NYSTCE Academic Literacy Skills Test (ALST) (202) — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Refer to well-known people or events without explicitly describing them

Analytic rubric
Interventions
Diagnostic assessments
Allusions (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Allusions

Allusions are literary devices that make indirect references to well-known people, events, places, literary works, or historical facts without explicitly describing them. They rely on the reader's prior knowledge to understand the implied connection, enriching the text with deeper meaning, context, or emotional resonance. For example, calling someone a 'Scrooge' is an allusion to a famous literary character.

Question 2: When balancing a chemical equation, which of the following may be changed to achieve balance?

The products formed
The coefficients in front of formulas (Correct answer)
The identity of the reactants
The subscripts in chemical formulas

Correct answer: The coefficients in front of formulas

Only coefficients (numbers in front of formulas) are changed to balance equations; subscripts cannot be altered because they define the compound.

Question 3: On a number line, which value is located between −3 and 1?

2
4
−1 (Correct answer)
−5

Correct answer: −1

−1 lies between −3 and 1 on the number line.

Question 4: What is the answer to the calculation shown below?

7
1/343
1/7
1/49 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 1/49

To solve this expression, first simplify (1/7)², which becomes 1/49. Next, apply the rule of exponents a^m * a^n = a^(m+n) to 7⁻⁴ * 7⁴, which simplifies to 7⁰. Any non-zero number raised to the power of zero is 1. Therefore, the entire expression becomes (1/49) * 1, resulting in 1/49.

Question 5: A teaching assistant notices a student has a severe allergic reaction with hives and difficulty breathing after eating a snack. What is the FIRST action to take?

Give the student an antihistamine from the school nurse's office
Call the student's parents immediately
Have the student lie down and wait for symptoms to pass
Activate the emergency response plan and use the student's epinephrine auto-injector if available (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Activate the emergency response plan and use the student's epinephrine auto-injector if available

A severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) is a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate activation of emergency protocols and use of epinephrine.

Question 6: Which of the following numbers is prime?

49
15
21
37 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 37

37 is only divisible by 1 and itself, making it prime; the others have additional factors.

Question 7: What is the objective of the Response to Intervention method?

To support struggling students (Correct answer)
To detect gifted students
To encourage critical thinking in students
To discipline students

Correct answer: To support struggling students

The Response to Intervention (RTI) method is a multi-tier approach designed to provide early, systematic support to students who are struggling academically or behaviorally. Its primary objective is to identify students at risk for poor learning outcomes and provide increasingly intensive interventions to help them succeed. RTI aims to prevent academic failure and reduce the need for special education services by addressing learning difficulties proactively.

Question 8: A student with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) becomes distressed during unstructured transition times. What is the MOST effective strategy for a teaching assistant to use?

Assign a peer buddy to manage the student during transitions
Ignore the distress so the student learns to self-regulate
Provide a visual schedule and give advance warning before transitions (Correct answer)
Allow the student to stay in the classroom during all transitions

Correct answer: Provide a visual schedule and give advance warning before transitions

Visual schedules and advance warnings reduce transition anxiety for students with ASD by increasing predictability.

Question 9: What is the PRIMARY purpose of progress monitoring for students receiving support services?

To identify students who should be removed from support services
To rank students by academic performance within the group
To fulfill administrative paperwork requirements
To track student growth and inform instructional decisions (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To track student growth and inform instructional decisions

Progress monitoring provides data to determine whether interventions are effective and guide instructional adjustments.

Question 10: In soccer, free kicks and corners are known as:

Set pieces (Correct answer)
Attacking pieces
Press pieces
Spot kicks

Correct answer: Set pieces

In soccer, 'set pieces' refer to plays that occur from a dead ball situation, meaning the ball is stationary before the play begins. Free kicks and corner kicks are prime examples of set pieces, as they involve specific restarts of play from a fixed position on the field, often with pre-planned strategies.

