Arizona's Measurement of Educational Readiness to Inform Teaching (AzM2) — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Which of the following is an odd number?

84
57 (Correct answer)
96
42

Correct answer: 57

57 ends in 7, which is odd; numbers ending in 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8 are even.

Question 2: A number is multiplied by 1. What is always true about the result?

The result is 0
The result is 1
The result doubles
The result stays the same (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The result stays the same

The identity property of multiplication states that any number × 1 = that number.

Question 3: An informational text uses the following signal words: 'first, then, next, finally.' What text structure does this indicate?

Problem and solution
Cause and effect
Sequence/chronological order (Correct answer)
Compare and contrast

Correct answer: Sequence/chronological order

Signal words like 'first, then, next, finally' indicate a sequence — events or steps presented in a specific order.

Question 4: A student is asked to make an inference. She reads: 'Maria looked at her test paper, then quietly put it face-down on her desk and stared at the window.' What can the reader most reasonably infer?

Maria is bored and uninterested in the test
Maria wants to copy from another student
Maria received an excellent grade and is thinking about celebrating
Maria may be upset or disappointed with her test results (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Maria may be upset or disappointed with her test results

The detail of hiding the test face-down and staring out the window suggests Maria is avoiding showing her grade, most reasonably indicating disappointment.

Question 5: What is 85 - 47?

42
38 (Correct answer)
48
32

Correct answer: 38

85 - 47: regroup (borrow from tens), 15 - 7 = 8, 7 - 4 = 3. Answer: 38.

Question 6: Which of the following figures represents the likelihood of an event occurring, and why?

97.4, because likely events have a probability close to 100%.
0.95, because likely events have a probability close to 1. (Correct answer)
0.03, because likely events have a probability close to 0.
0.51, because any probability higher than 0.5 is likely to happen.

Correct answer: 0.95, because likely events have a probability close to 1.

Correct answer: Because these probabilities aren't expressed in percentages, a value close to 1 equates to a high degree of certainty. A probability of one equals 100 percent likelihood. 0.95 is the same as 95% likelihood, which means it's quite likely.

Question 7: What is 5/6 − 1/3?

1/6
1/2 (Correct answer)
4/6
4/3

Correct answer: 1/2

Convert 1/3 to 2/6, then 5/6 − 2/6 = 3/6 = 1/2.

Question 8: A number has a 5 in the ten-thousands place. Which of the following could be that number?

53,421 (Correct answer)
5,342
4,527
350,042

Correct answer: 53,421

53,421 has 5 in the ten-thousands place: 5-3-4-2-1 (fifty-three thousand, four hundred twenty-one).

Question 9: An article about climate change uses the text structure of cause and effect. What should a reader EXPECT to find in the article?

Explanations of how specific actions lead to climate change outcomes (Correct answer)
A comparison of different countries' temperatures
Steps to follow in chronological order
A story about a scientist who studies climate change

Correct answer: Explanations of how specific actions lead to climate change outcomes

Cause-and-effect text structure explains relationships: how certain actions or events (causes) lead to specific outcomes (effects). Climate change articles using this structure would explain how human activities cause warming, rising seas, etc.

Question 10: In a short story, the main character is described as determined but impatient, and these traits cause conflict throughout the plot. What literary term describes the character's personality traits and how they influence the story?

Rising action
Setting
Characterization (Correct answer)
Theme

Correct answer: Characterization

Characterization refers to how an author develops a character's personality traits, motivations, and how those traits influence the narrative.

Question 11: Which of the following is a prime number?

49
33
27
41 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 41

41 has no factors other than 1 and itself, making it a prime number.

Question 12: An author writes: 'The sun was a golden coin dropped into the ocean at sunset.' What type of figurative language is this?

Personification
Onomatopoeia
Simile
Metaphor (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Metaphor

This is a metaphor — it directly equates the sun with 'a golden coin' without using 'like' or 'as.'

Question 13: In an article about the Arizona heat, the author writes: 'Phoenix recorded 145 days above 100°F in 2023.' What is the BEST inference a reader can make?

All of Arizona experiences the same extreme heat as Phoenix
100°F temperatures are normal in all U.S. cities
Phoenix has a mild, comfortable climate
Phoenix's extreme heat poses significant challenges for residents (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Phoenix's extreme heat poses significant challenges for residents

Nearly half the year above 100°F allows the reader to infer that such extreme heat creates challenges for daily life, infrastructure, and public health.

Question 14: Which of the following BEST describes dramatic irony?

The audience knows something important that the character does not (Correct answer)
Exaggeration used for comedic effect
A character says something but means the opposite
A surprising twist at the end of the story

Correct answer: The audience knows something important that the character does not

Dramatic irony occurs when the audience or reader knows something that the character does not, creating tension or humor from the difference in knowledge.

