CAASPP Writing 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A student writes: 'The experiment was conducted by the scientists carefully.' Which revision best improves this sentence?
- The scientists carefully conducted the experiment. (Correct answer)
- Carefully, the experiment was conducted.
- The experiment, carefully, was conducted by scientists.
- By scientists, the experiment was carefully conducted.
Correct answer: The scientists carefully conducted the experiment.
Active voice (subject performs the action) is clearer and more direct than passive voice.
Question 2: Which transition word best connects these sentences: 'Maria studied for hours. _____, she felt confident on test day.'
- However
- Therefore (Correct answer)
- Meanwhile
- Although
Correct answer: Therefore
'Therefore' signals a logical cause-and-effect relationship between studying and feeling confident.
Question 3: In an argumentative essay, which type of evidence is MOST effective for supporting a claim?
- A personal anecdote from the writer's own life
- Statistics and data from credible research studies (Correct answer)
- A description of what most people believe
- An example from a popular movie or TV show
Correct answer: Statistics and data from credible research studies
Statistics and data from credible sources provide objective, verifiable support for argumentative claims.
Question 4: A student's essay has this thesis: 'Dogs make good pets.' What is the MAIN weakness of this thesis?
- It is too long and contains too many ideas.
- It makes a claim that is too obvious and not arguable. (Correct answer)
- It does not mention the topic clearly enough.
- It uses informal language that is inappropriate.
Correct answer: It makes a claim that is too obvious and not arguable.
An effective thesis makes a specific, debatable claim; 'dogs make good pets' is too vague and widely accepted to argue.
Question 5: Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier?
- Running quickly, the dog chased the ball.
- The teacher explained the lesson clearly to the class.
- Covered in mud, the boy's shoes were left outside. (Correct answer)
- Walking to school, she noticed the broken sidewalk.
Correct answer: Covered in mud, the boy's shoes were left outside.
In that sentence, 'covered in mud' incorrectly modifies 'shoes' when the intended meaning is unclear—the boy was covered in mud.
Question 6: What is the PRIMARY purpose of a concluding paragraph in an informational essay?
- To introduce a new argument that strengthens the essay
- To restate the thesis and summarize the key points (Correct answer)
- To provide additional evidence for the main claim
- To ask the reader a question to encourage reflection
Correct answer: To restate the thesis and summarize the key points
A conclusion synthesizes the essay by restating the central idea and summarizing the supporting points without adding new information.
Question 7: Which choice BEST describes the purpose of using precise, domain-specific vocabulary in informational writing?
- To make the writing seem more difficult and impressive
- To accurately convey specialized concepts and establish credibility (Correct answer)
- To ensure only expert readers can understand the text
- To replace common words with synonyms for variety
Correct answer: To accurately convey specialized concepts and establish credibility
Domain-specific vocabulary allows writers to communicate complex ideas accurately and demonstrates knowledge of the subject.
CAASPP Writing 2
A student writes: 'The experiment was conducted by the scientists carefully.' Which revision best improves this sentence?