Question 11: What is the name of a popular game in which the goal is to securely return the opposing team's flag to your team's base?

Hot Potato
Capture the Flag (Correct answer)
Monopoly
Dodgeball

Correct answer: Capture the Flag

Capture the Flag is a classic outdoor game where two teams compete to steal the other team's flag from their base and bring it back to their own base without being tagged. The game's objective is precisely described by its name and the provided definition. The other options are different games with distinct rules and goals.

Question 12: V= (1/3)b²h

Volume of a cylinder
Volume of a square pyramid (Correct answer)
Volume of a sphere
Volume of a cone

Correct answer: Volume of a square pyramid

The formula V = (1/3)b²h is used to calculate the volume of a square pyramid. In this equation, 'b' represents the length of one side of the square base, so b² is the area of the base, and 'h' is the perpendicular height from the base to the pyramid's apex. The factor of 1/3 is characteristic for the volume of any pyramid or cone.

Question 13: A student is struggling to organize ideas before writing. Which prewriting strategy should a teaching assistant suggest first?

Begin drafting the first paragraph immediately
Copy a model essay structure
Create a graphic organizer or concept map (Correct answer)
Review the final rubric and work backwards

Correct answer: Create a graphic organizer or concept map

Graphic organizers and concept maps help students visually arrange ideas before drafting, supporting the planning stage of the writing process.

Question 14: A teaching assistant is helping elementary students learn dribbling. Which feedback is MOST specific and helpful?

Keep your eyes up and push the ball with your fingertips, not your palm (Correct answer)
Try harder
Good job!
You're almost there, keep going

Correct answer: Keep your eyes up and push the ball with your fingertips, not your palm

Specific technical feedback directs students to correct form elements and improves motor skill acquisition.

Question 15: Which of the following activities MOST directly promotes social skill development in physical education?

Fitness testing with independent stations
Individual jump rope practice
Cooperative team challenge where groups must work together to solve a task (Correct answer)
Timed mile run

Correct answer: Cooperative team challenge where groups must work together to solve a task

Cooperative challenges require communication, negotiation, and teamwork, directly developing social skills.

Question 16: Why would you omit static stretching from a track and field warm-up when leading a group?

You wouldn’t leave out static stretching, it is necessary for injury prevention
None of the above
Static stretching takes up a lot of time
Static stretching has been shown to reduce performance (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Static stretching has been shown to reduce performance

Static stretching, which involves holding a stretch for an extended period, has been shown in research to temporarily reduce muscle power and strength when performed immediately before explosive activities. For track and field warm-ups, dynamic stretches and movements are generally preferred because they prepare the muscles for activity without compromising performance, and can even enhance it.

Question 17: A student is preparing to publish a class newsletter article. Which task is MOST important to complete before publishing?

Brainstorming additional topic ideas
Final proofreading for errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation (Correct answer)
Creating a graphic organizer for next week's article
Choosing a new writing topic

Correct answer: Final proofreading for errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation

Final proofreading ensures the published piece is free of errors that could distract readers from the content.

Question 18: Which of the following is an example of an improper fraction?

3/7
1/2
9/4 (Correct answer)
2/5

Correct answer: 9/4

An improper fraction has a numerator greater than or equal to its denominator; 9/4 qualifies because 9 > 4.

Question 19: Vygotsky emphasized the role of 'private speech' (children talking to themselves) as:

A tool children use to guide their own thinking and problem-solving (Correct answer)
A sign of developmental delay that should be discouraged
A memorization technique limited to rote learning tasks
Evidence of antisocial behavior in young learners

Correct answer: A tool children use to guide their own thinking and problem-solving

Vygotsky viewed private speech as an important self-regulatory tool that children use to direct their own behavior and internalize problem-solving strategies.

