The English Language Arts section consists of 57 multiple-choice questions that assess revising/editing skills and reading comprehension. These questions are aligned to the New York State Learning Standards. The pages that follow provide tips for answering the revising/editing and the reading comprehension questions. Show
Note: the sample test questions on this page have not been translated by the NYCDOE, and the website-provided translations of the sample test items below may not reflect the actual sample items. Overview of the Revising/Editing Part AThe language skills assessed in this section are based on the Language section of the New York State Learning Standards for Grade 7, as well as skills or standards that may have been introduced in earlier grades, such as the Language Progressive Skills. Each question directs you to read a sentence, a list of sentences, or a paragraph with numbered sentences. Then you are asked to address issues related to conventions of language or punctuation. Examples include:
Tips for Revising/Editing Part AFirst, read the question: For most items, read the question first rather than reading the text first so that you know what type of issue to look for while reading the text. Next, read the text in the box and take notes on the issues you observe, while being mindful of time. Ask yourself questions such as:
Consider these tips:
Timing:
Sample Questions for Revising/Editing Part ASample 1: Select the sentence that needs a revision.(1) For 14 years, James and his dad have had a tradition of attending Yankees games together, but James is leaving for college next week, and he is agonizing over the fact that attending school in Pennsylvania and working there over the summer meant no more games with his dad. (2) One night, as James is packing his clothes into boxes, he hears a soft knock on his bedroom door. (3) As soon as he opens the door, James sees what is in his dad’s hands and feels a rush of joy. (4) His dad is holding a bus ticket for a trip home on a weekend in the spring so that father and son can attend a Yankees game together! Which sentence in the paragraph should be revised to correct an inappropriate shift in verb tense?
Tip: To determine the best revision, read sentence 1 in the paragraph. If a revision does not need to be made, continue reading each sentence and answer option until you find the correct answer. Sample 2: Identify a sentence with an error.(1) In 2007, visitors to San Francisco, many of whom were attending an international design conference, had booked almost all the city’s hotel rooms. (2) Looking for a way to earn some extra money, three air mattresses were rented out by roommates Joe Gebbia and Brian Chesky. (3) The 27-year-olds put the mattresses in the loft of their apartment and charged $80 a night, for which guests received a bed, breakfast, and Internet access. (4) Soon the entrepreneurs realized that they could capitalize on their idea in a much bigger way, and they established Airbnb, a company that offers around 6 million rental listings in more than 100,000 cities worldwide. Which sentence in the paragraph contains an error in its construction and should be revised?
Tip 1: To identify the sentence, read carefully while being mindful of time; don't just skim. The error could be anywhere in the paragraph. Tip 2: Note that the error is specific to construction, which means it relates to how the words and phrases are placed in a sentence to convey (represent) the relationship between ideas. Sample 3: Improve the writing by combining sentences or revising part of a sentence.
What is the best way to combine the sentences to clarify the relationship between the ideas?
Tip: Note that the question asks you to combine the two sentences. To combine sentences, ask yourself
Sample Explanations for Part ASample 1 ExplanationCorrect Answer: (A) The sentence is written in the present tense; the verb “meant” shifts incorrectly into past tense. This verb should instead appear in the future tense, “will mean,” since the verb refers to how things will be in the future. The corrected sentence will then read, “For 14 years, James and his dad have had a tradition of attending Yankees games together, but James is leaving for college next week, and he is agonizing over the fact that attending school in Pennsylvania and working there over the summer will mean no more games with his dad.” The present tense, “means,” could also be used, as James appears to be coming to this realization in present time. The use of “means” would make the corrected sentence read as follows: “For 14 years, James and his dad have had a tradition of attending Yankees games together, but James is leaving for college next week, and he is agonizing over the fact that attending school in Pennsylvania and working there over the summer means no more games with his dad.” Sample 2 ExplanationCorrect Answer: (E) In sentence 2, the modifier “Looking for a way to earn some extra money” incorrectly modifies “three air mattresses,” when it should modify “roommates Joe Gebbia and Brian Chesky.” This error in construction can be corrected by making “roommates Joe Gebbia and Brian Chesky” the subject of the main clause and using the active voice. The corrected sentence will read, “Looking for a way to earn some extra money, roommates Joe Gebbia and Brian Chesky rented out three air mattresses.” Sample 3 ExplanationCorrect Answer: (C) This revision clarifies the idea that Gauff made history by becoming the youngest player in decades to win a women’s singles match at Wimbledon and that she did so when she beat Venus Williams. The revision also explains that Wimbledon is the “world’s most prestigious tennis tournament” in a way that is clear and logical. Overview of Revising/Editing Part BQuestions in Revising/Editing Part B assess your ability to read a text and then make decisions that improve the overall quality of the writing. The subjects presented in these texts will include historical and current events; people, places, and technology; and phenomena in the biological sciences, physical sciences, and social sciences. Each sentence is numbered so that you can quickly locate and refer to specific parts of the passage. The text may contain errors such as
Tips for Revising/Editing Part BFirst, read the text carefully while being mindful of time; don’t skim.
Next, read each question carefully, while being mindful of time.
Timing:
Sample Questions for Revising/Editing Part BLearning to Embrace the Gap Year
Sample Explanation for Part BSample 1 ExplanationCorrect Answer: (B) This sentence clearly states the main claim — that the gap year can lead to success in college for some, but not all, students (as revealed in sentence 14). This idea is developed throughout the passage by explaining what a gap year is and how it benefits students. Sample 2 ExplanationCorrect Answer: (G) The imprecise reference in sentence 8 to “a variety of opportunities” is replaced with the more specific and precise reference to what these opportunities entail. They may be “internships, work, travel, or volunteerism.” Sample 3 ExplanationCorrect Answer: (A) The third paragraph introduces, and then refutes, a counterclaim about gap years — that they may encourage young people to forgo college entirely. This sentence clearly introduces this counterclaim, which the paragraph elaborates on and then refutes with evidence. Overview of Reading ComprehensionThis section assesses your ability to read and comprehend up to six texts of both literary and informational genres, which may include any of the text types listed below. Informational genre may include: Expository or explanatory texts, argumentative texts, or functional texts in the form of:
Literary genre may include: poetry, adventure stories, historical fiction, mysteries, myths, science fiction, realistic fiction, allegories, parodies, or satire. Tips for Reading ComprehensionRead the text carefully while being mindful of time; don’t skim.
Take notes.
Read the question carefully.
Try to determine the answer before reading the answer options.
Timing:
Sample Questions for Reading ComprehensionSnoozing While Soaring
Questions:
Sample Explanations for Reading ComprehensionSample 1 ExplanationCorrect Answer: (A) Option A, “amazement about the physical capability of birds to remain in flight for extended periods of time over long distances.” is the correct response because it explains that the words “endurance” and “impossible” convey amazement at the birds’ ability to remain in flight for so long without resting—as opposed to human beings, who “need time to rest and sleep” (paragraph 1). Specifically, the word “impossible” implies a sense of wonder or disbelief at the birds’ endurance, which allows them to continue flying for hundreds of miles without stopping. The words “endurance” and “impossible” support the idea expressed later in the passage that these birds are the “ultimate multitaskers” (paragraph 6). Sample 2 ExplanationCorrect Answer: (E) Option E, “‘The data revealed that the birds remained completely airborne during their time in Africa, a period of over 200 days.’ (paragraph 2)” best supports the idea that birds seem to be capable of making prolonged flights without sleeping, because it expresses the idea that the birds “remained completely airborne” during “a period of over 200 days” (paragraph 2). This information is significantly more precise than the information in the other answer options. Therefore, option E provides more compelling evidence to support the idea in the question than the other answer options provide. Sample 3 ExplanationCorrect Answer: (D) Option D, “Using monitoring devices, scientists confirmed that some types of migratory birds rely on slow-wave sleep cycles in order to stay in flight for extended periods of time.” best summarizes the conclusions of the studies presented in the passage. While all the options include some important details about the study of migratory birds, option D accurately states the key conclusion of these studies, which is that these birds “rely on slow-wave sleep cycles in order to stay in flight for extended periods of time” (paragraph 5). Option D’s emphasis on the key conclusion rather than on key details makes it the correct response. Sample 4 ExplanationCorrect Answer: (H) Option H, “illustrate how researchers acquired a better understanding of the sleep patterns of birds in flight.” best explains the effect of the overall structure of the passage. The passage presents an unresolved question in paragraph 2, while paragraph 3 explains one researcher’s attempt at seeking an answer to the question. Paragraph 4 describes the bird the researchers chose due to its physical makeup and feeding habits. Paragraphs 5 and 6 illustrate the details and outcome of the study, revealing the researchers’ conclusion. Therefore, the overall structure of the passage illustrates how researchers improved their understanding of the sleep patterns of birds in flight. |