Practice Test: Language Arts and History/Social Science (178)

Answer Key, Sample Responses, Evaluation Chart, and Score Calculation Tool

Answer Key

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Question Number Your Response Correct Response
Related Objectives and Rationale
1 A Objective 001

The theme of the Wesselhoeft excerpt is expressed in the last line: "indeed it is a well-known fact that the more one has the more one wants, and that there are some who wish to possess the earth." The theme of the Bentham excerpt is also in the last line: "He that aims at too much, often loses all." Both themes focus on wanting more of a material thing: the farm animals wanting more land and the dog wanting the flesh it believes the other dog possesses. Response A is correct because the themes of both excerpts focus on the accumulation of things. Incorrect Response B refers to gluttony, which refers to greedy or excessive indulgence, often of food. While this matches the dog's situation, it does not match the situation of the farm animals. Incorrect Response C focuses on envy and hate. While envy and hate can motivate actions, the animals in the excerpts are primarily motivated by greed. Incorrect Response D refers to sharing, which is the opposite of what any of the animals in the excerpts choose to do.

2 A Objective 001

Correct Response A requires the teacher to preteach terms, such as "rivulet" and "dropt," that were typical of the period in which the fables were written. This ensures that unfamiliar words will not prevent student comprehension and teaches students that language changes over time. Response B is incorrect because while the two fables are well suited for comparison, this is not the only value they have in a language arts lesson. Response C is incorrect because although the fables come from two different cultures, they do not necessarily represent cultural norms. Response D is incorrect because although it is good practice for a teacher to consider their students' interests when selecting material, it is more important for the teacher to make sure that the fables are presented with enough preteaching for students to understand them.

3 C Objective 001

In a short story focused on the negative impacts of stressful life events, a protagonist's personality traits will be in the form of negative adjectives. Pessimistic, abrupt, and unpleasant (Correct Response C) are three adjectives with negative meanings or connotations. Response A is incorrect because although it includes unreliable, which is a negative adjective, it also includes quiet, which has a neutral connotation, and upbeat, which has a positive connotation. Response B is incorrect because it contains three adjectives with positive connotations. Response D is incorrect because although it includes one adjective with a negative connotation (dishonest), it also includes two positive adjectives (committed and creative).

4 A Objective 001

The key phrases in this question are "analyze and critique" and "effectively evaluate the content." Response A is correct because it requires students to compare and contrast the content, which is a form of analysis. Asking students to track frequency of information or identify common aspects is list-making, not analysis or critique (Incorrect Responses B and D). Response C is incorrect because imitating another's technique does not require analysis or critique.

5 C Objective 002

The passage follows a problem and solution structure (Correct Response C). The problem detailed at the start of the passage is that Guerrero's father did not make enough money to provide for the kind of life Guerrero's parents wanted their children to have. The parents' solution was moving the family to the United States. Response A is incorrect because the low-paying job was one reason why the family moved to the United States; it did not singularly cause their move to the United States. Response B is incorrect because the passage does not detail the differences between life in Colombia and life in the United States. A chronological text structure (Incorrect Response D) would include transition words such as first, next, and then.

6 A Objective 002

A search of the phrase "gold discovery" (Correct Response A) would yield numerous results about gold discovery, including discoveries of gold in California by James Marshall, who is credited with finding the gold that started the California Gold Rush. A "mill-race" (Incorrect Response B) is a canal or a current that drives a mill wheel. While searching for this term would produce some results about Marshall's discovery of gold, it would mostly produce results about mill-races in a variety of other contexts. Coloma (Incorrect Response C) is the city in California where Marshall discovered gold. Searching for this term would produce some results about Marshall's discovery of gold, though it would also produce information about Coloma unrelated to gold. James Marshall (Incorrect Response D) is credited with discovering gold in California. Searching for this term would produce some results about Marshall's discovery of gold, but it would also include results about other individuals named James Marshall.

7 D Objective 002

Response D is correct because the author of the excerpt describes reasons why the Arctic Circle is different from other regions of the world. For example, he describes the region as inhospitable compared to the Tropic Zones and lacking separation between night and day due to the region's latitude. Response A is incorrect because the author describes the Tropic Zones as being easy, not difficult, to traverse. Response B is incorrect because although the author describes challenges one may encounter traveling the Arctic Circle, he does not state that it is impossible. Response C is incorrect because although the author states that one can sail the Tropic Zones "without experiencing a single impressive sensation," the focus of this excerpt is the Arctic Circle.

