ParaPro Reading Practice Test | Free Practice Questions

Try our free ParaPro Reading practice test. This test consists of 30 multiple choice questions on reading skills and knowledge, as well as the application of reading skills to support classroom instruction. Our online practice questions will help ensure that you are fully prepared for your ParaPro Reading test.

Question 1 of 30

1. Question
Use the following passage to answer questions 1–4.

Should a government decide to control emissions, it may choose from a broad menu of regulatory approaches. One option is direct controls, which set emissions standards for equipment and processes, require households and businesses to use specific types of equipment, or prohibit them from using others. A government could also adopt more indirect, incentive-based approaches, either singly or in combination—for example, by restricting overall quantities of emissions through a system of permits or by raising the price of emissions through fees or taxes. Incentive-based approaches are generally more cost-effective than direct controls as a means of regulating greenhouse gas emissions.

In the context of the passage, what is the meaning of “incentive-based”?
- 1. threatening people with an example of what will happen if they don’t comply
- 2. persuading people to change using rewards
- 3. requiring everyone to follow the same rules
- 4. using research to decide the best course of action
Correct

Incorrect
Question 2 of 30

2. Question
Should a government decide to control emissions, it may choose from a broad menu of regulatory approaches. One option is direct controls, which set emissions standards for equipment and processes, require households and businesses to use specific types of equipment, or prohibit them from using others. A government could also adopt more indirect, incentive-based approaches, either singly or in combination—for example, by restricting overall quantities of emissions through a system of permits or by raising the price of emissions through fees or taxes. Incentive-based approaches are generally more cost-effective than direct controls as a means of regulating greenhouse gas emissions.

The organizational structure of the passage can BEST be described as
- 1. An analysis of cause and effect
- 2. A sequential explanation of how to do something
- 3. A descriptive list of options
- 4. A comparison of two opposing ideas
Correct

Incorrect
Question 3 of 30

3. Question
Should a government decide to control emissions, it may choose from a broad menu of regulatory approaches. One option is direct controls, which set emissions standards for equipment and processes, require households and businesses to use specific types of equipment, or prohibit them from using others. A government could also adopt more indirect, incentive-based approaches, either singly or in combination—for example, by restricting overall quantities of emissions through a system of permits or by raising the price of emissions through fees or taxes. Incentive-based approaches are generally more cost-effective than direct controls as a means of regulating greenhouse gas emissions.

What is the main purpose of the passage?
- 1. To call governments to action and convince them to implement emission control programs
- 2. To convince readers that there is one right way for governments to control emissions
- 3. To provide the author’s opinion on which method of emission control is the most effective
- 4. To provide readers with information on the different ways that governments can control emissions
Correct

Incorrect
Question 4 of 30

4. Question
Should a government decide to control emissions, it may choose from a broad menu of regulatory approaches. One option is direct controls, which set emissions standards for equipment and processes, require households and businesses to use specific types of equipment, or prohibit them from using others. A government could also adopt more indirect, incentive-based approaches, either singly or in combination—for example, by restricting overall quantities of emissions through a system of permits or by raising the price of emissions through fees or taxes. Incentive-based approaches are generally more cost-effective than direct controls as a means of regulating greenhouse gas emissions.

What inference can readers draw from the final sentence of the passage?
- 1. Greenhouse gases are negatively affecting climate change.
- 2. Enforcing direct emission controls on a community is expensive.
- 3. Smart governments are using incentive-based emission controls.
- 4. Governments don’t currently have any sort of emission controls.
Correct

Incorrect
Question 5 of 30

5. Question
Use the following chart to answer questions 5–7.

What type of material has been the most recycled?
- 1. paper
- 2. metal
- 3. glass
- 4. cannot be determined from the chart
Correct

Incorrect
Question 6 of 30

6. Question
In what year did the recycling of plastic get close to 10%?
- 1. 1980
- 2. 1990
- 3. 2000
- 4. 2010
Correct

Incorrect
Question 7 of 30

7. Question
Which of the following conclusions about the chart can be made with certainty?
- 1. The recycling of some products increased in 1960 from the previous years.
- 2. There was no recycling between 1960 and 1970.
- 3. There is no data indicated on the chart to show if 1960 held an increase or decrease in recycling for any of the materials.
- 4. The general population was not environmentally aware of recycling in the years prior to 1960.
Correct