Question 20: A student asks why it is important to complete an entire prescribed course of antibiotics even if they feel better after a few days. The BEST explanation is:

The remaining pills should be saved for future illnesses
Stopping early can leave surviving bacteria that may become antibiotic-resistant (Correct answer)
Antibiotics are expensive, so they should be used until finished
Antibiotics only work if taken for the full duration regardless of symptoms

Correct answer: Stopping early can leave surviving bacteria that may become antibiotic-resistant

Incomplete antibiotic courses can allow partially resistant bacteria to survive and multiply, contributing to antibiotic resistance.

Question 21: Which of the following accurately describes the role of immunizations in community health?

Vaccines are only effective if given before age five
Immunizations are primarily beneficial for international travelers
Widespread vaccination creates herd immunity, protecting those who cannot be vaccinated (Correct answer)
Vaccines eliminate all risk of contracting a disease for the individual

Correct answer: Widespread vaccination creates herd immunity, protecting those who cannot be vaccinated

Herd immunity occurs when enough of a population is immune to a disease that it limits spread and protects vulnerable individuals who cannot be vaccinated.

Question 22: A student who receives ESL services is also suspected of having a learning disability. What is the MOST important consideration before referring the student for special education evaluation?

Discontinue ESL services before the special education evaluation begins
Automatically qualify the student for both ESL and special education services
Determine whether the academic difficulties are due to language acquisition differences or an actual learning disability (Correct answer)
Refer the student based on test scores alone without considering language background

Correct answer: Determine whether the academic difficulties are due to language acquisition differences or an actual learning disability

Distinguishing between language acquisition challenges and learning disabilities prevents misidentification and ensures ELL students receive appropriate services.

Question 23: Hydrogen peroxide naturally degrades over time into H2O and O2. MnO2 (manganese dioxide) can be used to decrease the activation energy required for this reaction, thereby accelerating its rate.<br> What kind of material is MnO2?

a reactant
an enhancer
a catalyst (Correct answer)
an inhibitor

Correct answer: a catalyst

A catalyst is a substance that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process. It achieves this by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to occur, providing an alternative reaction pathway. MnO2 fits this definition perfectly by accelerating the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide without being used up itself.

Question 24: Which behavior indicates that a student is making effective use of a number line during addition?

The student copies the number line without using it to solve
The student counts all marks on the line from zero each time
The student uses the number line as a bookmark
The student starts at the first addend and hops forward the number of the second addend (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The student starts at the first addend and hops forward the number of the second addend

Starting at the first addend and counting forward demonstrates the 'counting on' strategy, which is efficient and conceptually sound.

Question 25: A teaching assistant is creating a worksheet and needs to write a sentence that correctly uses a semicolon. Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly?

I need to buy supplies; such as pencils, paper, and glue.
The bell rang, signaling the end of the day; the students quickly packed their bags. (Correct answer)
The students were excited for the assembly; but they needed to finish their work first.
The classroom was decorated with several items; a world map, a colorful rug, and student artwork.

Correct answer: The bell rang, signaling the end of the day; the students quickly packed their bags.

A semicolon can be used to connect two closely related independent clauses. 'The bell rang, signaling the end of the day' and 'the students quickly packed their bags' are both independent clauses that are logically connected. The other options use semicolons incorrectly where a comma, colon, or no punctuation would be more appropriate.

Question 26: A student reads a poem and identifies that lines 1 and 3 rhyme, and lines 2 and 4 rhyme. The student is analyzing:

Meter
Rhyme scheme (Correct answer)
Imagery
Alliteration

Correct answer: Rhyme scheme

Identifying which lines rhyme with each other is the analysis of a poem's rhyme scheme.

Question 27: A student's paragraph contains several ideas that are off-topic. Which revision strategy should a teaching assistant suggest?

Add more sentences to balance the paragraph
Move the paragraph to the conclusion
Underline the topic sentence and cross out sentences that don't support it (Correct answer)
Delete the entire paragraph and start over

Correct answer: Underline the topic sentence and cross out sentences that don't support it

Identifying the topic sentence and evaluating each sentence against it helps students recognize and remove irrelevant content.

