Free Texas Initiative Assessment Components Questions and Answers

Question 1

In the first paragraph of the attached passage, the word "incessantly" most nearly means __________.

Accepted Answer

constantly, without interruption; going on and on

Answer

Nervously, without confidence or surety' apprehensively

Answer

familiarly, without shyness or uncertainty; casually

Answer

openly, without reserve on hesitation; honestly

Question 2

Imagine that you have a short stick that measure 8.7 cm, and a long stick that measures 27.6 cm. How much longer does the short sick need to be so that the long stick is exactly three times longer?

Accepted Answer

0.5cm

Answer

0.8cm

Answer

1.5cm

Answer

1.8cm

Question 3

Picasso expanded the artform by breaking figures into shapes and playing with shifting perspective in his paintings.
Expanding the artform, …. The next words will be?

Accepted Answer

Picasso broke figures into shapes and played

Answer

Picasso, by breaking figures into shapes and playing

Answer

Picasso breaking figures into shapes and playing

Answer

Shifting perspectives by breaking figures, Picasso plays

Question 4

Instrumental and tree-ring records from the southern Andres show a strong warming trend during the last 50 years coupled with a decline in precipitation. With rising temperatures, glaciers in the North and South Patagonian icefields are receding up to 100 times faster than at any time since the Little Ice Age. These trends are projected to continue in the coming decades and lead to increased moisture deficits, further ice recession, tree mortality, and greater risk of fires.

Accepted Answer

measured by scientific instruments.

Answer

matching the pitch of woodwind instrument

Answer

vitally important

Answer

changing steadily

Question 5

The area of a square is 169 square feet. What is the length of one of its diagonals?

Accepted Answer

13√2 feet

Answer

13 feet

Answer

2√13 feet

Answer

√26 feet

Question 6

The long reign of Elizabeth, who became known as the "Virgin Queen" for her reluctance to endanger her authority through marriage, coincided with the flowering of the English Renaissance, associated with such renowned authors as William Shakespeare. By her death in 1603, England had become a major world in every respect, and Queen Elizabeth I passed into history as one of  England's greatest monarchs.

Accepted Answer

She did not want to diminish her power.

Answer

she did not fall in love.

Answer

there were no suitable matches.

Answer

she was preoccupied with the English Renaissance

Question 7

Marvin Freeman's groundbreaking new study of the plays of Henrik Ibsen will alter the course of Ibsen scholarship forever. Previously, scholars limited the areas of their studies to a particular phase of Ibsen's career, since a different scholarly approach seemed to fit each of the phases. Freeman has instead taken on the entirety of Ibsen's work. Happily, this breadth of scholarship does not diminish the depth with which Freeman explores each work. The career of Ibsen is now liberated from arbitrary divisions and stands before us as a complete picture. It will be years before we can fully appreciate the service that Freeman has rendered.
What is the main point of the paragraph?

Accepted Answer

Freeman's book will have lasting importance.

Answer

Freeman has triumphed over obstacles.

Answer

Henrik Ibsen has triumphed over obstacles.

Answer

Freeman's book is overly complicated, despite its scholastic value.

Question 8

Caused by a genetic mutation that prevents humans from synthesizing vitamin C, scurvy was inevitable in long voyages of discovery during which fresh food was hard to get, causing the body to disintegrate. One of the remarkable symptoms was an extreme receptivity to sensory impressions. Sudden sounds, such as a loud boom from a musket or a cannon blast, were known to kill scorbutic sailors. Even pleasant stimuli such as a drink of fresh water, or a long-awaited taste of fruit, could provoke a seizure and put an end to their lives.

Accepted Answer

They could be easily overwhelmed

Answer

Fresh food could cure them of the disease.

Answer

They would be prone to genetic mutation

Answer

They were more likely to commit suicide

Question 9

NASA's Kepler Space Telescope has discovered a star with three planets only slightly larger than Earth. Its outermost planet orbits in the 'Goldilocks' zone---- a region where surface temperatures could be moderate enough for liquid water, and perhaps life, to exist. The star ranks among the top 10 nearest stars known to have transiting planets.

Accepted Answer

announce the discovery of a new planet.

Answer

explore the possibility of life in outer space.

Answer

fundraise for further research

Answer

describe the conditions required for the 'Goldilocks' zone.

Question 10

The amount of time a person sits during the day is associated with a higher risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer and health, regardless of regular exercise, according to a recent study. More than one half of an average person's day is spent being sedentary---sitting, watching television, or working at a computer. Avoiding sedentary time and getting regular exercise are both important for improving your health and survival.
Which of the following is implied by the passage?

Accepted Answer

Physical activity alone may not be enough to reduce the risk for disease.

Answer

Regular exercise will help counteract the negative effects of being sedentary.

Answer

Sitting still causes some types of heart disease and cancer

Answer

Watching television while on a treadmill is considered sedentary time.