8 A Objective 002

The question asks which sentence does not support Levitt's argument for buying a car. Sentence 1 (Correct Response A) references a buyer's previous car but does not mention a philosophy for buying a new car. Sentence 2 (Incorrect Response B) explains that reliability, a synonym of dependability, of a new car is very important to consider. Sentence 3 (Incorrect Response C) suggests that one should consult their motorist friends to determine the dependability of a car. Sentence 4 (Incorrect Response D) implies that while it may be tempting to purchase a cheap car, it is worth it to spend more money on a dependable car that will not require multiple repairs.

9 C Objective 002

The excerpt describes boiling, mashing, and/or mixing a plant with other substances to create a poultice to be applied to wounds, ulcers, or cuts. It can be inferred that this application would be used to reduce pain (Correct Response C). The excerpt does not mention temperature regulation (Incorrect Response A) as a benefit of applying a poultice to a wound, ulcer, or cut. The excerpt focuses on using a poultice to treat medical ailments, not to aid in household cooking. Additionally, a poultice is described as a concoction, not as an herb (Incorrect Response B). An abscess (Incorrect Response D) is a wound, whereas a poultice is a treatment.

10 B Objective 003

A concluding statement should summarize the main idea in an essay. Response B is correct because it summarizes two main reasons to compost. Additionally, the phrase "In other words" is common to include in a concluding statement. Response A is incorrect because although it encourages the reader to consider the benefits of composting, it does not restate these benefits. Response C is incorrect because although the creation of nutrient-rich soil for gardening is a benefit of composting, it is not as large a benefit of helping the environment by reducing landfill waste. Response D is incorrect because the word "additionally" implies that the writer is introducing new material, not summarizing the main idea of the essay.

11 D Objective 003

The conversation between Person A and Person B shows frustration ("I can't believe you weren't there") and animosity ("You're acting like a child"), creating a conflict (Correct Response D). The excerpt includes lines for two characters, Person A and Person B, and does not include lines for a narrator (Incorrect Response A). Although it could be implied that Person A is upset that Person B missed an event, no details of an event are included in the excerpt (Incorrect Response B). Although Person A and Person B are in conflict with one another, there is no clear antagonist or protagonist in the excerpt (Incorrect Response C).

12 C Objective 003

The student's research paragraph includes a quotation that is not cited. This demonstrates a need for the student to receive instruction in citing sources accurately and responsibly (Correct Response C). The student includes a quote that is relevant to the research paragraph's topic. It is not necessary to consult multiple sources to write such a brief paragraph (Incorrect Response A). The information in the research paragraph is factual, and so skills for evaluating for reliability and bias are not likely important (Incorrect Response B). The paragraph has a focused subject, so it is likely that the student had no difficulty developing a research question (Incorrect Response D).

13 B Objective 003

An adverb modifies a verb. Correct Response B places the verb "quietly" in front of the verb "read" to describe how the librarian would like people in the library to read. Incorrect Responses A, C, and D each contain adverbs, but they are not modifying verbs. The adverb "briefly" in A, the adverb "quickly" in C, and the adverb "arrogantly" in D are all misplaced and distort their sentences' meanings.

14 A Objective 003

A colon can be used immediately before a list or to connect two independent clauses (standalone sentences). If being used prior to a list, the list following the colon may be a dependent clause, but the clause prior to the colon must always be independent. Response A is correct for two reasons: the first clause ("There were three different types of fruit") is an independent clause, and a colon is used immediately before the list of fruits. Responses B and C are incorrect because the first clauses are not independent. Response D is incorrect because the second clause is neither a list nor an independent clause.

15 A Objective 003

Response A is correct because the student's comment is evidence that they are engaging with another student's free write and providing them with suggested edits. Response B is incorrect because while the student is providing suggested edits and revisions, they are not actively making changes to the other student's free write. Response C is incorrect because brainstorming and planning would require thinking of new ideas and how to implement them. The student's comment does not exemplify these processes. Response D is incorrect because while the student could have simply rewritten the free write to remove errors, they are instead suggesting edits for the original author to make.

16 D Objective 003

The key phrase in the question is "negative impacts of coastal erosion." Correct Response D is written in cause-and-effect form and emphasizes shifts in inland populations and the availability of local resources, which are negative impacts of coastal erosion. Incorrect Response A provides a definition of coastal erosion but does not discuss its effects. Incorrect Responses B and C discuss coastal changes but do not directly discuss erosion.