Question 15: Which type of AzM2 item requires students to select ALL correct answers from a list?

Evidence-based selected response
Multiple-choice (single select)
Constructed response
Multi-select item (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Multi-select item

Multi-select items on AzM2 require students to choose every correct option from the given list.

Question 16: Solve for x: 2x/3 + 5 = 11

x = 9 (Correct answer)
x = 3
x = 24
x = 6

Correct answer: x = 9

Subtract 5: 2x/3 = 6. Multiply both sides by 3: 2x = 18. Divide by 2: x = 9.

Question 17: Which of the following shows the Distributive Property?

3 + 0 = 3
3 × 4 = 4 × 3
3 + (4 + 5) = (3 + 4) + 5
3(4 + 5) = 12 + 15 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 3(4 + 5) = 12 + 15

The Distributive Property states a(b + c) = ab + ac; 3(4+5) = 12+15 demonstrates this.

Question 18: A Level 2 AzM2 performance score is described as:

Meeting expectations
Exceeding expectations
Approaching expectations (Correct answer)
Falling far below expectations

Correct answer: Approaching expectations

Level 2 on AzM2 indicates a student is 'Approaching' the grade-level standard.

Question 19: A recipe uses 2/3 cup of sugar. If you make 3 batches, how many cups of sugar do you need?

1 cup
3 cups
2 cups (Correct answer)
2/9 cups

Correct answer: 2 cups

2/3 × 3 = 6/3 = 2 cups.

Question 20: What is 9 × 0?

1
9
90
0 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 0

Any number multiplied by 0 equals 0.

Question 21: A recipe calls for 2¾ cups of flour. If you want to make 2 batches, how much flour do you need?

4¾ cups
5 cups
4½ cups
5½ cups (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 5½ cups

2¾ × 2 = 11/4 × 2 = 22/4 = 5½ cups.

Question 22: A student is reading about the Apollo 11 moon landing. The article states: 'Neil Armstrong became the first human to walk on the Moon on July 20, 1969.' Is this a primary or secondary source claim?

Neither — it is an opinion
Primary source — it is a quote from Neil Armstrong
Primary source — it happened on a specific date
Secondary source — it is information reported by another author after the event (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Secondary source — it is information reported by another author after the event

A secondary source is written by someone who did not directly experience or witness the event. An article reporting on the Apollo 11 landing is a secondary source.

Question 23: To answer, use the table below. In the table, what is the rate of change?

7
6
9
3 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 3

Correct answer: Take a look at (the change in y)/ (change in x). This tells you how fast things are changing. Take the first two points to compute the rate of change. Slope = (7-4) / (1-0) = 3/1 = 3

Question 24: An article includes this graphic: a bar graph showing Arizona's population growth from 1950 to 2020. What is the PRIMARY purpose of including this graphic?

To make the article appear more professional
To replace the text of the article entirely
To show the author's ability to create charts
To visually represent data that supports and clarifies the text's claims (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To visually represent data that supports and clarifies the text's claims

Graphics like bar graphs visually represent data to help readers understand trends and relationships that might be harder to grasp from text alone.

Question 25: An author's PURPOSE in an editorial about school lunch programs is most likely:

To entertain readers with funny stories about cafeteria food
To describe the history of school lunches
To persuade readers about the importance of improving school nutrition (Correct answer)
To explain step-by-step how school lunches are prepared

Correct answer: To persuade readers about the importance of improving school nutrition

An editorial is an opinion piece intended to persuade. An editorial about school lunch programs would argue for a specific position about improving nutrition.

Question 26: What is a trailing stop order?

A permanent stop order
A stop order that follows you
A stop-loss that automatically adjusts upward as the price rises, locking in profits while protecting against reversals (Correct answer)
An order placed at market close

Correct answer: A stop-loss that automatically adjusts upward as the price rises, locking in profits while protecting against reversals

Trailing stops move with the price in a favorable direction but stay fixed when the price moves against you, automatically locking in gains.

Question 27: Which of the following best describes the purpose of a concluding paragraph in an essay?

To describe the writer's personal experience with the topic
To introduce new evidence that strengthens the argument
To list all sources used in the essay
To restate the thesis and summarize main points, leaving the reader with a final thought (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To restate the thesis and summarize main points, leaving the reader with a final thought

A conclusion restates the thesis (without copying it word for word), summarizes key points, and leaves the reader with a meaningful closing thought.

Question 28: Which of the following describes a food CHAIN (not a food web)?

A diagram showing all feeding relationships in an ecosystem
A single pathway of energy transfer from one organism to the next (Correct answer)
A cycle showing how nutrients are recycled in nature
A map of an organism's habitat and resources

Correct answer: A single pathway of energy transfer from one organism to the next

A food chain shows a single, linear sequence of energy transfer (e.g., grass → grasshopper → frog → hawk). A food web shows all interconnected chains.

