TSIA2 (Texas Success Initiative Assessment 2.0) — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Which sentence corrects the misplaced modifier: "Covered in chocolate, the child enjoyed the cake"?

Covered in chocolate, the cake was enjoyed by the child.
The child, covered in chocolate, enjoyed the cake.
The child enjoyed the cake covered in chocolate. (Correct answer)
Covered in chocolate the child enjoyed the cake.

Correct answer: The child enjoyed the cake covered in chocolate.

Moving the modifier next to "cake" makes clear the cake is covered in chocolate.

Question 2: Choose the best version of the sentence's underlined part. The first option corresponds to the original sentence. Choose the first option if you believe the original sentence is the best.A key factor taken into account during city planning is where the majority of the services and amenities will be.

Key factors, taken into accounting during city planning are
A key factor taken into account during city planning is (Correct answer)
Key factors taken into account during city planning is
A key factor taking into account during city planning is

Correct answer: A key factor taken into account during city planning is

Explanation: This decision makes logical, and the singular is a critical criterion that everyone agrees on.

Question 3: When analyzing an informational text, what does "synthesizing" sources mean?

Reading each source independently without making connections
Copying key sentences from each source into your own document
Combining information from multiple sources to form a new understanding (Correct answer)
Quoting the most important passage from a single source

Correct answer: Combining information from multiple sources to form a new understanding

Synthesis involves integrating ideas from multiple sources and drawing connections between them to build a deeper or broader understanding than any single source provides.

Question 4: A student's mean score on 5 tests is 82. Four of the scores are 80, 85, 78 and 90. What is the fifth score?

77 (Correct answer)
82
79
75

Correct answer: 77

The five scores must total 5 × 82 = 410. The four known scores total 333, so the fifth score is 410 − 333 = 77.

Question 5: What is the primary purpose of a body paragraph's topic sentence?

To introduce the main idea of that paragraph and connect it to the thesis (Correct answer)
To restate the essay's conclusion at the start of each paragraph
To ask a question that the paragraph does not answer
To provide all the evidence the paragraph will discuss

Correct answer: To introduce the main idea of that paragraph and connect it to the thesis

A topic sentence signals what the paragraph is about and how it supports the overall thesis, keeping the essay organized and focused.

Question 6: Passage: "In the 19th century, many physicians dismissed handwashing as unnecessary. It took decades of evidence and advocacy from pioneers like Ignaz Semmelweis to change medical practice." What does this passage imply about scientific progress?

Scientific progress can be slow and resistant to change even when evidence exists (Correct answer)
Ignaz Semmelweis created modern medicine single-handedly
Handwashing was invented in the 19th century
All doctors in the 19th century ignored hygiene entirely

Correct answer: Scientific progress can be slow and resistant to change even when evidence exists

The passage implies that well-supported ideas (handwashing) can face resistance for decades before being accepted, highlighting how slow institutional change can be even with evidence.

Question 7: Select the best version of the underlined part of the sentence. The first choice is the same as the original sentence. If you think the original sentence is best, choose the first answer. Many gardeners are now making their own backyard compost, which is not only cheap, but also helps to cut down on landfill waste.

which is not only cheaper, but also cuts down on landfill's waste
which is, not only cheap, but also, helps to cut down on landfill waste
which is not only done cheaply, but is also cutting down on landfills wastes
which is not only cheap, but also helps to cut down on landfill waste (Correct answer)

Correct answer: which is not only cheap, but also helps to cut down on landfill waste

The original sentence is grammatically correct and maintains parallel structure. The phrase 'not only cheap, but also helps to cut down' balances an adjective ('cheap') with a verb phrase ('helps to cut down'). The other options introduce grammatical errors or awkward phrasing, such as incorrect adverb usage or unnecessary commas.

Question 8: A student writes: "There are many different types of renewable energy sources available today." How could this sentence be revised for conciseness?

In today's modern world, renewable energy sources of many types exist.
Today, there exist many different and varied types of renewable energy.
Many renewable energy sources are available today. (Correct answer)
There are many renewable sources of energy available in today's world.

Correct answer: Many renewable energy sources are available today.

"There are" constructions are often wordy. Removing "there are" and restructuring gives a tighter, more direct sentence without losing meaning.

Question 9: Which question best evaluates an author's credibility in an informational text?

Is the text published in a book rather than online?
Does the author use exciting vocabulary throughout the text?
Does the author write from a first-person perspective?
Does the author cite reliable sources and provide verifiable evidence? (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Does the author cite reliable sources and provide verifiable evidence?

Credibility is established by the quality and reliability of evidence and sources. Vocabulary style, publication format, or point of view alone do not determine credibility.

Question 10: Two fair coins are tossed. What is the probability that both land heads?

1/2
1/4 (Correct answer)
1/3
3/4

Correct answer: 1/4

The tosses are independent, so P(H and H) = 1/2 × 1/2 = 1/4. The equally likely outcomes are HH, HT, TH and TT.

Question 11: A rectangle has a length of 12 cm and a width of 5 cm. What is the length of its diagonal?

17 cm
13 cm (Correct answer)
15 cm
11 cm

Correct answer: 13 cm

By the Pythagorean theorem, the diagonal is √(12² + 5²) = √169 = 13 cm.

Question 12: Which transition best shows cause: "It rained all day; ____, the game was canceled"?

nevertheless
instead
similarly
consequently (Correct answer)

Correct answer: consequently

"Consequently" shows the cancellation resulted from the rain.