17 A Objective 004

A debate entails presenting factual evidence supporting one side of an argument (Correct Response A). Incorrect Response B may mislead students into devoting equal amounts of time to preparing both sides of an argument. Incorrect Response C focuses only on the closing statement, which would happen long after students develop their initial argument. Incorrect Response D is inaccurate as it invites students to include their opinions when effective arguments in debates should be fact-based.

18 C Objective 004

The topic of the lecture is the use of wind turbines on Cape Cod. Wind turbines are an alternative energy source that do not produce carbon emissions. The use of fossil fuels as an energy source creates carbon emissions, which negatively impact the environment. Response C is correct because the student question is about carbon emissions and is evidence that the student has internalized that they have agency to change their behavior to decrease carbon emissions. Incorrect Response A is not appropriate to ask during a college lecture and would be a more appropriate question for a private conversation with the professor. Incorrect Response B is related to climate change but not to energy sources such as wind turbines, which is the topic of the lecture. Incorrect Response D is a student question that demonstrates care for the environment, but building a wind turbine on a college campus is most likely not possible for students to accomplish.

19 D Objective 004

Response D is correct because utilizing graphs and charts would likely help the listener's comprehension, as sharing numerical data visually makes it more digestible for most. Incorrect Responses A, B, and C are all techniques that can improve a presentation and help keep listeners engaged, but pauses, facial features, and tone and volume are techniques that do not directly support the comprehension of numerical data.

20 D Objective 004

The key phrase in the question is "accurately summarizes." Response D is correct because it includes key information from the passage that does not misrepresent Vikings. Incorrect Response A misrepresents information about the Vikings by claiming that they would "collect money." Incorrect Response B is vague. It could be improved by including details about the time period and specifics about what the Vikings were seeking and why. Incorrect Response C does not directly name Vikings and inaccurately states that most of Europe was under attack by pirates.

21 A Objective 005

Scarcity is a core concept in economics describing the fundamental limitation of resources that requires people and societies to make choices about how to use those resources. Response A is correct because it describes a situation involving limitations in the ability to produce goods that people wish they could have in superabundance. Response B is incorrect because it describes a new way of producing goods without acknowledging the underlying limits in the ability to produce them. Response C is incorrect because it describes an overproduction without considering how the choice to produce those goods will be accompanied by a lower production of other goods. Response D is incorrect because it does not illustrate limited resources.

22 B Objective 005

Response B is correct because it describes a concerted effort by consumers to change a company's behavior by declining to purchase the company's products. Responses A and C are incorrect because a boycott is a political act that goes beyond the ordinary expression of consumers' choices among products based on price or product differentiation. Response D is incorrect because boycotts rarely have the objective of influencing new product development.

23 D Objective 005

Response D is correct because it describes the most overwhelming threat to people's safety and security, which would likely rise to the level of a forced migration. Responses A and B are incorrect because while they describe push factors that motivate human migration, both responses lack the element of coercion required in cases of forced migration. Response C is incorrect because rapid economic change can cause dislocations that serve as push factors or pull factors for migration, but these circumstances lack the coercion that is a defining element of forced migration.

24 B Objective 005

Response B is correct because, as far back as the first century, Buddhism began spreading from northern India via missionaries and merchants along trade routes including the Indian Ocean, eventually reaching southeast Asia. Response A is incorrect because, although mass migration occurred at various times in the region, for example in nineteenth-century India under British rule when over 20 million Indians migrated to southeast Asia, it was not the main cause of the earlier diffusion of Buddhism. Response C is incorrect because, although in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries many European countries colonized parts of southeast Asia, colonization was not a primary cause of the spread of Buddhism in the region. Response D is incorrect because, although parts of southeast Asia were forcibly controlled by Chinese and European powers, military conquest was not a main cause of Buddhism extending from India to the region in the ninth century  C E .

25 D Objective 005

Response D is correct because the Connecticut River is known for its abundance of silt carried along its waters and deposited along its banks to create rich soil. Response A is incorrect because eastern Massachusetts receives more rain than other regions in the state. Response B is incorrect because the Berkshires are part of the larger Appalachian Mountain range. Response C is incorrect because southeastern Massachusetts is marked by mostly lower elevation along the Atlantic Ocean.