Question 29: Which strategy BEST helps a student verify that their math answer is reasonable on AzM2?

Re-solve using a completely different unrelated method
Check only that the arithmetic operations look correct
Accept the first answer obtained without review
Estimate the answer first and compare to the calculated result (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Estimate the answer first and compare to the calculated result

Comparing a calculated answer to a prior estimate is a reliable reasonableness check.

Question 30: A student reads two articles about wolves. Article 1 says wolves are dangerous predators that threaten livestock. Article 2 says wolves are essential for maintaining healthy ecosystems. What should the student do FIRST when evaluating these sources?

Accept whichever article was written more recently
Examine the author's credentials, purpose, and sources for each article (Correct answer)
Conclude that both articles are wrong since they disagree
Accept Article 1 since it warns of danger

Correct answer: Examine the author's credentials, purpose, and sources for each article

When encountering conflicting sources, readers should evaluate each source's credibility by examining author qualifications, purpose, and supporting evidence.

Question 31: A square has a side length of 7 inches. What is its perimeter?

49 in
21 in
28 in (Correct answer)
14 in

Correct answer: 28 in

Perimeter of a square = 4 × side length = 4 × 7 = 28 inches.

Question 32: Read this sentence from an article about recycling: 'Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to power a TV for three hours.' This sentence is an example of:

The author's opinion about recycling
A transition sentence connecting two paragraphs
A specific fact used to support the importance of recycling (Correct answer)
A generalization about all types of recycling

Correct answer: A specific fact used to support the importance of recycling

This is a specific, verifiable statistic used as evidence to support the argument that recycling conserves significant energy.

Question 33: The climax of a story is BEST described as:

The introduction of the main characters and setting
The events after the conflict is resolved
The lesson or moral the story teaches
The moment of highest tension or turning point in the story (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The moment of highest tension or turning point in the story

The climax is the moment of highest tension and emotional intensity in the story — the turning point where the main conflict reaches its peak.

Question 34: A line has slope −3 and passes through (0, 5). Which equation represents this line?

y = 3x + 5
y = 5x − 3
y = −3x + 5 (Correct answer)
y = −5x + 3

Correct answer: y = −3x + 5

Using slope-intercept form y = mx + b with m = −3 and b = 5: y = −3x + 5.

Question 35: Which of the following correctly uses an apostrophe?

The student's are working hard.
The boys' bikes are their's.
The dog's bowl is empty. (Correct answer)
Its raining outside today.

Correct answer: The dog's bowl is empty.

'Dog's' correctly uses an apostrophe to show possession (the bowl belonging to the dog).

Question 36: A triangular garden has a base of 10 m and a height of 6 m. What is its area?

16 m²
60 m²
32 m²
30 m² (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 30 m²

Area of a triangle = (base × height) ÷ 2 = (10 × 6) ÷ 2 = 30 m².

Question 37: What distinguishes a 'constructed response' from a 'selected response' item on AzM2?

Constructed response items have no scoring rubric
Constructed response items are always about math
Selected response items are worth more points
Constructed response requires the student to produce a written or worked answer (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Constructed response requires the student to produce a written or worked answer

Constructed-response items require students to generate their own answer rather than choose from options.

Question 38: What is the significance of pre-market and after-hours trading?

Trading that occurs outside regular market hours, often with lower volume, wider spreads, and higher volatility (Correct answer)
It follows different rules entirely
It does not exist
It is only for institutions

Correct answer: Trading that occurs outside regular market hours, often with lower volume, wider spreads, and higher volatility

Extended hours trading allows reactions to news and earnings before and after the regular session, but typically with less liquidity and wider bid-ask spreads.

Question 39: Which pair of angles are supplementary?

90° and 90°
110° and 70° (Correct answer)
30° and 60°
45° and 45°

Correct answer: 110° and 70°

Supplementary angles sum to 180°; 110° + 70° = 180°.

Question 40: A student reads an informational paragraph and identifies the sentence that tells the most important idea. This sentence is called the:

Topic sentence (Correct answer)
Transition sentence
Concluding sentence
Supporting detail

Correct answer: Topic sentence

The topic sentence states the main idea of the paragraph. It is typically the first sentence and tells what the entire paragraph is about.

Question 41: A student's AzM2 scale score falls in the 'Meeting' range. This means the student:

Is approaching but has not yet reached the grade-level benchmark
Has exceeded all expectations and is ready for advanced coursework
Has demonstrated grade-level proficiency on Arizona's standards (Correct answer)
Needs significant intervention to reach grade level

Correct answer: Has demonstrated grade-level proficiency on Arizona's standards

A 'Meeting' score (Level 3) means the student has shown proficiency with the Arizona academic standards.

