CALT Written Language and Composition Skills 4

Question 1

A student consistently omits function words (e.g., 'the,' 'is') when writing sentences. This pattern is MOST associated with which underlying deficit?

Accepted Answer

Difficulty with syntactic-grammatical formulation

Answer

Omitting function words reflects a breakdown in syntactic-grammatical formulation, as function words are grammatical rather than semantic carriers.

Question 2

Which graphic organizer structure is BEST suited to help a student plan a compare-contrast essay?

Accepted Answer

Venn diagram

Answer

A Venn diagram visually separates and overlaps two topics, directly supporting the organizational demands of compare-contrast writing.

Question 3

A 4th-grade student's written sentences are grammatically correct but lack cohesive ties between them. The MOST appropriate instructional target is:

Accepted Answer

Transition word instruction

Answer

Teaching transition words and cohesive devices directly addresses the lack of logical linkage between grammatically intact sentences.

Question 4

During a language sample, a student uses primarily simple sentences and avoids embedding clauses. To increase syntactic maturity in writing, the therapist should prioritize:

Accepted Answer

Sentence combining and elaboration activities

Answer

Sentence combining activities explicitly teach students to embed clauses and expand syntactic complexity in written output.

Question 5

Which writing assessment measure captures both productivity AND syntactic complexity in a single score?

Accepted Answer

Mean length of T-unit (MLT)

Answer

Mean length of T-unit averages the number of words per independent clause including its subordinates, capturing both output and complexity.

CALT - Certified Academic Language Therapist Practice Test

CALT - Certified Academic Language Therapist Practice Test

CALT Written Language and Composition Skills 4