NYSESLAT NYSESLAT Listening Skills 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What accommodation is typically available for eligible ELLs during the NYSESLAT listening section?
- Translated audio in the student's native language
- Extended time to complete the section (Correct answer)
- Access to a bilingual dictionary
- Oral translation of questions by the proctor
Correct answer: Extended time to complete the section
Extended time is a common accommodation for ELLs with disabilities during the listening section.
Question 2: What comprehension skill is demonstrated when a student can retell events from a NYSESLAT listening passage in order?
- Summarizing abstract themes
- Sequencing and narrative comprehension (Correct answer)
- Critical evaluation of evidence
- Phonological discrimination
Correct answer: Sequencing and narrative comprehension
Retelling events in order shows the student can track temporal sequence and narrative structure in spoken English.
Question 3: Why are visuals sometimes included alongside listening tasks in lower grade bands of the NYSESLAT?
- To distract students from the audio
- To provide context that helps students access meaning (Correct answer)
- To replace the audio completely
- To test students' drawing ability
Correct answer: To provide context that helps students access meaning
Visuals scaffold comprehension for younger or lower-proficiency students by providing context clues.
Question 4: Which type of discourse organization would a NYSESLAT listening task at higher grade levels likely assess?
- Alphabetical order
- Compare/contrast or cause/effect text structures (Correct answer)
- Rhyme scheme in poetry
- Narrative point of view
Correct answer: Compare/contrast or cause/effect text structures
Upper-grade listening tasks may ask students to identify compare/contrast or cause/effect relationships in spoken text.
Question 5: What does prosody refer to in the context of listening comprehension for ELLs?
- Vocabulary breadth in spoken text
- The rhythm, stress, and intonation patterns of spoken English (Correct answer)
- The grammatical complexity of sentences
- The speed at which the speaker talks
Correct answer: The rhythm, stress, and intonation patterns of spoken English
Prosody includes the melody of speech — stress, intonation, and rhythm — which conveys meaning and emotion.
Question 6: How does the NYSESLAT ensure that listening passages are culturally appropriate for diverse ELL populations?
- By using only topics from American history
- By reviewing content for cultural bias and selecting universally relevant topics (Correct answer)
- By including questions only about holidays
- By testing students on their home country's culture
Correct answer: By reviewing content for cultural bias and selecting universally relevant topics
Test developers review passages for cultural bias to ensure content is accessible and fair to all ELLs.
NYSESLAT NYSESLAT Listening Skills 3
What accommodation is typically available for eligible ELLs during the NYSESLAT listening section?