Question 42: An author reveals a character's internal conflict through the character's thoughts rather than through dialogue or action. What technique is this?

Stream of consciousness or interior monologue (Correct answer)
Dialogue
Direct characterization
Third-person limited narration from outside the character

Correct answer: Stream of consciousness or interior monologue

When an author reveals a character's internal conflict through their thoughts, this is interior monologue — a technique showing the character's inner mental experience directly.

Question 43: Solve for x: x/4 = 9

13
45
2.25
36 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 36

Multiply both sides by 4: x = 9 × 4 = 36.

Question 44: Which number is EVEN?

71
42 (Correct answer)
37
53

Correct answer: 42

An even number ends in 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8. 42 ends in 2, so it is even.

Question 45: When annotating an informational text, a student circles unfamiliar words and writes 'WHY?' next to surprising facts. What is the PURPOSE of annotation?

To summarize every sentence in the margin
To impress the teacher with careful notes
To make the text look more colorful and organized
To actively engage with the text and monitor comprehension (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To actively engage with the text and monitor comprehension

Annotation is an active reading strategy that helps readers engage with, question, and process information while monitoring their own understanding.

Question 46: Read this passage: 'The old house creaked and groaned in the wind, its shutters banging like a warning.' What mood does this passage create?

Joyful and celebratory
Peaceful and calm
Humorous and lighthearted
Ominous and unsettling (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Ominous and unsettling

Words like 'creaked,' 'groaned,' and 'warning' create a mood of unease and foreboding — the setting feels threatening.

Question 47: Which of the following expressions indicates 75 less the product of 12 and 4?

(75 – 12) x 4
75 – (12 x 4) (Correct answer)
75 – (12 + 4)
(12 x 4) – 75

Correct answer: 75 – (12 x 4)

Correct answer: First, find the product of 12 and 4 (12 x 4). Then subtract this amount from 75.

Question 48: A student reads an informational article about the history of the Grand Canyon. The article includes headings like 'Formation,' 'Wildlife,' and 'Tourism.' What is the PURPOSE of these headings?

To show the author's personal opinions about each topic
To make the article longer
To help readers quickly locate specific sections of information (Correct answer)
To replace the need for an introduction

Correct answer: To help readers quickly locate specific sections of information

Headings in informational texts help readers navigate the text and quickly find specific information without reading the entire article.

Question 49: In a folktale, the phrase 'Once upon a time, in a land far away' appears at the beginning. What does this phrase signal to the reader?

The story is based on real historical events
The author does not know where or when the story takes place
The story will be set in the future
The story is set in an unspecified, imaginary time and place — traditional folktale elements (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The story is set in an unspecified, imaginary time and place — traditional folktale elements

'Once upon a time, in a land far away' is a traditional opening formula for folktales and fairy tales, signaling an imaginary, unspecified setting that is separate from reality.

Question 50: A school collected 360 cans for a food drive over 6 days, collecting the same number each day. Write an equation and solve: how many cans were collected each day?

54 cans
66 cans
60 cans (Correct answer)
72 cans

Correct answer: 60 cans

Equation: 6d = 360. Solve: d = 360 ÷ 6 = 60 cans per day.

Question 51: The author of an article about electric vehicles works for an electric vehicle company. How might this AFFECT the reliability of the information?

The article would be more reliable because the author has firsthand knowledge
The author may present biased information that favors electric vehicles (Correct answer)
The author's experience makes the article more reliable
The author's affiliation has no effect on the article's reliability

Correct answer: The author may present biased information that favors electric vehicles

Authors with financial or professional stakes in a topic may present information that favors their interests, creating potential bias that readers should recognize.

Question 52: Read this excerpt: 'The school's new library was a treasure trove of knowledge, with shelves stretching from floor to ceiling filled with books on every subject imaginable.' What does 'treasure trove' suggest about the library?

The library contains actual buried treasure
The library is very expensive to visit
The library is an exceptionally valuable and rich resource (Correct answer)
The library is hidden underground

Correct answer: The library is an exceptionally valuable and rich resource

'Treasure trove' is a figurative expression meaning a collection of valuable things. Used to describe the library, it suggests it is an exceptionally rich resource full of valuable knowledge.

Question 53: An author includes a scene where a character discovers an old photograph that triggers memories of their childhood. This technique of going back in time is called:

Flash-forward
Flashback (Correct answer)
Foreshadowing
Deus ex machina

Correct answer: Flashback

A flashback is a narrative technique that interrupts the present story to show events from the past, triggered here by the discovery of the old photograph.

Question 54: An author writes a story where a lonely character watches raindrops race down a window. The author describes the rain as 'weeping' and 'mournful.' What technique is the author using, and what effect does it create?