26 B Objective 005

Response B is correct because the prime meridian is a line of longitude, running from the North Pole to the South Pole, that is marked as 0 degrees longitude and separates the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. Each subsequent line of longitude is then marked as a degree counting away from the 0 degree prime meridian. Response A is incorrect because it describes the lines of latitude known as the Tropic of Capricorn and Tropic of Cancer. Response C is incorrect because it describes the line of latitude found at 0 degrees known as the equator. Response D is incorrect because, although the prime meridian is a line of longitude, and therefore a special kind of great circle, this concept is less specific than Response B.

27 B Objective 005

Response B is correct because the tree pictured, the bald cypress, is recognizable as being typical of the swamplands and bayous of Louisiana and some other southeastern states. Responses A, C, and D are incorrect because these other regions lack the type of climate zone or biome that would feature the vegetation shown in the image.

28 D Objective 006

Response D is correct because Callender claims that it was God's "providential" will that caused "the aboriginal natives, by famine, sword and pestilence, destroyed and wasted away by millions" to make way for the Europeans. Response A is incorrect because Callender's claim focuses on North America, likely New England as the title suggests. Response B is incorrect because, although there is a heavy religious element to his writing, there is no mention of conversion of Native Peoples to Christianity. Response C is incorrect because there is no mention of governments or formal trade in this excerpt.

29 A Objective 009

Response A is correct because Metacomet (son of Massasoit) was a Wampanoag chief in seventeenth century New England and had firsthand experience, and conflict, with European colonists. Responses B and C are incorrect because Roger Williams and John Smith would provide students with a similar perspective to Callender's. Response D is incorrect because, although Massasoit (Metacomet's father) could provide a non-European perspective to offset Callender's, Massasoit's alliance with the Plymouth Colony against the Narragansett would likely emphasize a pro-European narrative.

30 D Objective 006

Response D is correct because maize was developed up to 10,000 years ago in what is now southern Mexico and quickly became a staple crop in the region. Response A is incorrect because most early agriculture in East Asia relied on the growing of millet. Response B is incorrect because most early agriculture in Southeast Asia relied on the growing of rice. Response C is incorrect because most early agriculture in the Middle East relied on the growing of wheat and barley.

31 B Objective 006

Response B is correct because the Swahili, or "people of the coast" in Arabic, engaged in a lucrative and prolonged trade network with societies bordering the Indian Ocean and beyond, resulting in the presence of Chinese goods like pottery on Swahili lands. Response A is incorrect because there was no permanent settlement of Chinese people along the Swahili coast. Response C is incorrect because, although Buddhist missionaries may have traveled to the Swahili coast, any such contact was minimal and would not result in a large amount of Chinese pottery left behind. Response D is incorrect because Chinese merchant activity in Africa in previous centuries did not extend to the establishment of manufacturing facilities.

32 A Objective 006

Response A is correct because the excerpt describes how Puruşa's body was divided, which reflected the way in which the entire ancient Indian society was organized. Each portion of Puruşa named in the excerpt represents a social caste of India, directly linking the caste system to ancient cultural traditions. Response B is incorrect because religious rituals like those described in the Rig Veda upheld and strengthened the stratified social order. Response C is incorrect because the Rig Veda predated classical India, a time when Buddhism and increased urbanization pushed back against traditional Hindu guidelines. Response D is incorrect because the social structure reinforced by this excerpt from the Rig Veda offers a simple social structure rather than one characterized by diversity.

33 A Objective 006

Response A is correct because the diets of early civilizations of Mesoamerica did revolve around corn, beans, and squash, while diets in ancient China and East Asia centered on millet and rice. Responses B, C, and D are incorrect because domestication of animals, fabrication of metal tools, and utilization of long-distance trade networks were common to civilizations in both regions.

34 C Objective 006

Response C is correct because the physical geography of the southern Balkan Peninsula made the creation of maritime trading networks necessary and beneficial during both the Mycenaean and Classical periods of Greek history. Response A is incorrect because, while both societies had sections of their cities that were heavily fortified citadels, the Classical Greek communities often expanded beyond these walls. Response B is incorrect because, although the literary tradition of Classical Greece was highly advanced, Mycenaean Greece was not known for this literary tradition. Response D is incorrect because Mycenaean Greece was characterized by states governed by kings and a warrior class of elites.