Question 28: When teaching students about the cardiovascular system, which activity BEST demonstrates the relationship between exercise and heart rate?

Having students draw diagrams of the heart
Having students measure their resting pulse, exercise for two minutes, then measure again (Correct answer)
Assigning a report on the benefits of physical activity
Showing a video about heart disease risk factors

Correct answer: Having students measure their resting pulse, exercise for two minutes, then measure again

Direct measurement before and after exercise gives students hands-on data connecting physical activity to physiological change.

Question 29: A teaching assistant wants to help a student distinguish between facts and opinions in a text. Which question is most useful?

Who are the main characters?
What is the setting?
What happened first in the story?
Can this statement be proven true or false? (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Can this statement be proven true or false?

Asking whether a statement can be verified distinguishes objective facts from subjective opinions.

Question 30: Which type of assessment measures a student's knowledge and skills at a specific point in time and is often used to assign grades?

Diagnostic assessment
Summative assessment (Correct answer)
Formative assessment
Portfolio assessment

Correct answer: Summative assessment

Summative assessments evaluate student learning at the end of an instructional period and are typically used for grading and accountability.

Question 31: What is the purpose of a functional behavior assessment (FBA)?

To document all rule violations for disciplinary records
To determine whether a student qualifies for special education services
To identify the function or cause of a student's challenging behavior in order to develop an effective behavior intervention plan (Correct answer)
To grade a student's behavior for the report card

Correct answer: To identify the function or cause of a student's challenging behavior in order to develop an effective behavior intervention plan

An FBA identifies the antecedents, behaviors, and consequences to determine the function of a behavior, guiding the development of a behavior intervention plan.

Question 32: A student with dyscalculia has difficulty understanding the concept of quantity. Which strategy is most evidence-based for this learner?

Focusing exclusively on written computation
Repeated timed tests to build automaticity
Reducing all math instruction to rote memorization
Pairing numerals with concrete objects (e.g., dot patterns, physical counters) consistently (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Pairing numerals with concrete objects (e.g., dot patterns, physical counters) consistently

Consistently pairing numerals with concrete representations helps students with dyscalculia build a stable sense of quantity.

Question 33: A teaching assistant is helping a small group of third-grade students who are struggling to start their narrative stories. The teacher has instructed the assistant to help them with prewriting. Which of the following strategies would be most appropriate and effective for this stage?

Encouraging the students to create a story map graphic organizer with boxes for characters, setting, problem, and solution. (Correct answer)
Having the students write a complete rough draft and then identify areas for improvement.
Correcting the students' spelling and grammar on their first sentences to ensure a clean start.
Instructing the students to find a partner and begin peer editing each other's blank pages.

Correct answer: Encouraging the students to create a story map graphic organizer with boxes for characters, setting, problem, and solution.

A story map is a prewriting tool that helps students organize their thoughts before they begin drafting. It breaks down the essential elements of a narrative (characters, setting, problem, solution), making the task of starting to write less intimidating and more structured. The other options are inappropriate for the prewriting stage; correcting grammar, writing a full draft, and peer editing are all activities that occur later in the writing process.

Question 34: Which of the following BEST describes the role of a teaching assistant in inclusive classrooms?

Determining the curriculum for students with special needs
Acting as the primary instructor for students with disabilities
Replacing the classroom teacher when working with small groups
Providing support that fosters student independence and participation (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Providing support that fosters student independence and participation

Teaching assistants support students in ways that build independence and inclusion, not dependence or separation.

Question 35: A student claims that 0.5 and 0.50 are different numbers. How should the teaching assistant respond?

Explain that trailing zeros after the last significant decimal digit do not change the value, using a number line or fraction to illustrate (Correct answer)
Move to the next topic without addressing the misconception
Tell the student to ignore the second zero
Agree that they are different because 0.50 has more digits

Correct answer: Explain that trailing zeros after the last significant decimal digit do not change the value, using a number line or fraction to illustrate

Using a number line or equivalent fraction (0.5 = 5/10, 0.50 = 50/100 = 5/10) shows concretely that the values are identical.