Flashback; the rain reminds the character of past sadness
Pathetic fallacy; the weather reflects and amplifies the character's emotional state (Correct answer)
Alliteration; the repeated sounds create a musical rhythm
Hyperbole; it exaggerates the weather to create comedy

Correct answer: Pathetic fallacy; the weather reflects and amplifies the character's emotional state

Pathetic fallacy is the technique of giving human emotions to natural elements (rain 'weeping,' 'mournful') so the environment reflects the character's inner state.

Question 55: How should you approach problem-solving in a professional context?

Ignore problems until they resolve themselves
Always ask someone else
Gather information, analyze the situation, consider multiple solutions, implement the best option, and evaluate results (Correct answer)
Guess and check randomly

Correct answer: Gather information, analyze the situation, consider multiple solutions, implement the best option, and evaluate results

Systematic problem-solving involves understanding the problem fully, considering alternatives, implementing a solution, and reviewing the outcome for continuous improvement.

Question 56: A student reads: 'The Hohokam people of ancient Arizona constructed an extensive canal system that stretched over 500 miles, irrigating crops in the Sonoran Desert.' What is the BEST summary of this sentence?

Ancient Hohokam people built a large irrigation system to farm the desert (Correct answer)
Farming in the desert is very difficult
The Hohokam people lived in Arizona
Arizona has many canals today

Correct answer: Ancient Hohokam people built a large irrigation system to farm the desert

A summary captures the main idea — here, that the Hohokam built an extensive canal system for agriculture in the desert. It includes the key who, what, and why.

Question 57: What is paper trading?

Trading with physical certificates
Writing trades on paper
Practicing trading with simulated money to test strategies without financial risk (Correct answer)
Trading paper products

Correct answer: Practicing trading with simulated money to test strategies without financial risk

Paper trading simulates real trading conditions with virtual money, allowing beginners to practice and experienced traders to test new strategies without risk.

Question 58: In AzM2 ELA, 'text structure' refers to:

The font size and formatting of the passage
The number of paragraphs in a reading passage
The grade level of the vocabulary used
How an author organizes information within a text (e.g., cause-effect, compare-contrast) (Correct answer)

Correct answer: How an author organizes information within a text (e.g., cause-effect, compare-contrast)

Text structure describes the organizational pattern an author uses to arrange ideas and information.

Question 59: In a novel, a character named Hope always helps others, speaks positively, and is described wearing bright colors. The author naming her 'Hope' is an example of:

Irony
Flashback
Foreshadowing
Symbolism and characterization through naming (nominative determinism/symbolic name) (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Symbolism and characterization through naming (nominative determinism/symbolic name)

When an author gives a character a name that reflects their personality or role, it is a form of symbolism — the name 'Hope' symbolizes the character's optimistic, helpful nature.

Question 60: What is the importance of professional standards?

They are suggestions only
They establish consistent quality expectations, protect the public, and provide a framework for professional conduct (Correct answer)
They restrict freedom
They only apply to large organizations

Correct answer: They establish consistent quality expectations, protect the public, and provide a framework for professional conduct

Professional standards ensure consistent quality, protect public safety, and provide clear expectations for competent, ethical professional behavior.

Question 61: Which expression represents 'five less than three times a number n'?

5(n - 3)
3n - 5 (Correct answer)
3(n - 5)
5 - 3n

Correct answer: 3n - 5

'Three times a number' = 3n. 'Five less than' means subtract 5 from it: 3n - 5.

Question 62: Which revision makes this sentence more concise? 'Due to the fact that it was raining outside, we decided to stay indoors inside the house.'

Since outside it was raining in the weather, we decided to stay.
It was raining outside and so therefore we stayed inside the house.
Because it was raining, we stayed inside. (Correct answer)
Due to the fact that it was raining outside, we stayed indoors.

Correct answer: Because it was raining, we stayed inside.

Answer B eliminates redundancy ('due to the fact that' → 'because'; 'indoors inside the house' → 'inside') to create the most concise version.

Question 63: Which of the following best describes how to find the perimeter of a square with side length 9 cm?

Multiply 9 × 4 = 36 cm (Correct answer)
Divide 9 ÷ 4 = 2.25 cm
Add 9 + 9 = 18 cm
Multiply 9 × 9 = 81 cm

Correct answer: Multiply 9 × 4 = 36 cm

A square has 4 equal sides. Perimeter = 4 × side = 4 × 9 = 36 cm.

Question 64: A student notices that when light passes through a glass prism, it separates into a rainbow of colors. This phenomenon is called:

Reflection
Diffraction
Absorption
Refraction and dispersion (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Refraction and dispersion

White light bends (refracts) as it enters the prism, and because different wavelengths (colors) bend at different angles, they separate (dispersion) into a spectrum.

Question 65: Which type of text is MOST likely to present information objectively without expressing an opinion?

