Free CBEST Writing Questions and Answers

Question 1

Which of the following statements on good conclusion writing is true?

Accepted Answer

The writer should both restate the thesis and discuss the importance of his or her argument; this creates a summative and satisfying ending.

Answer

A strong conclusion effectively brings an essay to a close by reminding the reader of the main argument and providing a sense of finality. This is best achieved by both restating the thesis in new words and discussing the broader implications or significance of the argument. This approach summarizes the key points and leaves the reader with a clear understanding of the essay's importance, creating a satisfying and comprehensive ending.

Question 2

What opening sentence for an essay introduction is the best?

Accepted Answer

Grab your audience's attention with a shocking statistic or an interesting quote in the first sentence.

Answer

The primary purpose of the opening sentence in an essay introduction is to capture the reader's attention and draw them into the topic. This is often achieved through a 'hook,' such as a compelling statistic, an intriguing quote, a rhetorical question, or a vivid anecdote. Options A, B, and D describe elements that typically appear later in the introduction or are less effective as initial attention-grabbers.

Question 3

A thesis statement should relate the points listed to the _____.

Accepted Answer

topic sentences in the body paragraphs of an essay.

Answer

A thesis statement presents the main argument or controlling idea of an entire essay. The points or arguments listed within or implied by the thesis statement are then developed and supported by the individual body paragraphs. Each body paragraph begins with a topic sentence that directly relates back to and elaborates on a specific aspect of the overarching thesis, providing structure and coherence to the essay.

Question 4

In his argumentative essay, Josh argues against allowing pit bulls to be kept as pets. He describes a crying, bloody child who has been bitten by her neighbor's pit bull in detail in the second body paragraph. Which of the following best describes this appeal?

Accepted Answer

emotional

Answer

Josh's detailed description of a 'crying, bloody child' who has been bitten is a powerful appeal to the audience's emotions. This technique, known as pathos, aims to evoke feelings such as pity, fear, or anger to sway the audience's opinion. It relies on emotional impact rather than logical reasoning or the writer's credibility to persuade.

Question 5

Which of the following statements does not effectively employ parallel structure?

Accepted Answer

I counted the eggs and I scrambled them.

Answer

Parallel structure involves using the same grammatical form for similar ideas. All the given options, including 'I counted the eggs and I scrambled them,' technically demonstrate parallel structure by connecting two grammatically similar clauses ('I counted the eggs' and 'I scrambled them') with a conjunction. However, some might argue that the most *effective* parallel structure often prioritizes conciseness. In this specific case, repeating the subject 'I' in the second clause when it is the same as the first subject could be considered less concise than a compound predicate like 'I counted the eggs and scrambled them,' which might be deemed a more effective use of parallelism by some style guides.

CBEST - California Basic Educational Skills Test Practice Test

CBEST - California Basic Educational Skills Test Practice Test

Free CBEST Writing Questions and Answers