Incorrect
Question 8 of 30

8. Question
Use the following passage to answer questions 8–10.

Dolphins produce two primary types of vocalizations: clicks and whistles. Dolphins generally use clicks for the purposes of echolocation and whistles for communication. Dolphins emit clicks as rapid broadband bursts that are sent out and then echo back, giving them information about their surroundings. Whistles differ from clicks by being sent out as narrow-band signals. Strong evidence supports the idea that dolphins use signature whistles to identify and call to each other. Researchers have noticed that large packs rely on a highly organized method of communication when responding to predators, such as sharks. When a group of dolphins reacts to an unexpected disturbance, it will quickly move in near-unison to avoid the threat. In this way, dolphins rely on visual and auditory cues to communicate their location and to interpret the locations of others in the pod.

Based on information contained in the passage, it is reasonable to infer that dolphins:
- 1. communicate well with each other
- 2. are more intelligent than previously thought
- 3. are smarter than other cetaceans
- 4. communicate better than their predators
Correct

Incorrect
Question 9 of 30

9. Question
Dolphins produce two primary types of vocalizations: clicks and whistles. Dolphins generally use clicks for the purposes of echolocation and whistles for communication. Dolphins emit clicks as rapid broadband bursts that are sent out and then echo back, giving them information about their surroundings. Whistles differ from clicks by being sent out as narrow-band signals. Strong evidence supports the idea that dolphins use signature whistles to identify and call to each other. Researchers have noticed that large packs rely on a highly organized method of communication when responding to predators, such as sharks. When a group of dolphins reacts to an unexpected disturbance, it will quickly move in near-unison to avoid the threat. In this way, dolphins rely on visual and auditory cues to communicate their location and to interpret the locations of others in the pod.

What is the main purpose of the passage?
- 1. to show readers the difference between dolphins and other sea mammals
- 2. to persuade readers to be sympathetic towards dolphins and want to protect them
- 3. to inform readers of the different communication strategies dolphins employ
- 4. to entertain readers with stories about how dolphins are similar to people
Correct

Incorrect
Question 10 of 30

10. Question
Dolphins produce two primary types of vocalizations: clicks and whistles. Dolphins generally use clicks for the purposes of echolocation and whistles for communication. Dolphins emit clicks as rapid broadband bursts that are sent out and then echo back, giving them information about their surroundings. Whistles differ from clicks by being sent out as narrow-band signals. Strong evidence supports the idea that dolphins use signature whistles to identify and call to each other. Researchers have noticed that large packs rely on a highly organized method of communication when responding to predators, such as sharks. When a group of dolphins reacts to an unexpected disturbance, it will quickly move in near-unison to avoid the threat. In this way, dolphins rely on visual and auditory cues to communicate their location and to interpret the locations of others in the pod.

In the context of the passage, the word “vocalization” more nearly means
- 1. spoken words
- 2. clicks
- 3. purposeful sounds
- 4. songs
Correct

Incorrect
Question 11 of 30

11. Question
Use the following passage to answer questions 11–14.

In 1921, Mahatma Gandhi took charge of the Indian National Congress, a group of thirteen men in the Indian government who fought discrimination and unfair taxation against farmers and urban laborers. Using the nonviolent tactic of civil disobedience, Gandhi and his followers resisted British control over Indian life, choosing not to follow unfair, discriminatory laws and policies. The British responded to this resistance by strengthening their military presence in India, often at the cost of human lives. Gandhi was eventually imprisoned in 1942 for his “radical” beliefs, but he refused to recognize violence as a means of fighting the British. He gained international attention for his hunger strikes, refusing to eat until the British changed their unjust policies.

