CBEST - California Basic Educational Skills Writing: Analytical Essay Questions and Answers

Question 1

Which of the following is the MOST effective thesis statement for a CBEST analytical essay?

Accepted Answer

While some argue life should be fair, the inherent unfairness of life, as noted by authors like Wilde and Atwood, ultimately fosters greater resilience and personal growth.

Answer

The topic of life's fairness is interesting and has been discussed by many authors.

Answer

Oscar Wilde and Margaret Atwood have different but related opinions on the fairness of life.

Answer

I will argue that life is not fair by using examples from history and my own personal experience.

Question 2

A test-taker is responding to a prompt asking for an analysis of the statement, 'Technology does more to isolate individuals than to connect them.' In the body paragraphs, which approach demonstrates the strongest 'Support and Development' according to CBEST scoring criteria?

Accepted Answer

Focusing each paragraph on a specific, detailed example of how a particular technology (e.g., social media) fosters isolation, using logical reasoning to explain the connection.

Answer

Mentioning several different technologies like smartphones, social media, and video games in each paragraph.

Answer

Stating the personal opinion that the writer feels more isolated when using technology without providing examples.

Answer

Listing general statistics about technology use without connecting them to the main argument about isolation.

Question 3

When evaluating the 'Rhetorical Force' of a CBEST analytical essay, scorers are primarily looking for the writer's ability to:

Accepted Answer

State and maintain a clear, coherent main idea or thesis throughout the essay.

Answer

Use sophisticated vocabulary and complex sentence structures.

Answer

Write an essay that is completely free of any grammatical errors.

Answer

Engage the reader with a highly entertaining and emotional narrative.

Question 4

A writer begins their analytical essay with the following sentence: 'In today's world, education is a topic of much debate, with many different viewpoints on how to best prepare students for the future.' What is the most significant weakness of this opening sentence?

Accepted Answer

It is a broad, vague generalization that fails to establish a specific argument.

Answer

It is too controversial and may alienate the reader.

Answer

It makes a claim that is difficult to support with evidence.

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It fails to acknowledge the historical context of educational debates.

Question 5

Which of the following is an essential step in planning a CBEST analytical essay but should NOT appear in the final written response?

Accepted Answer

A brief outline listing the main idea and key supporting examples for each paragraph.

Answer

A concluding paragraph that summarizes the main points.

Answer

Specific details and examples to support the thesis.

Answer

A clear thesis statement presented in the introductory paragraph.

Question 6

The CBEST analytical essay prompt asks the writer to agree or disagree with the statement: 'Success is more a result of persistence than of talent.' Which of the following body paragraphs BEST addresses the prompt with appropriate analysis?

Accepted Answer

While innate talent can provide an initial advantage, its value diminishes without the driving force of persistence. History is filled with examples of talented individuals who faltered, whereas those with grit, like inventor Thomas Edison who famously tested thousands of materials for his lightbulb, ultimately achieved groundbreaking success by overcoming repeated failures.

Answer

Talent is something people are born with. For example, many great musicians were child prodigies. Persistence is about not giving up. Both are important for achieving any goal in life and work well together.

Answer

My cousin wanted to be a doctor. It was a very difficult path, and she had to study for many years. She was not the smartest in her class, but she never gave up and is now a successful surgeon, which proves persistence is key.

Answer

Success can be defined in many ways. For some, it is about wealth, while for others it is about happiness. Therefore, whether talent or persistence is more important depends entirely on an individual's personal definition of success.