Question 36: Which sentence uses 'fewer' and 'less' correctly?

There are less students in the class today.
He made fewer mistakes on the second try. (Correct answer)
We have less pencils than we need.
She has fewer patience than her colleague.

Correct answer: He made fewer mistakes on the second try.

'Fewer' is used with countable nouns like 'mistakes,' while 'less' applies to uncountable nouns.

Question 37: Which sentence correctly uses 'who' versus 'whom'?

Who did you speak to about the schedule?
Whom called the office this morning?
Whom is responsible for the classroom?
To whom should I address the letter? (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To whom should I address the letter?

'Whom' is correct as the object of the preposition 'to' in this sentence.

Question 38: identifies a person, location, or concept

possessive pronoun examples
demonstrative pronoun (Correct answer)
possessive pronoun
subjunctive mood

Correct answer: demonstrative pronoun

A demonstrative pronoun points to specific people, places, or things. The most common demonstrative pronouns are 'this,' 'that,' 'these,' and 'those.' They indicate whether the item being referred to is singular or plural, and whether it is near or far from the speaker, helping to identify the subject clearly.

Question 39: Which of the following skin cancer prevention behaviors should a health education lesson MOST emphasize for students?

Applying SPF 30+ sunscreen, wearing protective clothing, and avoiding tanning beds (Correct answer)
Sunscreen is only necessary at the beach or pool
Getting a base tan before extended sun exposure to protect the skin
Avoiding all outdoor activity between 10 AM and 4 PM year-round

Correct answer: Applying SPF 30+ sunscreen, wearing protective clothing, and avoiding tanning beds

Evidence-based skin cancer prevention includes broad-spectrum sunscreen, UV-protective clothing, and complete avoidance of tanning beds.

Question 40: Which option correctly completes the sentence? 'The principal asked that each student _____ their ID.'

show (Correct answer)
shows
showing
showed

Correct answer: show

The subjunctive mood is used after verbs like 'asked that,' requiring the base form 'show.'

Question 41: A student with ADHD has difficulty staying on task during independent work. What is the MOST appropriate role for the teaching assistant?

Report the behavior to administration each time it occurs
Complete the work for the student to keep pace with the class
Use proximity, brief check-ins, and break work into smaller chunks (Correct answer)
Remove the student from the classroom when off-task

Correct answer: Use proximity, brief check-ins, and break work into smaller chunks

Proximity, frequent check-ins, and chunked tasks are proven strategies to support on-task behavior for students with ADHD.

Question 42: A student with dyslexia benefits MOST from which type of phonics instruction?

Implicit phonics embedded in whole-language activities
Incidental phonics taught only when errors occur
Systematic and explicit multisensory phonics instruction (Correct answer)
Silent reading with phonics worksheets for homework

Correct answer: Systematic and explicit multisensory phonics instruction

Research consistently shows that students with dyslexia respond best to structured, explicit, multisensory phonics programs that follow a systematic sequence.

Question 43: A seemingly contradictory but actually true statement

Parody
Paradox (Correct answer)
Oxymoron
Hyperbole

Correct answer: Paradox

A paradox is a statement that, despite seemingly sound reasoning from true premises, leads to a conclusion that appears self-contradictory or logically unacceptable. However, upon closer examination, a paradox often reveals a deeper truth or insight, challenging conventional wisdom. It encourages critical thinking by presenting a statement that seems impossible yet is true.

Question 44: A teaching assistant notices a student consistently struggles with reading assignments. What is the BEST first action?

Tell the student to try harder
Document observations and share them with the lead teacher for further evaluation (Correct answer)
Ignore it since some students are slower readers
Move the student to a different classroom

Correct answer: Document observations and share them with the lead teacher for further evaluation

Documenting observations provides the lead teacher with specific information to determine if the student needs additional support, testing, or intervention.