A personal blog post
A persuasive essay
A newspaper editorial
A science textbook chapter (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A science textbook chapter

A science textbook chapter presents factual, researched information in an objective, balanced way without the author's personal opinions.

Question 66: Plenty to Do at the Zoo by Rachel Young 1) Can't wait to start that homework? No? But what if you were stuck in an empty room with no books, no toys, no TV or computer, not even a copy of Ask? "Maybe then homework wouldn't seem so bad," says Steve Ross of the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. 2) With keepers to feed them, vets to cure them, and no predators to eat them, animals in a zoo usually live much longer than animals in the wild. Zoo life is safe, but it can also be boring. 3) In the wild, survival is a full-time job, what with finding food, taking care of babies, and steering clear of all the things that might want to eat you. Compared with their wild cousins, says one zoo veterinarian, zoo animals are unemployed. 4) Scientists observing animals in their natural environments realized that some zoo animals were doing all sorts of unnatural things those species don't do in the wild. Tigers paced back and forth endlessly. Elephants bobbed their heads up and down.... Monkeys groomed to the point of giving themselves sores. These are signs of boredom and stress. And scientists have learned that being stressed out can actually make animals, and people, sick. 5) Giving zoo animals food and shelter isn't enough to keep them healthy. They also need something to do. These days, problems like pacing are less common because zoos try to make life interesting for the animals that live there, with habitats, games, and even toys that encourage natural skills and behaviors. These things are just as important for the animals' good health as the proper diet or a visit from the vet. Work for your food 6) Tomatoey and sweet, the smell of ketchup wafts from inside a big artificial termite mound in the corner of the ape habitat at Lincoln Park Zoo. One chimpanzee is hungry for a taste. He grabs a piece of hay and tries to poke it into a small hole in the mound, but the hay is too limp and flexible. Frustrated, the chimpanzee presses his lips against the hole and reaches in with his tongue. Again, no luck. The hole is too deep and the ketchup too far away. Finally, he grabs a branch and goes to work, ripping off leaves and shredding bark until he has a narrow stick that just fits in the hole. When he pulls the stick out, the end is slathered with ketchup. Success! He slurps up the treat and goes back for more. 7) In the wild, chimpanzees spend more than half their time foraging for food. They fish for termites (not ketchup) and sometimes roam 7 miles (11 km) a day to look for bugs, leaves, and other morsels. 8) But what takes all day in the forest could take five minutes at the zoo: once the keeper plunks down a plate of fruit and monkey chow, a chimp has the rest of the day to stare into space. 9) But that's changing. Now, for many zoo animals, feeding time is a chance to sharpen their skills by hunting or foraging. To keep the animals on their toes, zookeepers like to scatter or hide food rather than leaving it in one place. That way the animals can spend many enjoyable hours searching and sniffing and climbing for treats. Let the game begin . . . 10) With hanging vines and twisting tree trunks, the ape habitat at Lincoln Park Zoo looks a lot like a jungle. It's also a fun house. Trees are booby-trapped with touch pads that set off water misters or scatterguns loaded with food. Scientists like observing how and when chimpanzees figure out the hidden tricks, and the chimpanzees like solving the puzzles and being rewarded with a cooling mist of water or a round of snacks. 11) Other animals get toys that are less high-tech but still fun to play with. Hippos and elephants push big rubber balls, and wolves tug on bits of fur. Of course, toys with food inside are always popular. Lions at the Detroit Zoo got to stalk a zebra, although it wasn't much of a challenge; the zebra was papier-mâché. When they tore open the piñata, the lions were rewarded with a belly full of food. 12) Research has already shown that keeping life interesting changes things for the better. Animals act more naturally—and they get sick less from stress-related illness. They're livelier, and they interact more with friends and family. It just goes to show—a bit of homework keeps you healthy. Which passage detail supports the responses to question 3?

"Research has already shown that keeping life interesting changes things for the better." (paragraph 12) (Correct answer)
"The hole is too deep and the ketchup too far away." (paragraph 6)
'"In the wild, chimpanzees spend more than half their time foraging for food." (paragraph 7)
"That way the animals can spend many enjoyable hours searching and sniffing and climbing for treats." (paragraph 9)

Correct answer: "Research has already shown that keeping life interesting changes things for the better." (paragraph 12)

The correct answer "Research has already shown that keeping life interesting changes things for the better." (paragraph 12)

Question 67: A bag holds 4 red, 3 blue, and 5 green marbles. What fraction of the marbles are blue?

3/12 (Correct answer)
3/7
3/5
3/4

Correct answer: 3/12

Total marbles = 4 + 3 + 5 = 12; blue fraction = 3/12.

Question 68: A student wants to vary sentence structure in her writing. Which revision of 'She studied. She passed. She celebrated.' BEST demonstrates sentence variety?

