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Sample Questions

What vocabulary questions are used in the NAEP reading assessments?

Explore sample vocabulary questions from the 2009 and 2011 reading assessments, and see how they relate to student performance.

 

*To find sample vocabulary questions in the NAEP Questions Tool, begin by selecting the subject, Reading. Then refine your search by selecting �Multiple-choice� and �Integrate/Interpret.� The vocabulary questions are easy to identify by their descriptors, all of which begin with �Interpret word as used�.� For example, �Interpret word as used in story� or �Interpret word as used in passage.�

 

Test Yourself in Vocabulary

Select one of the grade tabs below to try out vocabulary questions from the 2009 and 2011 NAEP reading assessments. After answering all the questions, select "submit" and compare your answers to those of students who took the assessment. Click on the annotated passage to gain insight into the reading passage and the questions associated with it.

Grade 4
Grade 8
Grade 12

 

 Grade 4 Sample Questions

Click to see the reading passage.

Question 1

 

On page 1, the passage says that Ms. Schön’s friend suggested that she make a sculpture of the ducklings. This means that Ms. Schön’s friend

 A. paid Ms. Schön to make the sculpture 
 B. gave Ms. Schön the idea for the sculpture
C. told Ms. Schön that she liked her sculptures
 D. showed Ms. Schön other sculptures

 

Question 2

 

On page 1, Ms. Schön says that she chose eight poses of the ducks. This means that the duck statues were

A. drawn in pencil
B. walking in different ways
C. following Mrs. Mallard
D. made in different sizes

 

Question 3

 

On page 2, the passage says that Ms. Schön and Mr. McCloskey moved the models outside. What did Ms. Schön and Mr. McCloskey move outside?

A. A group of real ducks
B. Blocks of clay for making statues
C. Forms of ducks made out of clay
D. Bronze statues from the school

 

 Click here to submit your responses.