Study Guide

Core Academic Skills Assessment (CASA)
Sample Multiple-Choice Questions

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Writing

Read the passage below; then answer the questions that follow.

1Jet lag happens when the circadian rhythm—an internal
clock that dictates times for eating and sleeping as well as
hormone and body temperature regulation—is interrupted.
2Medically known as "desynchronosis," it is a physiological
condition caused by a disruption of the body's physical
processes. 3Travelers who cross time zones rapidly
experience daylight and darkness on a different
schedule from what their body is accustomed to.
4_______________________________________________

5The circadian rhythm creates an approximately 24-hour
cycle in the physical, biological, and behavioral processes
of many living entities. 6In human beings, the "clock" is
located in two groups of cells in the hypothalamus region
of the brain. 7The eyes transmit information about light to
these cells. 8The cells then send signals to the pineal gland,
which secretes the hormone melatonin when there is no light.
9The release of melatonin induces the drowsiness and lower
body temperatures characteristically of jet lag.

Objective 0009
Clear and Coherent Writing (Standard 5)

1. Which of the following methods of organization does the writer use in the passage?

  1. cause and effect
  2. topical order
  3. problem-solution
  4. spatial order
Answer and Rationale
Correct Response: A.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate the ability to recognize methods of effectively organizing paragraphs and passages. The writer describes jet lag and its symptoms in the first paragraph and then explains what causes jet lag in the second paragraph.
Objective 0010
Strong and Developed Writing (Standard 6)

2. Which of the following sentences, if used as Part 4, best concludes the first paragraph?

  1. These internal schedules are commonly known as circadian rhythms.
  2. Their circadian rhythms no longer correspond to their external environments.
  3. Nearly all frequent fliers have had this happen to them at one time or another.
  4. Most people who travel frequently develop ways of adapting to this disorientation.
Answer and Rationale
Correct Response: B.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate the ability to edit text to conclude ideas effectively. The sentence "Their circadian rhythms no longer correspond to their external environments" effectively explains the connection between the two elements described in the first paragraph: jet lag and circadian rhythms.
Objective 0011
Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics (Standard 7)

3. Which underlined word in the passage should be revised to correct an error in the use of modifiers?

  1. physiological
  2. different
  3. approximately
  4. characteristically
Answer and Rationale
Correct Response: D.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of the standard use of adjectives and adverbs. Because the underlined adverb characteristically modifies "drowsiness" and "temperatures," it should be replaced with the adjective form, "characteristic."

Read the passage below; then answer the questions that follow.

1On August 26, 1939, the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds played the first televised major league baseball game. 2Television was a new technology at the time and the organizers of the New York World's Fair believed the game would be an ideal showcase for its vast capabilities. 3Baseball, by contrast, had been around for some time, and most people considered it the national pastime. 4In a number of respects, the broadcast left much to be desired. 5Because there were only two cameras, even the most attentive viewers had difficulty keeping their eyes on the ball and following play on the field. 6The production was nevertheless a hit, which gratified and inspired television executives and the technical experts working on ways to develop the medium. 7Their efforts to improve on this initial venture paved the way for numerous innovations that you now take for granted.

Objective 0009
Clear and Coherent Writing (Standard 5)

4. Which of the following changes would most effectively emphasize the main idea of the passage?

  1. Add a sentence after Part 2 describing early developments in television technology.
  2. Delete Part 3.
  3. Add a sentence after Part 4 elaborating on the shortcomings of the broadcast.
  4. Place Part 4 after Part 1.
Answer and Rationale
Correct Response: B.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate the ability to organize text to give effective emphasis to important ideas. Part 3 contains information that draws attention away from the main idea of the passage. The writer's emphasis is on the significance of the first televised major league baseball game, not the cultural significance of baseball.
Objective 0010
Strong and Developed Writing (Standard 6)

5. Which of the following parts should be revised to correct an unnecessary shift in point of view?

  1. Part 2
  2. Part 4
  3. Part 6
  4. Part 7
Answer and Rationale
Correct Response: D.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate the ability to revise text to eliminate unnecessary shifts in point of view. To eliminate a shift from third person to the second-person point of view, Part 7 of the passage should be revised to read: "Their efforts to improve on this initial venture paved the way for numerous innovations that are now taken for granted."
Objective 0011
Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics (Standard 7)

6. Which of the following parts should be revised to correct an error in punctuation?

  1. Part 1
  2. Part 2
  3. Part 3
  4. Part 6
Answer and Rationale
Correct Response: B.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of the rules of punctuation and the standard use of punctuation marks. In Part 2, both "Television was a new technology at the time" and "the organizers of the New York World's Fair believed the game would be an ideal showcase for its vast capabilities" are independent clauses. A comma should be added after "time."