Question 13: Rewrite, beginning with: The drama club had to … the next words should be:

reschedule a new date for the picnic because it was canceled due to rain.
cancel the picnic and reschedule it because of rain
cancel and reschedule a new date for the event
reschedule the picnic because of rain. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: reschedule the picnic because of rain.

The correct answer provides the most concise and grammatically sound completion of the sentence. It directly states the action and the reason without unnecessary words or awkward phrasing. The other options are either redundant or grammatically less efficient.

Question 14: Which of the following sentences uses punctuation correctly?

The tour includes three cities; Rome, Italy, Paris, France, and London, England.
The new employee is smart, efficient, and she is a hard worker.
Because the weather was bad; the game was postponed.
The professor asked, "Will you be ready for the test on Friday?" (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The professor asked, "Will you be ready for the test on Friday?"

This sentence correctly places the question mark inside the quotation marks because it is part of the quoted question. Option A misuses a semicolon where commas are needed. Option B incorrectly uses a semicolon after a dependent clause. Option C violates parallel structure ('smart,' 'efficient,' and 'hard-working' would be parallel).

Question 15: Which revision most effectively improves this wordy sentence: "Due to the fact that it was raining outside, the game was postponed."

Owing to the fact of rain outside, the game was postponed.
The game was postponed due to the fact that it was raining.
Because it was raining, the game was postponed. (Correct answer)
It was raining outside; therefore, the game was postponed due to this fact.

Correct answer: Because it was raining, the game was postponed.

"Due to the fact that" is a wordy phrase best replaced with "because," which is concise and equally clear.

Question 16: An essay repeats the phrase "We must act now" at the start of three consecutive paragraphs. This repetition is meant to:

Define an unfamiliar term
Provide statistical evidence
Create emphasis and a sense of urgency (Correct answer)
Confuse the reader deliberately

Correct answer: Create emphasis and a sense of urgency

Repeating a phrase for rhetorical effect emphasizes the message and heightens urgency.

Question 17: A passage reads: "Studies show that students who read for pleasure at least 20 minutes per day score significantly higher on standardized vocabulary tests than those who do not." Which conclusion is NOT supported by this statement?

Reading for 20 minutes daily correlates with test performance differences
Pleasure reading is associated with higher vocabulary scores
Students who read for pleasure are more intelligent than those who do not (Correct answer)
There is a measurable gap in vocabulary scores between readers and non-readers

Correct answer: Students who read for pleasure are more intelligent than those who do not

The passage only establishes a correlation between reading habits and test scores — it makes no claim about overall intelligence. Inferring greater intelligence goes beyond what the evidence supports.

Question 18: Read the following pair of sentences: (1) The city council approved the new park proposal. (2) It was a contentious issue that had been debated for months. Which is the best way to combine these two sentences?

Debated for months, the city council approved the contentious new park proposal.
After months of contentious debate, the city council approved the new park proposal. (Correct answer)
The city council, after months of debate, it approved the new park proposal which was a contentious issue.
The new park proposal was a contentious issue, the city council approved it after months of debate.

Correct answer: After months of contentious debate, the city council approved the new park proposal.

This choice correctly combines the two sentences into one clear and concise sentence. It uses a prepositional phrase ('After months of contentious debate') to introduce the main clause, effectively linking the cause (the debate) and the effect (the approval) without grammatical errors or redundancy.

Question 19: A short story describes a character who constantly checks her phone, avoids face-to-face conversations, and seems anxious when she cannot find a Wi-Fi signal. Based on these details, what can the reader infer about the character?

She is a popular social media influencer.
She works as a software developer.
She is waiting for an important business call.
She is likely addicted to technology and the internet. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: She is likely addicted to technology and the internet.

The textual clues—constant phone checking, avoiding personal interaction, and anxiety without Wi-Fi—all point to a dependency on technology. This is a logical inference based on the character's described behaviors. The other options are possibilities but are not as directly supported by the specific evidence provided in the description.

Question 20: 6⁄12 + 6⁄24 + 1⁄4 =

1 (Correct answer)
1 1⁄2
1⁄2
3⁄4

Correct answer: 1

First, simplify the fractions: 6/12 simplifies to 1/2, and 6/24 simplifies to 1/4. The expression becomes 1/2 + 1/4 + 1/4. Adding the two 1/4 fractions gives 2/4, which simplifies to 1/2. Finally, adding 1/2 + 1/2 equals 1.

TSIA2 (Texas Success Initiative Assessment 2.0)

The TSIA2 is a college readiness assessment used in Texas to determine if students are ready for college-level coursework in reading, writing, and mathematics.

Questions

90 min

Time Limit

90%

To Pass

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Unanswered questions count as wrong — answer everything
10 pretest questions are mixed in and don't affect your score
Timer auto-submits when time runs out
Your progress is auto-saved every 30 seconds

These practice questions were written with AI tools. They are not real exam questions. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy

Sources & references

Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy

tea.texas.gov — Eligibility, score validity · verified Oct 2026
reportcenter.highered.texas.gov — Test delivery, retake policy, score release, time limit, passing score, exam format · verified Oct 2026
txst.edu — Fees · verified Oct 2026
tccd.edu — Retake fee, fees, exam information · verified Oct 2026
shsu.edu — Fees, retake fee · verified Oct 2026
ets.utdallas.edu — Fees · verified Oct 2026