California English Language Development Test (CELDT) — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Choose the correct form: 'There _____ many students in the classroom.'

Is
Are (Correct answer)
Was
Am

Correct answer: Are

'Are' is correct because 'students' is plural, requiring a plural verb form.

Question 2: Who is required to take the CELDT in California?

Only students who were born outside the United States
All students in California public schools
Only students who fail state math exams
Students whose home language is not English, as identified by the Home Language Survey (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Students whose home language is not English, as identified by the Home Language Survey

Students identified as potential English learners through the Home Language Survey are required to take the CELDT.

Question 3: Which word is a synonym for 'joyful'?

Sad
Tired
Angry
Happy (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Happy

Joyful means feeling great happiness, so 'happy' is the closest synonym.

Question 4: How many domains does the CELDT assess?

Three: listening, speaking, and reading
Two: reading and writing
Five: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and math
Four: listening, speaking, reading, and writing (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Four: listening, speaking, reading, and writing

The CELDT assesses four English language domains: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

Question 5: What does CELDT stand for?

California Elementary Language Development Test
California English Literacy and Development Test
California English Language Development Test (Correct answer)
California Education Language Development Test

Correct answer: California English Language Development Test

CELDT stands for California English Language Development Test, used to assess English proficiency of English learner students.

Question 6: What does it mean to 'summarize' a passage?

Copy the passage word for word
Restate the main ideas in your own words briefly (Correct answer)
Add your personal opinion to the passage
Identify every detail in the passage

Correct answer: Restate the main ideas in your own words briefly

A summary restates the most important ideas of a text briefly and in your own words.

Question 7: Which sentence correctly uses a possessive noun?

The dogs bowl is empty.
The dog's bowl is empty. (Correct answer)
The dogs bowl is empty.
The dogs' bowl is empty.

Correct answer: The dog's bowl is empty.

To show possession for a singular noun like 'dog,' add an apostrophe followed by 's' (dog's).

Question 8: Which of the following best describes an 'English Learner' (EL) student?

A student who moved from another state
A student who failed English class
A student enrolled in an advanced English course
A student whose primary language is not English and who is learning English (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A student whose primary language is not English and who is learning English

An English Learner is a student whose home language is not English and who is developing English language proficiency.

Question 9: Which sentence uses the present perfect tense?

She will read the book.
She reads the book.
She read the book.
She has read the book. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: She has read the book.

The present perfect tense uses 'has/have' + past participle, as in 'has read.'

Question 10: Which sentence correctly uses a comma in a list?

I need, apples oranges, and bananas.
I need apples oranges, and, bananas.
I need apples, oranges, and bananas. (Correct answer)
I need apples oranges and bananas.

Correct answer: I need apples, oranges, and bananas.

Items in a series are separated by commas, and a comma before 'and' is standard in American English.

Question 11: Which is the best way to improve your English vocabulary for the CELDT?

Memorize only test vocabulary words the night before
Only study words in your native language
Read widely in English and learn words in context (Correct answer)
Avoid reading to save energy for the test

Correct answer: Read widely in English and learn words in context

Reading widely in English helps you encounter words in context, which deepens understanding and long-term retention.

Question 12: What punctuation mark ends an interrogative sentence?

Question mark (Correct answer)
Comma
Exclamation mark
Period

Correct answer: Question mark

An interrogative sentence asks a question and must end with a question mark.

Question 13: Which sentence uses a comparative adjective correctly?

This book is better. (Correct answer)
This book is more good.
This book is more better.
This book is gooder.

Correct answer: This book is better.

'Better' is the correct irregular comparative form of 'good'; 'more better' and 'gooder' are incorrect.

Question 14: Which sentence uses the correct article?

I saw the elephant yesterday at park.
I saw elephant.
I saw an elephant. (Correct answer)
I saw a elephant.

Correct answer: I saw an elephant.

The article 'an' is used before words that begin with a vowel sound, such as 'elephant.'

Question 15: If a CELDT question asks you to find a 'detail,' where should you look?

Directly in the text for specific information (Correct answer)
In the question itself
In another passage
Only in your own opinion

Correct answer: Directly in the text for specific information

Details are specific pieces of information found directly in the text, so you should locate them in the passage.

Question 16: The primary purpose of the CELDT is to:

Measure mathematics achievement among EL students
Assess native English speakers' literacy and writing skills
Determine students' academic grade placement in core subjects
Identify and monitor the English language proficiency of English Learners (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Identify and monitor the English language proficiency of English Learners

The CELDT was specifically designed to identify English Learners and track their English language development progress over time.

Question 17: What does the idiom 'under the weather' mean?

Caught in a storm
Feeling unwell (Correct answer)
Outdoors
Feeling cold

Correct answer: Feeling unwell

'Under the weather' is an idiom meaning to feel ill or not well.

Question 18: What does the academic phrase 'compare and contrast' mean?