35 D Objective 006

Response D is correct because festivals like Crépissage bring community members together to celebrate and take part in a meaningful exercise for those attending. Response A is incorrect because there is no clear indication that the festival of Crépissage has been directly connected to the exercise of political power in Mali. Response B is incorrect because the repairs done during Crépissage reveal that this type of mud brick architecture is not particularly durable. Response C is incorrect because the maintenance of the Great Mosque, required by environmental conditions, is more of a ritualized cultural event than a technological engineering feat.

36 D Objective 006

Response D is correct because ruins like these, from Chaco Canyon or surrounding areas, show evidence of complex pre-Colombian Puebloan societies thought to predate European contact by several centuries. The structures shown in the image indicate sophisticated architecture and the need for highly productive agriculture to support a substantial population. Response A is incorrect because this source suggests people living close to each other, often sharing spaces. Response B is incorrect because the geography of this region, more so than any degree of contact with the Maya or Inca, influenced their use of materials and customs. Response C is incorrect because, although this is a possible explanation for the collapse of the early Puebloan society, this image does not provide enough evidence to support it.

37 D Objective 007

Response D is correct because as a powerful colonial leader, George Washington enforced the continuation of slavery on his own property, as evidenced by this announcement. Response A is incorrect because there is no mention of planned sabotage or rebellion by enslaved people in this excerpt. Response B is incorrect because the existence of this announcement suggests that enslaved people who fled were at least occasionally captured. Response C is incorrect because this excerpt only shows the views of one colonial leader, not various viewpoints.

38 A Objective 007

Response A is correct because, knowing there may be rewards given to others for their capture, and likely punishment, enslaved people still tried to escape their enslavement. Response B is incorrect because, although the Underground Railroad became a method of escape for many enslaved people later in the eighteenth and into the nineteenth century, there is no mention of this network in the excerpt. Response C is incorrect because there is no reference to any antislavery activists in the excerpt. Response D is incorrect because the Fugitive Slave Act was not enacted until 1850, long after George Washington penned this announcement.

39 A Objective 007

Response A is correct because the Mohican/Stockbridge lived and still live in regions that are now the far western edge of New England, the Nipmuc in the area that is now central Massachusetts, and the Wampanoag in the southeastern corner of New England. Response B is incorrect because the Narragansett and Abenaki/Wabanaki lived and still live mainly in what is now Rhode Island and Maine, respectively. Response C is incorrect because the Narragansett and Mohican/Stockbridge lived and still live primarily in what is now Rhode Island and the region marked as 1, respectively. Response D is incorrect because the Abenaki/Wabanaki and Nipmuc lived and still live primarily in what is now Maine and the region marked as 2, respectively.

40 D Objective 007

Response D is correct because the economic model of the Triangular Trade benefitted the merchant class and owners of ships used in several segments of the trade network. Response A is incorrect because Spanish ships rarely visited New England ports. Response B is incorrect because merchants typically fought against any increased restrictions on their trading business. Response C is incorrect because, although some merchants specialized in the sale of lumber and raw materials, most of their sales were to Europe rather than to southern colonies, which engaged in little manufacturing.

41 C Objective 007

Response C is correct because the excerpt reflects growing discontent of colonists facing "a duty imposed without their consent" by the British government, specifically the Tea Act. Response A is incorrect because the colonists were protesting their "taxation without representation" more than a direct economic burden that households would have trouble affording to pay. Response B is incorrect because the colonists were protesting their "taxation without representation" above any sort of unequal treatment among colonies. Response D is incorrect because, at this point in colonial history, the region was already integrated into Britain's imperial economy, yet the colonists themselves still lacked representation in British government.

42 A Objective 007

Response A is correct because Truth is best remembered for her "Ain't I a Woman?" speech at the Ohio Women's Rights Convention, representing her viewpoint as an intersection between the abolitionist and women's suffrage movements. Response B is incorrect because, although Truth escaped from enslavement, she did not conduct formal raids into southern states to help other enslaved people. Response C is incorrect because Truth focused on writing speeches and memoirs, not works of fiction. Response D is incorrect because, although Truth's words were sometimes printed in antislavery newspapers, she did not publish her own newspaper.

43 C Objective 007

Response C is correct because as territory expanded westward, the Fugitive Slave Act included in the Compromise of 1850 intensified the issue of enslavement, especially in Congress and among abolitionists. Response A is incorrect because the nullification controversy, in some ways a precursor to the Civil War, was a feature of U.S. politics primarily in the  18 twenties  and  18 thirties  Response B is incorrect because, although the Supreme Court's 1857 decision in Dred Scott v. Sandford involved the issue of unequal civil rights, this issue was not as central to the controversies of the  18 fifties  as was the fate of slavery in Western territories and new states. Response D is incorrect because the battle of Fort Sumter, the first engagement of the Civil War, occurred in April 1861 and was not an issue of the  18 fifties  that contributed to the Civil War.

