VCLA Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment General 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A test passage describes a scientist's decade-long effort to track migratory birds. The final paragraph states she 'never tired of the work, even in the harshest conditions.' This detail most strongly suggests the scientist is characterized by:
- Recklessness and poor judgment
- Dedication and intrinsic motivation (Correct answer)
- Competitive ambition and desire for fame
- Impatience with slower colleagues
Correct answer: Dedication and intrinsic motivation
Persisting through harsh conditions without losing enthusiasm signals deep dedication and internal motivation rather than external rewards.
Question 2: Which sentence contains an error in pronoun-antecedent agreement?
- Neither of the boys brought their lunch to school. (Correct answer)
- The team celebrated its championship victory.
- Every student must submit their own work by Friday.
- Each teacher submitted her grades on time.
Correct answer: Neither of the boys brought their lunch to school.
'Neither' is singular, so the correct pronoun should be 'his or her' rather than the plural 'their,' though contemporary usage increasingly accepts singular 'their.'
Question 3: A passage opens: 'In 1962, Rachel Carson published Silent Spring. The book documented how pesticides harmed wildlife. It sparked the modern environmental movement.' What would be the MOST effective way to combine these sentences for a formal essay?
- Rachel Carson published Silent Spring in 1962, and the book documented how pesticides harmed wildlife, and it sparked the modern environmental movement.
- Published in 1962, Rachel Carson's Silent Spring documented the devastating effects of pesticides on wildlife and is widely credited with launching the modern environmental movement. (Correct answer)
- Silent Spring was published in 1962 by Rachel Carson, who documented pesticide harms, and then the environmental movement was sparked.
- In 1962 Rachel Carson published Silent Spring, it documented pesticide harms, it sparked environmentalism.
Correct answer: Published in 1962, Rachel Carson's Silent Spring documented the devastating effects of pesticides on wildlife and is widely credited with launching the modern environmental movement.
Option B uses an opening participial phrase, varied syntax, and precise language to convey all three ideas in a concise, formal, well-constructed sentence.
Question 4: A reading passage argues that standardized testing narrows curriculum. A student wants to find a counterargument within the passage. She should look for:
- Sections where the author provides statistical data
- Places where the author concedes limitations or opposing views (Correct answer)
- Paragraphs that define key terms like 'standardized testing'
- The introduction, which always contains the counterargument
Correct answer: Places where the author concedes limitations or opposing views
Counterarguments are typically found where an author concedes or acknowledges the opposing perspective before responding to it.
Question 5: Which of the following is the BEST example of specific, concrete supporting evidence in a persuasive essay?
- Many experts agree that early childhood education is beneficial for students.
- Research shows that education matters a lot for children's futures.
- A 2023 Stanford study found that children enrolled in high-quality pre-K programs scored 22% higher on third-grade reading assessments than peers who did not attend. (Correct answer)
- It is widely known that starting school early helps kids do better later in life.
Correct answer: A 2023 Stanford study found that children enrolled in high-quality pre-K programs scored 22% higher on third-grade reading assessments than peers who did not attend.
Specific evidence names a source, a year, precise data (22%), and a defined comparison group, making it far more credible and persuasive than vague generalizations.
Question 6: In the sentence 'The report that the committee reviewed yesterday will be published next month,' the clause 'that the committee reviewed yesterday' is:
- A restrictive (essential) clause that should not be set off by commas (Correct answer)
- A nonrestrictive (nonessential) clause that requires commas
- An independent clause joined by a coordinating conjunction
- An adverbial clause modifying 'published'
Correct answer: A restrictive (essential) clause that should not be set off by commas
The clause 'that the committee reviewed yesterday' is restrictive because it identifies which specific report is meant, making it essential and requiring no commas.
Question 7: A VCLA essay prompt asks candidates to take a position on a given issue and support it. Which approach BEST demonstrates effective argumentative writing?
- Presenting every possible viewpoint without taking a clear position
- Stating a clear claim, supporting it with evidence, addressing a counterargument, and reaffirming the position (Correct answer)
- Writing the longest possible essay using complex vocabulary
- Focusing exclusively on personal anecdotes without referencing broader evidence
Correct answer: Stating a clear claim, supporting it with evidence, addressing a counterargument, and reaffirming the position
Effective argumentative writing requires a clear claim, supporting evidence, acknowledgment and rebuttal of opposition, and a reinforced conclusion.
VCLA Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment General 5
A test passage describes a scientist's decade-long effort to track migratory birds.
The final paragraph states she 'never tired of the work, even in the harshest conditions.' This detail most strongly suggests the scientist is characterized by: