Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators — All Questions

Choose the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement.

• a.The list of supplies were on the desk
• b.The list of supplies was on the desk✓
• c.The list of supplies are on the desk
• d.The list of supplies have been on the desk

The subject is 'list' (singular), and the prepositional phrase 'of supplies' does not change the subject's number, so the verb should be the singular 'was.' A common error is matching the verb to the nearest noun ('supplies') instead of the true subject.

Which sentence uses pronoun agreement correctly?

• a.Each student must bring their own pencil, or they will lose points
• b.Every teacher submitted their grades late
• c.Each student must bring his or her own pencil✓
• d.Neither of the boys finished their test

'Each' is singular, so it agrees with the singular 'his or her.' In formal usage tested here, singular indefinite pronouns like 'each' and 'neither' take singular pronouns rather than the plural 'their.'

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

• a.After the storm passed, we cleared the fallen branches✓
• b.After the storm passed we cleared, the fallen branches
• c.After the storm passed we cleared the fallen branches
• d.After, the storm passed we cleared the fallen branches

An introductory dependent clause ('After the storm passed') should be followed by a comma before the main clause. The other options misplace or omit the comma, breaking the sentence's logic.

Which sentence avoids a misplaced modifier?

• a.Walking to school, the rain soaked Maria
• b.Covered in mud, the coach sent the players home
• c.Reading quietly, the bell startled the students
• d.Walking to school, Maria was soaked by the rain✓

A modifier should clearly describe the intended noun. 'Walking to school, Maria was soaked by the rain' correctly places Maria, the one walking, right after the modifier. The other options illogically attach the modifier to the rain, the coach, or the bell.

Which sentence maintains parallel structure?

• a.She likes hiking, to swim, and biking
• b.She likes hiking, swimming, and biking✓
• c.She likes to hike, swimming, and to bike
• d.She likes hiking, swimming, and to bike

Parallel structure requires items in a series to share the same grammatical form. 'Hiking, swimming, and biking' are all gerunds, so the sentence is parallel; mixing gerunds with infinitives breaks the parallelism.

Choose the sentence that uses 'its' and 'it's' correctly.

• a.Its going to rain, so bring it's umbrella
• b.The dog wagged it's tail because its happy
• c.It's going to rain, so the dog wagged its tail✓
• d.Its raining, and the cat licked it's paw

'It's' is the contraction of 'it is,' while 'its' is the possessive. The correct sentence uses 'It's going to rain' (it is) and 'its tail' (possessive). Confusing these two is a common mechanics error.

In a research-based essay, the main purpose of citing a source is to:

• a.Give credit to the original author and let readers verify the information✓
• b.Make the essay longer
• c.Hide where the ideas came from
• d.Replace the writer's own thesis

Citation credits the original author and allows readers to locate and verify the source, which supports credibility and avoids plagiarism. It is a core research and language skill, not a way to pad length or conceal sources.

Which revision is the most concise while keeping the meaning of 'At this point in time, we are currently in the process of reviewing the report'?

• a.At this current point in time, we are now reviewing the report
• b.We are reviewing the report✓
• c.In the process currently, we review the report at this time
• d.We are, at present, currently reviewing the report now

'We are reviewing the report' removes redundant phrases like 'at this point in time,' 'currently,' and 'in the process of' without losing meaning. Effective writing eliminates wordiness while preserving the idea.