I still have samples of assessment work I developed for a tutorial client entering public schooling from private some years back, following those I noted here, here, and here. Even though many students are on their winter break and thoughts of school may be far from their minds, such concerns still loom. After all, the spring is when the major standardized tests are administered in my part of the world, and there are college entrance exams at intervals throughout the year.

The example below comes out to 85 words at a ninth-grade reading level. The usual adaptations to suit the medium apply.

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Read the following passage and use the information in it to identify the most accurate answer to each of the questions below.

¹Illegitimate origin factors heavily into Arthurian legend. ²There are a lot of characters whose parents are not married when they are conceived. ³Arthur himself is of illegitimate origin; his parents, Uther and Igrayne, marry after Igrayne’s first husband is killed in war against Uther. ⁴Arthur begets two illegitimate children, Mordred and Borre. ⁵The latter is of little consequence, but the former ends up overthrowing Camelot. ⁶And the knight who does best of all, Galahad, is the bastard son produced when Elaine drugs and violates Lancelot.

1.
In sentence 1, the word “illegitimate” is what part of speech?
A. Adjective.
B. Adverb.
C. Noun.
D. Pronoun.

2.
In sentence 1, the word “illegitimate” means which of the following?
A. Understudied.
B. Uninspired.
C. Unsuccessful.
D. None of the above.

3.
Sentence 2 provides what kind of context clue for the meaning of “illegitimate?”
A. Antonym.
B. Example.
C. Synonym.
D. None of the above.

4.
The relationship of sentence 2 to sentence 1 is one of which of the following?
A. Addition.
B. Comparison / contrast.
C. Illustration / exemplification.
D. None of the above.

5.
The relationship of sentence 3 to sentence 2 is one of which of the following?
A. Addition.
B. Comparison / contrast.
C. Illustration / exemplification.
D. None of the above.

6.
The relationship of sentence 4 to sentence 3 is one of which of the following?
A. Addition.
B. Comparison / contrast.
C. Illustration / exemplification.
D. None of the above.

7.
The relationship of sentence 5 to sentence 4 is one of which of the following?
A. Addition.
B. Comparison / contrast.
C. Illustration / exemplification.
D. None of the above.

8.
The relationship of sentence 6 to sentence 5 is one of which of the following?
A. Addition.
B. Comparison / contrast.
C. Illustration / exemplification.
D. None of the above.

9.
The main idea of the passage appears in which sentence?
A. 2.
B. 4.
C. 6.
D. None of these.

Answers: 1, A; 2, D; 3, A; 4, A; 5, C; 6, A; 7, C; 8, A; 9, D

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Think you or someone you know might benefit from more practice with this kind of thing? Maybe you or they need some coaching through this kind of exercise? Worry not; I am happy to help! Take a few seconds, fill out the form below, and see what all we can do together!

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