Question 45: A TA should treat all student assessment data as:

Confidential information shared only with appropriate school personnel (Correct answer)
Data that parents may never access
Public information that can be shared with other students
Information that can be posted on the classroom bulletin board

Correct answer: Confidential information shared only with appropriate school personnel

Under FERPA, student assessment data is confidential and may only be shared with school personnel who have a legitimate educational need.

Question 46: A student consistently writes the digit '3' backwards. Which response by the teaching assistant is most appropriate?

Provide a tactile tracing card so the student can feel the correct formation (Correct answer)
Correct the student each time the reversal appears
Tell the student to practice writing '3' fifty times for homework
Ignore the reversal since it does not affect computation

Correct answer: Provide a tactile tracing card so the student can feel the correct formation

Tactile tracing gives multi-sensory feedback that helps students internalize correct numeral formation without shame.

Question 47: Use the diagram to answer the subsequent question. Parallel are the lines AE and BD. What is the ratio of the area of triangle CDE to the area of triangle ABC if CE = 3AC?

9:1
1/3
3:1 (Correct answer)
1:1

Correct answer: 3:1

The ratio of the areas of two triangles that share a common height is directly proportional to the ratio of their bases. If triangles CDE and ABC share a common height, and their bases are proportional to CE and AC respectively, then given CE = 3AC, the ratio of their areas would be 3:1. This interpretation assumes the geometric configuration allows for direct proportionality of areas to these given lengths, rather than the squared ratio typically seen in similar triangles.

Question 48: When assisting a student with a lab, a teaching assistant notices a chemical spill on the lab bench. The FIRST action should be to:

Notify the supervising teacher and follow safety protocols (Correct answer)
Clean it up with paper towels without telling anyone
Evacuate the entire building
Dilute the spill with water immediately

Correct answer: Notify the supervising teacher and follow safety protocols

The first step in any lab safety incident is to notify the supervising teacher so proper protocols can be followed safely.

Question 49: Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement?

Neither of the answers are correct.
The group of students are ready.
Each of the books is on the shelf. (Correct answer)
The team are playing well today.

Correct answer: Each of the books is on the shelf.

'Each' is a singular indefinite pronoun, so it takes the singular verb 'is.'

Question 50: Which of the following scenarios demonstrates a teaching assistant using the 'teachable moment' approach in health education?

Referring all student health questions to the school nurse
Following the textbook curriculum strictly without deviation
Scheduling health lessons only during designated health class periods
Using a student's question about a news story about foodborne illness to discuss food safety practices (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Using a student's question about a news story about foodborne illness to discuss food safety practices

A teachable moment leverages an unplanned, real-life event or student interest to reinforce health concepts in a meaningful, relevant context.

Question 51: When recording observational notes about a student's math performance, what should the teaching assistant focus on documenting?

The student's reading level compared to classmates
Specific strategies the student uses and errors that reveal misconceptions (Correct answer)
Whether the student was well-behaved during the lesson
Only the final numerical answers the student produces

Correct answer: Specific strategies the student uses and errors that reveal misconceptions

Documenting strategies and error patterns gives the classroom teacher actionable information to inform instruction.

Question 52: Which practice BEST supports inclusion for students with disabilities in a general education classroom?

Pulling students with disabilities out for all core instruction
Completing tasks for students so they finish at the same time as peers
Reducing academic expectations so students feel successful
Co-teaching with the general education teacher and providing differentiated support within the same learning environment (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Co-teaching with the general education teacher and providing differentiated support within the same learning environment

Co-teaching and in-class differentiated support promote meaningful inclusion by providing access to grade-level content with appropriate scaffolding.

Question 53: Which of the following games is widely prohibited in schools?

Kinball
Tag
British Bulldog (Correct answer)
Badminton

Correct answer: British Bulldog

British Bulldog is a traditional playground game that is widely prohibited in schools due to its high risk of injury. The game often involves tackling, forceful collisions, and players being dragged, which can lead to sprains, fractures, and other physical harm. Schools prioritize student safety, leading to the ban of such high-contact games.