She studied a lot. She passed easily. She celebrated.
She studied, and she passed, and she celebrated.
She studied. She passed. She celebrated her success greatly.
After studying hard and passing her exam, she celebrated her success. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: After studying hard and passing her exam, she celebrated her success.

Answer B combines the three short sentences into a complex sentence with a subordinate clause, demonstrating varied and mature sentence structure.

Question 69: Which unit would you use to measure the weight of a watermelon?

Degree
Gallon
Pound (Correct answer)
Inch

Correct answer: Pound

Pounds are used to measure weight of objects like a watermelon.

Question 70: A story's protagonist faces an internal conflict about whether to tell the truth and face consequences or lie to protect a friend. This type of conflict is BEST described as:

Character vs. character
Character vs. society
Character vs. nature
Character vs. self (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Character vs. self

An internal conflict — a character struggling with their own choices, beliefs, or values — is character vs. self conflict.

Question 71: An object has a mass of 50 kg and accelerates at 2 m/s². According to Newton's Second Law (F = ma), what is the force applied?

52 N
25 N
100 N (Correct answer)
0.04 N

Correct answer: 100 N

F = ma = 50 kg × 2 m/s² = 100 N.

Question 72: Which of the following is a prime number?

49
33
41 (Correct answer)
27

Correct answer: 41

41 is prime — it has no factors other than 1 and itself. 27 = 3×9, 33 = 3×11, 49 = 7×7.

Question 73: What is the value of 4.7 × 10?

47 (Correct answer)
470
0.47
4.70

Correct answer: 47

Multiplying by 10 shifts the decimal one place to the right, so 4.7 × 10 = 47.

Question 74: Passage Out of This World: Deep Space Observation by Kathiann M. Kowalski 1) Some of America's greatest man-made marvels are literally out of this world. Space-based telescopes and ground-based observatories don't just provide awesome views of the stars, planets, and distant galaxies. They're expanding our knowledge and understanding of the universe. 2) "NASA's space telescopes are really tools for answering some of the most exciting questions that people have ever asked," says Paul Hertz, astrophysics division director for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Those questions include: How did the universe begin? How did the stars and planets come to be? Are there planets around other stars? And might those planets hold life? 3) The Hubble Space Telescope "might be the most well-known and well-loved scientific experiment ever built," Hertz notes. Launched in 1990, the telescope celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2015. 4) Costs up through its 1990 launch were around $2.5 billion, and five subsequent repair missions brought the figure up to around $10 billion by 2010. Although it is expensive, Hubble's legacy is a wealth of scientific information. 5) For example, scientists using Hubble have shown that expansion of the universe is accelerating, because of a force scientists now call dark energy. Hubble helped scientists show that 95 percent of the universe is composed of dark energy or dark matter—something other than the atoms we understand. Hubble has also measured atmospheres of planets around other stars. 6) And then there are the photos. "Hubble has given us some of the most vivid pictures of our very beautiful universe and helped those of us who spend our lives here on the ground feel that we can soar through space like the astronauts and see the universe in all its grandeur," Hertz says. 7) But no one telescope can show everything, just as no one tool can do every job. Thus, there are multiple space-based telescopes. Another space telescope, the Chandra X-ray Observatory, detects X-rays in hot and other regions of space. It was launched in 1999 and flies in an elliptical orbit that reaches much higher than Hubble's orbit. Its pictures are helping scientists locate and study high-energy phenomena, such as areas around black holes, remnants of supernovas, and million-degree gas found in clusters of galaxies. 8) "One question everybody has been asking for thousands of years is, Are we alone?" Hertz says. Launched in 2009, the Kepler Space Telescope's four-year mission was to find planets beyond our solar system. Hubble and other telescopes can't detect such planets because stars near them are too bright. The Kepler telescope used a different strategy. It basically "stared at 150,000 stars for four straight years without 'blinking," Hertz says. "It was looking to see if a planet around any of those stars would pass between us and the star and block out a very tiny fraction of that star's light—as small as one-millionth of the light." 9) Using that strategy, Kepler found thousands of stars with planets. "Because of Kepler, we now know that probably almost every star in the night sky has planets around it," Hertz notes. Kepler could not hold its position much beyond the planned four years. But it earned a bonus mission, known as K2. As it changes position, Kepler has been able to capture things such as flares on stars, black holes swallowing asteroids, and even pulsing on the surface of the planet Neptune. 10) NASA's next big telescope launch in 2018 will be beyond cool—it will be frigid! Working at 40 degrees above absolute zero, it will detect infrared light from far away. "The James Webb Space Telescope will be able to detect the very first galaxies and the very first stars that arose after the Big Bang and that are at the edges of the visible universe," explains Hertz. 11) Ground-based telescopes are marvels as well. "It's always cheaper to build a telescope on the ground than to put one into space," notes Hertz. For instance, the Pan-STARRS-1 telescope atop Haleakala on Maui, Hawaii, is the first of four such telescopes. It was designed primarily to detect hazardous objects in space, and it began operating in late 2008 with the world's largest digital camera. Its images have 1.4 billion pixels each. Most cellphone cameras, in contrast, have fewer than 10 million pixels. A second telescope, Pan-STARRS-2, should soon operate nearby. 12) "Pan-STARRS, among other things, is looking at large pieces of the sky, looking for new asteroids and other things that are changing," explains Hertz. "The more of the sky you can see at a time, the more things you can discover." The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope in the next decade will be even more sensitive. 13) Plans also call for NASA's space-based Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope, or WFIRST, to have a large camera. It will be "100 times larger than the Hubble camera," notes Hertz. "Every time we take a picture with the WFIRST, it will be like putting 100 pictures with Hubble together." WFIRST images should help scientists understand more about dark energy and planets outside our solar system. 14) Telescopes in space and on the ground represent amazing feats of engineering. Mankind's curiosity about space has sparked an effort to build things that allow us to see and experience that vast frontier. Together, these tools give us amazing views and help us understand how our universe works. Which of the author's claims concerning telescopes is backed by evidence in the passage?

