contribute to driving crop prices down after the Civil War.

Question 12: What was the basic reason for the formation of the Populist Party?"

A: the success of the Grange
B: the plight of farmers (Correct answer)
C: the fairness of the tariff
D: the popularity of the gold standard
E: the failure of the National Farmer’s Alliance

Correct answer: B: the plight of farmers

The Populist Party, or People's Party, emerged in the late 19th century primarily as a response to the severe economic hardships faced by American farmers. Farmers were struggling with low crop prices, high railroad rates, and heavy debt, leading them to seek political solutions to their plight.

Question 13: What is the name of the system in which individuals can buy things directly from the whole-sale distributor?"

A: collectives
B: populists
C: corporations
D: conglomerates
E: cooperatives (Correct answer)

Correct answer: E: cooperatives

A cooperative is an organization owned and operated by its members for their mutual benefit. Farmers often formed cooperatives to collectively purchase supplies directly from wholesale distributors or to market their produce, allowing them to bypass middlemen and secure better prices or terms.

Question 14: Why did farmers blame the tariff for their problems?"

A: the tariff made them sell their products to other countries
B: the tariff prevented other countries from buying American goods (Correct answer)
C: they couldn’t afford foreign products
D: they hated all taxes
E: they needed a scapegoat

Correct answer: B: the tariff prevented other countries from buying American goods

Farmers blamed the tariff because it made American goods more expensive for other countries to buy, leading to reduced demand for U.S. agricultural exports. While tariffs protected domestic industries, they could also provoke retaliatory tariffs from other nations, hindering American farmers' ability to sell their surplus crops abroad and contributing to low prices.

Question 15: Who founded the Grange organization?"

A: Oscar King
B: John Tyler
C: James Kelley
D: Oliver Kelley (Correct answer)
E: William Tyler

Correct answer: D: Oliver Kelley

The Grange, officially known as the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, was founded in 1867 by Oliver Hudson Kelley. Kelley, a Minnesota farmer and U.S. Department of Agriculture employee, established the organization to promote the social and educational advancement of farmers.

Question 16: This passage probably comes from:"

A: the beginning of a story. (Correct answer)
B: a brochure for Antwerp.
C: an editorial.
D: the end of a long story.
E: an encyclopedia.

Correct answer: A: the beginning of a story.

The passage likely serves to introduce a setting, a character, or the initial circumstances of a narrative. This descriptive function is characteristic of the beginning of a story, where the author establishes the scene and sets the tone before the main plot unfolds.

Question 17: The purpose of this passage is:

A: interrogation
B: persuasion
C: exclamation
D: lamentation
E: description (Correct answer)

Correct answer: E: description

The primary purpose of the passage is to create a vivid image of the windmill and its surroundings. By detailing its appearance, age, and the atmosphere it creates, the author aims to paint a picture for the reader, making description its main function.

Question 18: The description of the windmill as "rheumatic and stiff in the joints from age" is an example of what literary device?"

A: synecdoche
B: alliteration
C: personification (Correct answer)
D: simile
E: assonance

Correct answer: C: personification

Personification is a literary device where human qualities or actions are attributed to inanimate objects or abstract ideas. Describing the windmill as 'rheumatic and stiff in the joints from age' gives it human ailments, making it a clear example of personification.

Question 19: Where does this passage take place?

A: Africa
B: United States
C: Asia
D: Australia
E: Europe (Correct answer)

Correct answer: E: Europe

Antwerp is a major city located in Belgium, which is a country in Western Europe. The presence of windmills, often associated with countries like Belgium and the Netherlands, further confirms a European setting for the passage.

Question 20: Which word best describes the villagers' attitude to the mill?

A: loyal (Correct answer)
B: annoyed
C: reverent
D: calm
E: apathetic

Correct answer: A: loyal

If the windmill is described with human-like qualities and is an old, established part of the community, it suggests a deep-seated connection and affection from the villagers. This implies a sense of loyalty, as they likely view the mill as a venerable and integral part of their heritage and daily lives.

Question 21: Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?"

A: “The Birth of Daniel Boone”
B: “The Great American Pioneers”
C: “The Life of Daniel Boone” (Correct answer)
D: “Daniel Boone’s Parents”
E: “Westward to the Pacific”

Correct answer: C: “The Life of Daniel Boone”

If the passage covers details such as Daniel Boone's birth, his parents, and potentially other early life events or significant contributions, then 'The Life of Daniel Boone' would be the most comprehensive and fitting title. It suggests a broad overview of his existence rather than a specific event.

Question 22: Who is the most likely author of this passage?

A: Indian
B: American folklorist (Correct answer)
C: Newspaper columnist
D: Poet
E: Daniel Boone

Correct answer: B: American folklorist

Daniel Boone is a legendary figure in American history, often celebrated through folklore and frontier tales that blend historical fact with myth. An American folklorist would be interested in collecting, preserving, and sharing these stories that contribute to the national identity and cultural heritage.

Question 23: What literary device is the author using in the phrase "frowning forest"?

A: caesura
B: simile
C: metaphor
D: assonance
E: personification (Correct answer)

Correct answer: E: personification

Personification is the attribution of human characteristics or feelings to inanimate objects or animals. Describing a forest as 'frowning' gives it a human expression of displeasure or seriousness, making it an example of personification.

Praxis Reading Exam 1

From this passage, we can infer that Edison: