Praxis Core — ETS practice for the Praxis Core credential

Author's tone is most likely 'reverent' when the text:

1. Uses sarcasm and irony
2. Mocks the subject
3. Describes the subject with deep respect
4. Is purely informational

Answer: C — Describes the subject with deep respect

A/B) Opposite tones. C) Correct — reverence = respectful awe. D) Reverence carries feeling beyond neutral.

Comparing two passages on the same historical figure, one calls him a 'visionary', the other a 'zealot'. The contrast in word choice reveals:

1. Different facts
2. Different audiences only
3. Different time periods
4. Different evaluative stances toward the figure

Answer: D — Different evaluative stances toward the figure

A) Same figure, not different facts. D) Correct — connotation differs; one praises, one criticizes. C/B) Not necessarily implied.

Is the median of {2, 5, 7, 11} equal to 6?

1. Yes
2. No, it's 5
3. No, it's 7
4. No, it's 11

Answer: A — Yes

Even count — median is average of two middle values: (5 + 7)/2 = 6. A) Correct. B) Second value, not median. C) Third value, not median. D) Last value.

Median of 3, 5, 8, 12, 15?

1. 5
2. 8
3. 9
4. 12

Answer: B — 8

Values sorted. Middle (3rd of 5) = 8. A) Second value. B) Correct. C) Mean ((43)/5 = 8.6, rounded). D) Fourth value.

Which sentence demonstrates parallel structure?

1. She enjoys reading, hiking, and to swim.
2. She enjoys reading, hiking, and swimming.
3. She enjoys to read, hiking, and swims.
4. She enjoys reads, hikes, and swimming.

Answer: B — She enjoys reading, hiking, and swimming.

A) 'to swim' breaks parallelism with 'reading, hiking'. B) Correct — all three items use -ing form. C) Mix of infinitive, gerund, and present tense. D) Mix of present tense and gerund.

y = 4x + 2. What is the slope?

1. 2
2. 4
3. 6
4. 1/4

Answer: B — 4

y = mx + b; m = 4. A) Y-intercept. B) Correct. C) Sum. D) Reciprocal.

A passage opens: 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.' This figure of speech is:

1. Paradox
2. Allusion only
3. Personification
4. Onomatopoeia

Answer: A — Paradox

A) Correct — apparent contradiction holding deeper truth = paradox. B) It IS an allusion, but the literary device asked is the paradox structure. C/D) Don't apply.

Median of {3, 7, 9, 11, 15, 17}?

1. 9
2. 10
3. 11
4. 12

Answer: B — 10

Even count: average of 9 and 11 = 10. A) Lower middle. B) Correct. C) Upper middle. D) Off by one.

Author's purpose in a passage filled with statistics, citations, and neutral tone is most likely to:

1. Persuade readers to act
2. Entertain with a story
3. Inform readers about a subject
4. Express personal feelings

Answer: C — Inform readers about a subject

A) Persuasion uses urgent or evaluative language. B) Narrative uses scenes. C) Correct — neutral tone + data = inform. D) Personal feelings would be emotive.

A paired-passage prompt asks: 'How do the two authors differ?' Best strategy:

1. Focus only on Passage 1
2. Skim both passages and answer from memory
3. Identify each author's claim, then locate where they diverge
4. Choose whichever answer mentions the more famous topic

Answer: C — Identify each author's claim, then locate where they diverge

A) Misses Passage 2 entirely. B) Risks half-right reading. C) Correct — locate explicit claims, then contrast. D) Fame is irrelevant.

Roll two dice. P(sum = 7)?

1. 1/6
2. 1/8
3. 7/36
4. 1/12

Answer: A — 1/6

6 favorable outcomes / 36 total = 1/6. A) Correct. B) Off. C) Misread denominator. D) Off.

Which clue indicates an INFORMATIONAL passage rather than literary?

1. Use of dialogue and characters
2. First-person narrator with feelings
3. Topic sentences, data, and citations
4. Figurative language throughout

Answer: C — Topic sentences, data, and citations

A/B/D) All point to literary or narrative. C) Correct — structured exposition with evidence signals informational text.

Reading strategy: paired passages?

Read first passage + answer single-passage questions. Then read second + answer paired questions comparing them.

Praxis Core Math: questions and time?

56 questions, 90 minutes. Calculator-allowed sections.

Misplaced modifier example?

'Walking down the street, the trees were beautiful.' Trees can't walk — modifier dangles. Fix: 'Walking down the street, I noticed the beautiful trees.'

Mean vs Median?

Mean = average (sum ÷ count). Median = middle value when sorted.

'Of' in math word problems often means?

Multiplication. '40% of 200' = 0.40 × 200.

What does Praxis stand for?

Praxis isn't an acronym — it's Latin/Greek for 'practice' or 'doing'. ETS uses it for teacher licensure tests.