The telescopes that are sent into space are designed to look for other life forms.
Telescopes that are being constructed on the ground can gather a broader view of space. (Correct answer)
Telescopes show scientists how energy makes the universe expand.
The amount of time It takes telescopes to collect data makes It hard for scientists to complete their studies.

Correct answer: Telescopes that are being constructed on the ground can gather a broader view of space.

The correct answer Telescopes that are being constructed on the ground can gather a broader view of space.

Question 75: The table shows: Mon=12, Tue=15, Wed=9, Thu=18, Fri=6 books read. What is the mean number of books read per day?

15
10
12 (Correct answer)
60

Correct answer: 12

Mean = (12 + 15 + 9 + 18 + 6) ÷ 5 = 60 ÷ 5 = 12.

Question 76: A container holds 3.75 liters of water. After pouring out 1.4 liters, how much remains?

2.45 liters
2.65 liters
5.15 liters
2.35 liters (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 2.35 liters

3.75 − 1.40 = 2.35 liters remaining in the container.

Question 77: Which of the following correctly converts 3.25 hours into hours and minutes?

3 hours 45 minutes
3 hours 15 minutes (Correct answer)
3 hours 25 minutes
3 hours 2 minutes

Correct answer: 3 hours 15 minutes

0.25 × 60 = 15 minutes, so 3.25 hours = 3 hours 15 minutes.

Question 78: The scatter plot shows a positive correlation. What does this mean?

y stays constant as x changes
As x increases, y decreases
As x increases, y increases (Correct answer)
x and y are unrelated

Correct answer: As x increases, y increases

A positive correlation means both variables increase together.

Question 79: What is 0.00045 written in scientific notation?

4.5 × 10⁻⁴ (Correct answer)
4.5 × 10⁻³
45 × 10⁻⁵
4.5 × 10⁴

Correct answer: 4.5 × 10⁻⁴

Moving the decimal 4 places right gives 4.5 × 10⁻⁴.

Question 80: Which sentence from an article about Arizona's economy is an OPINION rather than a fact?

Arizona became the 48th state to join the United States in 1912.
The semiconductor industry is one of Arizona's fastest-growing economic sectors.
Arizona's GDP was approximately $435 billion in 2022.
Arizona's diverse economy, spanning technology and tourism, is the most exciting in the Southwest. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Arizona's diverse economy, spanning technology and tourism, is the most exciting in the Southwest.

'Most exciting' is a subjective judgment that cannot be objectively measured or proven — it is an opinion.

Question 81: A poem describes a raging river using words like 'furious,' 'hungry,' and 'devours.' What literary device is being used?

Hyperbole
Alliteration
Simile
Personification (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Personification

Giving the river human emotions and actions ('furious,' 'hungry,' 'devours') is personification — applying human characteristics to a non-human thing.

Question 82: A student reads a biography and an autobiography both written about the same person. What is the MAIN difference between the two sources?

A biography is always longer than an autobiography
A biography contains only facts; an autobiography contains only opinions
A biography is written by someone else; an autobiography is written by the subject (Correct answer)
A biography is nonfiction; an autobiography is fiction

Correct answer: A biography is written by someone else; an autobiography is written by the subject

A biography is written about someone by another person. An autobiography is written by the person themselves about their own life.

Arizona's Measurement of Educational Readiness to Inform Teaching (AzM2)

Arizona's standardized assessment for grades 3–8 measuring student proficiency in English Language Arts and Mathematics against Arizona Academic Standards. Performance is reported as Minimally Proficient, Partially Proficient, Proficient, or Highly Proficient.

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90 min

Time Limit

65%

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