To summarize a topic
To describe both similarities and differences (Correct answer)
To describe only differences
To describe only similarities

Correct answer: To describe both similarities and differences

'Compare and contrast' means to examine both how things are alike (compare) and how they differ (contrast).

Question 19: In science, what is a 'variable'?

The conclusion of an experiment
A written report of findings
The tools used in an experiment
A factor that can change in an experiment (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A factor that can change in an experiment

A variable is any factor, condition, or element that can change or be changed in an experiment.

Question 20: Which sentence uses the word 'frequently' correctly?

We frequently happy.
They frequently a song.
She frequently tall.
He frequently reads books. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: He frequently reads books.

'Frequently' is an adverb meaning often, and it correctly modifies the verb 'reads' in option B.

Question 21: In math, what does the word 'estimate' mean?

Count one by one
Make a rough or approximate calculation (Correct answer)
Find the exact answer
Measure precisely

Correct answer: Make a rough or approximate calculation

To estimate means to find an approximate value rather than an exact one.

Question 22: Which sentence is in the future tense?

She is walking to school.
She walked to school.
She will walk to school. (Correct answer)
She walks to school.

Correct answer: She will walk to school.

Using 'will' before a verb indicates future tense, showing an action that has not yet happened.

Question 23: What proficiency levels does the CELDT use to classify students?

Basic, Proficient, and Advanced
Level 1 through Level 10
Beginning, Early Intermediate, Intermediate, Early Advanced, and Advanced (Correct answer)
Pass or Fail only

Correct answer: Beginning, Early Intermediate, Intermediate, Early Advanced, and Advanced

The CELDT uses five proficiency levels: Beginning, Early Intermediate, Intermediate, Early Advanced, and Advanced.

Question 24: Which sentence contains a compound subject?

Maria and Luis run every morning. (Correct answer)
Running is healthy.
She runs every morning.
Maria runs every morning.

Correct answer: Maria and Luis run every morning.

A compound subject contains two or more subjects joined by a conjunction; 'Maria and Luis' is a compound subject.

Question 25: What is a good strategy for improving your writing in the CELDT Writing section?

Only write about topics you are familiar with
Practice writing on a variety of topics (Correct answer)
Avoid revising your work
Write in short, incomplete sentences

Correct answer: Practice writing on a variety of topics

A good strategy for improving your writing for the CELDT Writing section is to practice writing on a variety of topics. This exposure helps you develop a broader vocabulary, adapt your writing style to different prompts, and become more comfortable expressing diverse ideas. Consistent practice builds confidence and proficiency in written English across various subjects.

Question 26: What is the primary focus of the Listening section in the CELDT?

Understanding spoken English (Correct answer)
Reading comprehension
Writing skills
Pronunciation accuracy

Correct answer: Understanding spoken English

The Listening section of the CELDT is designed to assess an individual's ability to comprehend English spoken in various contexts. This includes understanding conversations, instructions, and informational passages. The primary goal is to evaluate how well a student can process and interpret auditory English input.

Question 27: Choose the correctly capitalized sentence:

My Teacher, mrs. smith, Teaches english.
My teacher, mrs. Smith, teaches english.
My teacher, Mrs. Smith, teaches English. (Correct answer)
my teacher, mrs. smith, teaches english.

Correct answer: My teacher, Mrs. Smith, teaches English.

Proper nouns (names, titles) and the first word of a sentence must be capitalized.

Question 28: Which word correctly completes the sentence: 'The student was _____ about her science project.'

Enthusiastically
Enthusiasm
Enthusiast
Enthusiastic (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Enthusiastic

An adjective is needed to describe the student, making 'enthusiastic' the correct choice.

Question 29: Which word correctly completes the conditional sentence: 'If it rains, we _____ stay inside.'

Would
Will (Correct answer)
Had
Did

Correct answer: Will

A first conditional sentence uses 'if + present tense, will + base verb' to describe a likely future event.

Question 30: What is the purpose of 'annual CELDT testing' for identified English Learners?

To decide whether students should be promoted to the next grade
To monitor yearly progress in English language development (Correct answer)
To compare California students with students in other states
To punish students who have not learned English

Correct answer: To monitor yearly progress in English language development

Annual CELDT testing monitors each English Learner's yearly growth in English proficiency across all four language domains.

Question 31: An English Learner at the Intermediate CELDT level is BEST described as:

Understanding and using everyday English but struggling with academic language (Correct answer)
Being fully fluent in academic English
Having no functional English ability
Unable to read or write in English at any level

Correct answer: Understanding and using everyday English but struggling with academic language

Intermediate level students have functional everyday English skills but need support with complex academic language and content.

California English Language Development Test (CELDT)

The CELDT was California's standardized assessment for English Learner (EL) students in grades K–12, measuring English proficiency across Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing domains to determine EL classification and instructional program placement. It was administered annually until replaced by the ELPAC in 2018.

Questions

35 min

Time Limit

70%

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