The organizational structure of this paragraph is best described as
- 1. chronological
- 2. spatial
- 3. ascending order of importance
- 4. descending order of importance
Correct

Incorrect
Question 12 of 30

12. Question
In 1921, Mahatma Gandhi took charge of the Indian National Congress, a group of thirteen men in the Indian government who fought discrimination and unfair taxation against farmers and urban laborers. Using the nonviolent tactic of civil disobedience, Gandhi and his followers resisted British control over Indian life, choosing not to follow unfair, discriminatory laws and policies. The British responded to this resistance by strengthening their military presence in India, often at the cost of human lives. Gandhi was eventually imprisoned in 1942 for his “radical” beliefs, but he refused to recognize violence as a means of fighting the British. He gained international attention for his hunger strikes, refusing to eat until the British changed their unjust policies.

Which of the following quotes from the passage contains an opinion?
- 1. “…Gandhi and his followers resisted British control over Indian life, choosing not to follow unfair, discriminatory laws and policies.”
- 2. “…strengthening their military presence in India, often at the cost of human lives.”
- 3. “…but he refused to recognize violence as a means of fighting the British.”
- 4. "He gained international attention for his hunger strikes…”
Correct

Incorrect
Question 13 of 30

13. Question
In 1921, Mahatma Gandhi took charge of the Indian National Congress, a group of thirteen men in the Indian government who fought discrimination and unfair taxation against farmers and urban laborers. Using the nonviolent tactic of civil disobedience, Gandhi and his followers resisted British control over Indian life, choosing not to follow unfair, discriminatory laws and policies. The British responded to this resistance by strengthening their military presence in India, often at the cost of human lives. Gandhi was eventually imprisoned in 1942 for his “radical” beliefs, but he refused to recognize violence as a means of fighting the British. He gained international attention for his hunger strikes, refusing to eat until the British changed their unjust policies.

The main idea of the passage is that
- 1. Gandhi started a congress in India to pass legislation to fix unfair labor policies in the country
- 2. Gandhi was against paying taxes, taking human life, and eating while unjustly imprisoned
- 3. Gandhi was probably the most effective historical figure to use the tactic of a hunger strike
- 4. Gandhi used non-violent protests to successfully alert the world to unfair practices of the British against his country of India
Correct

Incorrect
Question 14 of 30

14. Question
In 1921, Mahatma Gandhi took charge of the Indian National Congress, a group of thirteen men in the Indian government who fought discrimination and unfair taxation against farmers and urban laborers. Using the nonviolent tactic of civil disobedience, Gandhi and his followers resisted British control over Indian life, choosing not to follow unfair, discriminatory laws and policies. The British responded to this resistance by strengthening their military presence in India, often at the cost of human lives. Gandhi was eventually imprisoned in 1942 for his “radical” beliefs, but he refused to recognize violence as a means of fighting the British. He gained international attention for his hunger strikes, refusing to eat until the British changed their unjust policies.

Which of the following quotes from the passage supports the statement below?

The British government were careless in how they tried to combat Ghandi’s protests.
- 1. “…refusing to eat until the British changed their unjust policies.”
- 2. “…who fought discrimination and unfair taxation against farmers and urban laborers.”
- 3. “…strengthening their military presence in India, often at the cost of human lives.”
- 4. “…Gandhi and his followers resisted British control over Indian life, choosing not to follow unfair, discriminatory laws and policies.”
Correct

Incorrect
Question 15 of 30

15. Question
Use the following passage to answer questions 15–16.

Today, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill took aim at weight-loss diet scams that she said represent “a crisis in consumer protection.” McCaskill used a hearing in the Consumer Protection panel that she leads to pose tough questions to popular TV host Dr. Mehmet Oz regarding his frequent claims about “miracle” products. McCaskill’s goal is to explore options for regulators to crack down on deceptive practices and to urge media outlets to strengthen screening of false advertising.