44 C Objective 007

Response C is correct because the women's movement of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century focused primarily on women's suffrage, while the later movement sought to assert women as equals in the workplace and larger society. Responses A, B, and D are incorrect because they were common themes in both women's movements.

45 D Objective 008

Response D is correct because the excerpt summarizes the distinct separation of the judicial and legislative branches of the government formed under the U.S. Constitution. Response A is incorrect because the excerpt does not summarize a strong central federal government. Responses B and C are incorrect because the excerpt does not summarize a government grounded in popular sovereignty in which the people directly or indirectly govern.

46 A Objective 009

Response A is correct because this excerpt provides an early argument for a separate judiciary, prior to the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. Response B is incorrect because Hamilton does not provide specific or opposing viewpoints on democratic governance in this excerpt. Response C is incorrect because, although Alexander Hamilton wrote this essay under a pseudonym, this small excerpt does not provide a robust lens into Hamilton's life. Response D is incorrect because there is no clear connection between the American Revolution and the economy in this excerpt.

47 A Objective 008

Response A is correct because this describes the right of everyone to practice the religion of their choice without government infringement. Response B is incorrect because this clause from Article IV describes protections of citizenship and against discrimination of out-of-state people when traveling across state lines. Response C is incorrect because this describes a power of the president of the United States, not a right of individual citizens. Response D is incorrect because this describes a power of the Supreme Court, a small group of individuals, not a right of all citizens.

48 C Objective 008

Response C is correct because each resident present, regardless of any demographic marker, can participate in the conversation and decision making of the open town meeting. Responses A, B, and D are incorrect because they all involve some sort of representative or council-based democracy, in which residents vote for individuals to represent them, not direct voting on issues by constituents.

49 C Objective 008

Response C is correct because the most prominent fault of the Articles of Confederation that politicians aimed to tackle in the new Constitution was the lack of power given to the federal government for collecting taxes, regulating trade, and dealing with foreign powers. Response A is incorrect because, although there were differences of opinion and needs in political figures at the time, sometimes based on their home state, this was not a driving force in replacing the Articles of Confederation. Response B is incorrect because states' rights gave way to more federal oversight under the Constitution, by design. Response D is incorrect because the Articles of Confederation addressed future land acquisition but the Constitution pointedly did not.

50 C Objective 008

Response C is correct because, since Roosevelt lowered the age of the draft during World War II, protests over being "Old enough to fight, old enough to vote" took hold and reignited during the Vietnam War, ultimately leading to the quickly ratified amendment. Response A is incorrect because, although unions collaborate and sometimes protect their members during elections, labor unions were not the leading cause of the passage of the Twenty-Sixth Amendment. Response B is incorrect because, although child labor had not vanished by the time of the Twenty-Sixth Amendment, it was not a topic at the top of public awareness after legislation to curtail it was put in place in 1938. Response D is incorrect because there is no connection between voting age and driving age.

51 C Objective 008

Response C is correct because Bates' use of recognizable, yet general, descriptions of an ideal landscape and community of people offered a channel for those living in the United States to take pride in their country. Responses A and B are incorrect because, although there are references to these concepts of American civic life elsewhere in the song, these specific lyrics do not refer to liberty or equality. Response D is incorrect because there is no direct link between these lyrics and the United States Constitution.

52 A Objective 008

Response A is correct because, while women can serve in the armed forces, only men are required to register for a military draft. Responses B and D are incorrect because no U.S. citizens are required to vote in elections or contribute to their communities. Response C is incorrect because social security accounts are required for working in the U.S. and are not dependent on a specific gender or age range.

53 A Objective 008

Response A is correct because a basic purpose of democratic government is to promote the general welfare by protecting individual liberties and securing an environment in which the wants and needs of people can be satisfied. For many democratic governments this can take the form of directly providing goods and services such as public education and other social services. With or without directly providing public goods and services, democratic governments aim to advance the common good. Response B is incorrect because establishing a moral code that applies to everyone would almost certainly violate the rights and liberties of some of those citizens. Response C is incorrect because, although most democratic governments do regulate some forms of economic activity, any attempt to control the economy would require the use of coercive practices at odds with fundamental democratic values. Response D is incorrect because most modern democratic governments also create some type of bureaucratic apparatus. Their reason for doing so, however, is not to further democracy but to enhance the operation of government.

