Stanford Achievement Test Stanford Achievement (Language Arts) 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A student wants to add a concluding sentence to a paragraph about recycling. Which sentence would be MOST effective?
- Recycling is one type of helping the environment.
- Glass, plastic, and paper can all be recycled.
- By recycling regularly, we can significantly reduce waste and protect natural resources. (Correct answer)
- Some cities have recycling programs.
Correct answer: By recycling regularly, we can significantly reduce waste and protect natural resources.
An effective concluding sentence reinforces the main idea and gives the paragraph a sense of closure.
Question 2: Which sentence uses the correct comparative adjective form?
- This book is more better than the last one.
- This book is gooder than the last one.
- This book is better than the last one. (Correct answer)
- This book is most better than the last one.
Correct answer: This book is better than the last one.
'Better' is the irregular comparative form of 'good' and should not be combined with 'more.'
Question 3: In which situation would a writer use a colon?
- To join two independent clauses of equal importance
- To introduce a list after a complete sentence (Correct answer)
- To show a pause shorter than a period
- To separate a dependent clause from an independent clause
Correct answer: To introduce a list after a complete sentence
A colon is used after a complete sentence to introduce a list, explanation, or quotation.
Question 4: Which sentence uses the word 'their' correctly?
- The students forgot their homework. (Correct answer)
- Their going to the park later.
- I want to go their next summer.
- There cat is very fluffy.
Correct answer: The students forgot their homework.
'Their' is a possessive pronoun showing that the homework belongs to the students.
Question 5: What is the purpose of a thesis statement in an essay?
- To provide background information on the topic
- To list all the evidence the writer will use
- To state the writer's main argument or central point (Correct answer)
- To summarize the opposing viewpoint
Correct answer: To state the writer's main argument or central point
A thesis statement presents the writer's main claim or position that the entire essay will support.
Question 6: Which of the following is an example of an opinion statement?
- The school library contains over 5,000 books.
- Summer vacation lasts approximately three months.
- Reading every day is the most valuable habit a student can develop. (Correct answer)
- The novel was published in 1984.
Correct answer: Reading every day is the most valuable habit a student can develop.
An opinion statement expresses a personal belief or judgment that cannot be verified as fact, such as calling something 'most valuable.'
Question 7: Which revision improves this sentence by eliminating wordiness: 'Due to the fact that it was cold outside, we wore our coats.'?
- Due to the cold outside, we wore our coats.
- Because it was cold outside, we wore our coats. (Correct answer)
- On account of it being cold outside, we wore our coats.
- For the reason that it was cold, we wore our coats.
Correct answer: Because it was cold outside, we wore our coats.
'Because' is a single word that replaces the wordy phrase 'due to the fact that' while preserving the meaning.
Stanford Achievement Test Stanford Achievement (Language Arts) 5
A student wants to add a concluding sentence to a paragraph about recycling.
Which sentence would be MOST effective?