In the context of the passage, “crack down” most nearly means
- 1. to use violence as a way of solving problems
- 2. to adopt a stricter approach to handling a given situation
- 3. to stop wasting so much time trying to solve a mundane problem
- 4. to handle a situation with grace and care
Correct

Incorrect
Question 16 of 30

16. Question
Today, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill took aim at weight-loss diet scams that she said represent “a crisis in consumer protection.” McCaskill used a hearing in the Consumer Protection panel that she leads to pose tough questions to popular TV host Dr. Mehmet Oz regarding his frequent claims about “miracle” products. McCaskill’s goal is to explore options for regulators to crack down on deceptive practices and to urge media outlets to strengthen screening of false advertising.

Which of the following quotes from the passage reflects Senator Claire McCaskill’s opinion?
- 1. "McCaskill used a hearing in the Consumer Protection panel…”
- 2. “…urge media outlets to strengthen screening of false advertising.”
- 3. “…his frequent claims about ‘miracle’ products.”
- 4. “McCaskill’s goal is to explore options for regulators and industry…”
Correct

Incorrect
Question 17 of 30

17. Question
Break and brake are examples of which type of words?
- 1. Synonym
- 2. Homonym
- 3. Antonym
- 4. Acronym
Correct

Incorrect
Question 18 of 30

18. Question
Use the following passage to answer questions 18–19.

The Megatherium is an extinct type of giant ground sloth that lived from two million to perhaps 4,400 years ago. While medium-sized sloths continue to live in arborous habitats in Central and South America, the ground-dwelling Megatherium lived in parts of North and South America. These animals were as big as elephants and had huge claws on their feet. The giant sloth’s extinction occurred at about the same time as humans arrived on the continent.

Which of the following inferences can be drawn from the information in the passage?
- 1. The Megatherium went extinct because of humans.
- 2. Humans first arrived on the continent around 4,400 years ago.
- 3. The Megatherium is the biggest recorded sloth in the animal kingdom.
- 4. The Megatherium evolved from medium-sized sloths and migrated to North America.
Correct

Incorrect
Question 19 of 30

19. Question
The Megatherium is an extinct type of giant ground sloth that lived from two million to perhaps 4,400 years ago. While medium-sized sloths continue to live in arborous habitats in Central and South America, the ground-dwelling Megatherium lived in parts of North and South America. These animals were as big as elephants and had huge claws on their feet. The giant sloth’s extinction occurred at about the same time as humans arrived on the continent.

The passage is primarily concerned with
- 1. informing readers about the Megatherium
- 2. entertaining readers with funny anecdotes about the Megatherium
- 3. persuading readers that the Megatherium is a more interesting animal than medium-sized sloths
- 4. comparing and contrast different types of sloths.
Correct

Incorrect
Question 20 of 30

20. Question
Students in the class are asked to sound out words in a group. Which of the following words does not make a long “e” vowel sound?
- 1. green
- 2. lean
- 3. ten
- 4. we
Correct

Incorrect
Question 21 of 30

21. Question
The teacher just taught the class about root words. Which of the following is the root of the word “rephrased”?
- 1. phrase
- 2. phrased
- 3. re–
- 4. –ed
Correct

Incorrect
Question 22 of 30

22. Question
Use the following instructions to answer questions 22-23:

You will work in teams of two. You will be given a vocabulary word from the current unit, a large piece of chart paper, and a piece of tape. For the vocabulary word, you will write the word at the top of the chart paper in large letters and underline it. Next, you will use your dictionary and look up the definition. Write the definition underneath the word large enough so everyone can see it from their seats. After you are done with that, you will make a two-column chart on the chart paper beneath the definition. The first column should be titled “Examples” and the second column should be titled “Non-Examples. For each vocabulary word, you will identify five examples and five non-examples and list those underneath each heading. When you are completed, you will take the tape and tape your chart to the wall. Wait for everyone to then finish. When called upon by the teacher, you will present your word to the class along with the definitions, examples, and non-examples. The rest of the class will take the appropriate notes on the graphic organizer handout during the presentation.