Question 54: Which of the following BEST describes the concept of 'least restrictive environment' (LRE)?

LRE applies only to students with physical disabilities
All students with disabilities must be educated only in general education classrooms
Students with disabilities should be educated alongside peers without disabilities to the maximum extent appropriate (Correct answer)
Special education classrooms are always the preferred placement for students with IEPs

Correct answer: Students with disabilities should be educated alongside peers without disabilities to the maximum extent appropriate

LRE requires that students with disabilities be educated with non-disabled peers to the greatest extent appropriate for their individual needs.

Question 55: A teaching assistant is preparing a craft activity that requires each of the 24 students in a class to have a piece of ribbon that is 3/4 of a foot long. What is the total length of ribbon, in feet, that the teaching assistant will need for the entire class?

24 feet
18 feet (Correct answer)
12 feet
32 feet

Correct answer: 18 feet

To find the total length of ribbon, multiply the number of students by the length of ribbon each student needs. The calculation is 24 students * (3/4) feet/student. This can be solved as (24 * 3) / 4 = 72 / 4 = 18 feet.

Question 56: When a cold tire is inflated to a specific pressure and then heated by road friction, the pressure increases. <br>This occurs because of

air molecules hit the walls of the tire less frequently.
air molecules diffuse rapidly through the walls of the tire.
rubber in the tire reacts with oxygen in the atmosphere.
air molecules speed up and collide with the tire walls more often. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: air molecules speed up and collide with the tire walls more often.

According to the kinetic theory of gases, increasing the temperature of a gas causes its molecules to gain kinetic energy and move faster. These faster-moving air molecules collide with the tire walls more frequently and with greater force. This increased frequency and intensity of collisions directly results in a higher pressure inside the tire.

Question 57: When a teaching assistant is helping score a student's written response using a rubric, which practice BEST ensures consistency?

Apply the rubric criteria the same way to every student's response (Correct answer)
Compare each student's response to the best student's response
Score based on personal impression of the student's effort
Give extra points to students who completed the task neatly

Correct answer: Apply the rubric criteria the same way to every student's response

Applying rubric criteria consistently to every response ensures inter-rater reliability and fair scoring.

Question 58: Which of the following is an example of an integer that is NOT a whole number?

5
0
-3 (Correct answer)
100

Correct answer: -3

Negative integers like -3 are integers but not whole numbers, since whole numbers include only 0 and positive integers.

Question 59: A teaching assistant is leading a guided reading group. The teacher has asked the assistant to focus on improving the students' prosody (reading with expression). Which of the following activities would best support this goal?

Using 'character voice cards' to encourage students to read dialogue in different voices. (Correct answer)
Timing the students to see how many words they can read correctly in one minute.
Asking students to clap out the syllables for each word in a sentence.
Having students practice reading a list of sight words on flashcards.

Correct answer: Using 'character voice cards' to encourage students to read dialogue in different voices.

Prosody is a key component of fluency that involves reading with appropriate expression, intonation, and phrasing. Using character voices makes students consciously think about how the text should sound, directly practicing expressive reading. Timing focuses on rate, flashcards focus on word recognition, and clapping syllables addresses phonological awareness, not prosody.

Question 60: Which state of matter has a definite volume but takes the shape of its container?

Liquid (Correct answer)
Solid
Gas
Plasma

Correct answer: Liquid

Liquids have a fixed volume because their particles are close together, but they flow to take the shape of any container.

NYSTCE Academic Literacy Skills Test (ALST) (202)

The NYSTCE Academic Literacy Skills Test (ALST) assesses the academic literacy skills required for all teacher candidates in New York State.

Questions

210 min

Time Limit

70%

To Pass

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You can skip questions and return to them later
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No feedback shown until you submit the entire exam
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10 pretest questions are mixed in and don't affect your score
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