After the students write the vocabulary word and underline it, what should they do next?
- 1. make a chart and title it “Examples and Non-Examples”
- 2. write the definition of the word on the graphic organizer
- 3. look up the definition of the word from the dictionary and write it on the chart paper
- 4. pass it to the next group
Correct

Incorrect
Question 23 of 30

23. Question
You will work in teams of two. You will be given a vocabulary word from the current unit, a large piece of chart paper, and a piece of tape. For the vocabulary word, you will write the word at the top of the chart paper in large letters and underline it. Next, you will use your dictionary and look up the definition. Write the definition underneath the word large enough so everyone can see it from their seats. After you are done with that, you will make a two-column chart on the chart paper beneath the definition. The first column should be titled “Examples” and the second column should be titled “Non-Examples. For each vocabulary word, you will identify five examples and five non-examples and list those underneath each heading. When you are completed, you will take the tape and tape your chart to the wall. Wait for everyone to then finish. When called upon by the teacher, you will present your word to the class along with the definitions, examples, and non-examples. The rest of the class will take the appropriate notes on the graphic organizer handout during the presentation.

When students are completed with writing on the chart paper, what are they to do?
- 1. tape the chart paper to the wall
- 2. wait for instructions from the teacher on what to do next
- 3. present the word to the other students
- 4. move on to the next word
Correct

Incorrect
Question 24 of 30

24. Question
Students are working in groups to create pairs of synonyms. One group produced the following pairs. Which pair is correct?
- 1. run and ran
- 2. stop and go
- 3. our and hour
- 4. fly and soar
Correct

Incorrect
Question 25 of 30

25. Question
A paraprofessional is teaching a group of students how to use pre-reading strategies. Which of the following is not a pre-reading strategy?
- 1. analyzing how a theme appears in a text
- 2. reviewing the cover of the text
- 3. taking note of bolded and italicized words
- 4. reading the first sentence of each paragraph in a passage
Correct

Incorrect
Question 26 of 30

26. Question
Use the following information to answer questions 26–27:

The teacher has asked students in a class to read the following passage:

Achilles was the greatest warrior in the Trojan War, and was thought to be part-god. Everyone looked up to him, even Hector and Paris, who were his opponents. Agamemnon, his general, thought differently. Agamemnon thought that he deserved everyone’s attention because he was the general. So, he called a muster, and all the soldiers grouped together to hear what Agamemnon had to say.

A paraprofessional is helping students understand words in context. Which word in the passage above best helps the reader to define the word “muster”?
- 1. general
- 2. grouped
- 3. soldiers
- 4. deserved
Correct

Incorrect
Question 27 of 30

27. Question
The teacher has asked students in a class to read the following passage:

Achilles was the greatest warrior in the Trojan War, and was thought to be part-god. Everyone looked up to him, even Hector and Paris, who were his opponents. Agamemnon, his general, thought differently. Agamemnon thought that he deserved everyone’s attention because he was the general. So, he called a muster, and all the soldiers grouped together to hear what Agamemnon had to say.

A student is trying to make a list that puts all of the characters in the passage in alphabetical order. Which name would be the last name on the list?
- 1. Paris
- 2. Agamemnon
- 3. Hector
- 4. Achilles
Correct

Incorrect
Question 28 of 30

28. Question
Use the following information to answer questions 28–29:

The teacher has asked students in a class to read the following passage:

Ronaldo wanted to go to the mall to find new gloves. His mom had promised to knit him some new ones, but she was too busy. He wanted a pair that were black, but could only find magenta gloves. He finally decided to give up.

The teacher has asked a student to pronounce the word “knit” for the class. What is the best way to help the student understand how to say the word?
- 1. have the student sound out each letter
- 2. have the student break the word down into phonemes
- 3. start with a familiar word that uses a similar letter pairing, like “knock”
- 4. use a visual that shows a person knitting
Correct

Incorrect
Question 29 of 30

29. Question
The teacher has asked students in a class to read the following passage:

Ronaldo wanted to go to the mall to find new gloves. His mom had promised to knit him some new ones, but she was too busy. He wanted a pair that were black, but could only find magenta gloves. He finally decided to give up.

The teacher has asked the students to define some of the words in the passage. The student has opened up a dictionary to several different pages and needs help finding the word “magenta.” On which of the following pages would the student find the word “magenta”?
- 1. Page 813 (“mad-madrigal”)
- 2. Page 814 (“maestro-magma”)
- 3. Page 815 (“magnanimous-magneton”)
- 4. Page 816 (“magnetron-mahogany”)
Correct

Incorrect
Question 30 of 30

30. Question
The teacher has asked students in a class to read the following passage:

Before the United States entered World War II, they began restricting trade with the Japanese, and made it difficult for the Japanese to trade with other countries. Feeling like they had no other choice, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, a United States naval base in Hawaii, on December 7, 1941. It was this attack that finally convinced the United States to officially join World War II.

After the students read the passage, the teacher gives them a worksheet that asks them to “arrange the events of the passage in chronological order.” The first event that a student writes is, “The United States enters World War II.” How has this student misunderstood the directions?
- 1. They listed an event that isn’t mentioned in the passage.
- 2. They thought the directions wanted to put the events in order of importance.
- 3. They began listing the events in alphabetical order.
- 4. They picked the event that is mentioned first, not the first event that occurred chronologically.
Correct

Incorrect

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1. Question

Use the following passage to answer questions 1–4.

In the context of the passage, what is the meaning of “incentive-based”?

2. Question

The organizational structure of the passage can BEST be described as

3. Question

What is the main purpose of the passage?

4. Question

What inference can readers draw from the final sentence of the passage?

5. Question

Use the following chart to answer questions 5–7.

What type of material has been the most recycled?

6. Question

In what year did the recycling of plastic get close to 10%?

7. Question

Which of the following conclusions about the chart can be made with certainty?

8. Question

Use the following passage to answer questions 8–10.

Based on information contained in the passage, it is reasonable to infer that dolphins:

9. Question

What is the main purpose of the passage?

10. Question

In the context of the passage, the word “vocalization” more nearly means

11. Question

Use the following passage to answer questions 11–14.

The organizational structure of this paragraph is best described as

12. Question

Which of the following quotes from the passage contains an opinion?

13. Question

The main idea of the passage is that

14. Question

Which of the following quotes from the passage supports the statement below?

15. Question

Use the following passage to answer questions 15–16.

In the context of the passage, “crack down” most nearly means

16. Question

Which of the following quotes from the passage reflects Senator Claire McCaskill’s opinion?

17. Question

Break and brake are examples of which type of words?

18. Question

Use the following passage to answer questions 18–19.

Which of the following inferences can be drawn from the information in the passage?

19. Question

The passage is primarily concerned with

20. Question

Students in the class are asked to sound out words in a group. Which of the following words does not make a long “e” vowel sound?

21. Question

The teacher just taught the class about root words. Which of the following is the root of the word “rephrased”?

22. Question

Use the following instructions to answer questions 22-23:

After the students write the vocabulary word and underline it, what should they do next?

23. Question

When students are completed with writing on the chart paper, what are they to do?

24. Question

Students are working in groups to create pairs of synonyms. One group produced the following pairs. Which pair is correct?

25. Question

A paraprofessional is teaching a group of students how to use pre-reading strategies. Which of the following is not a pre-reading strategy?

26. Question

Use the following information to answer questions 26–27:

The teacher has asked students in a class to read the following passage:

A paraprofessional is helping students understand words in context. Which word in the passage above best helps the reader to define the word “muster”?

27. Question

The teacher has asked students in a class to read the following passage:

A student is trying to make a list that puts all of the characters in the passage in alphabetical order. Which name would be the last name on the list?

28. Question

Use the following information to answer questions 28–29:

The teacher has asked students in a class to read the following passage:

The teacher has asked a student to pronounce the word “knit” for the class. What is the best way to help the student understand how to say the word?

29. Question

The teacher has asked students in a class to read the following passage:

The teacher has asked the students to define some of the words in the passage. The student has opened up a dictionary to several different pages and needs help finding the word “magenta.” On which of the following pages would the student find the word “magenta”?

30. Question

The teacher has asked students in a class to read the following passage:

After the students read the passage, the teacher gives them a worksheet that asks them to “arrange the events of the passage in chronological order.” The first event that a student writes is, “The United States enters World War II.” How has this student misunderstood the directions?