54 B Objective 009

Response B is correct because historians rely on written works, oral traditions, and archaeological evidence from the past to form their analysis and theories. In this specific case, Ghana engaged with the rest of the African continent primarily through trade in gold and iron. Responses A, C, and D are incorrect because they focus on other aspects of Ghanaian society but lack the intercultural element found in the correct response.

55 B Objective 009

Response B is correct because federal census reports would offer reliable and relevant information for this research topic. Responses A and C are incorrect because they are not the most relevant to this research topic. Response D is incorrect because using recent newspaper articles rather than primary sources does not provide an opportunity to model techniques for conducting historical research.

56 B Objective 009

Response B is correct because the painting was created over 2000 years after the event it is portraying, making it subject to inaccuracies or potential bias if used as a sole piece of evidence. Response A is incorrect because historians are not likely to focus on the methods and medium of the artist, as the methods and medium do not affect the source's usefulness to historians. Response C is incorrect because modern historians would likely not be trying to determine the location of the meeting of the Decemvirs by using this painting. Response D is incorrect because the lack of diversity may be something a historian notes about this painting, but it would not be a limiting factor in their analysis.

57 C Objective 009

Response C is correct because maps showing historical "redlining" would be crucial in investigating the resulting health effects associated with living in and out of these "red" zones. Responses A, B, and D are incorrect because, although they might be helpful data for the author, they do not directly inform the information in this excerpt.

58 A Objective 009

Response A is correct because the sources use phrases like "establishment of cooperative working relations" and "peaceful purposes" regarding the international community's involvement in exploration of space and Antarctica. Response B is incorrect because this response states the opposite of the intention of the sources to prohibit or strongly restrict occupation of these places. Response C is incorrect because the sources do not exclusively deal with space. Response D is incorrect because the goals evident in the sources were to forbid or minimize territorial claims in space and in Antarctica.

59 D Objective 009

Response D is correct because it provides students with primary sources that can support historical empathy and meaningful academic discussion. Response A is incorrect because, although these graphs may be helpful in supporting student understanding of the topic, they are not likely to prompt historical empathy or authentic discussion. Response B is incorrect because a news article is not likely to honestly approach the realities of discrimination if its focus is on the relatively technical subject of visa requirements. Response C is incorrect because a timeline of victories would necessarily focus on multiple historical periods but would focus on successes rather than the breadth and depth of discrimination.

60 B Objective 009

Response B is correct because the term "exotic" has various connotations that have changed throughout history and offers insights into implicit bias for students. Responses A, C, and D are incorrect because, while any of the articles might contain bias within their text or subtext, the titles of these three articles are relatively straightforward and do not suggest an immediate prejudice in the author.

Open Responses, Sample Responses, and Analyses

Question Number Your Response
Read about how your responses are scored and how to evaluate your practice responses
61

Open Response Item

You may type your written response on the assigned topic in the box provided.


First Sample Weak Response

First Sample Weak Response to Open-Response Item Assignment

Source #1 is a primary source by Abraham Lincoln, who is against slavery, period. He made his position clear during a series of debates against his challenger, Stephen Douglas. They were vying to be the next senator from Illinois. Although Lincoln's political party, the Republican Party, is the anti-slavery party, they "regard its actual existence among us" and worry that it will be hard to get rid of slavery and all the "constitutional obligations thrown about it." Lincoln favors liberty and prosperity, not making slavery bigger. In the second paragraph, he asks several questions to make his point. What has threatened our liberty and prosperity more than having slavery? How do you (Douglas) propose to improve the condition of things? Stephen Douglas was a Democrat, which was the pro-slavery party, as Lincoln said, "another class that does not look upon it as a wrong."

The debates were controversial. There were seven public debates in Illinois and slavery was pressing upon every mind more than any other issue. In the debates, Lincoln and Douglas could have discussed many things of concern to voters such as "regulation of banks, revision of tariffs, immigration, and so on" but chose to focus on slavery instead. Lincoln and Douglas "regretted its existence." Therefore, slavery was the most popular topic. Pulitzer Prize winning author David Donald, who wrote two biographies about Lincoln, revealed that the two men shared other points of agreement, which caused Lincoln to remark that "on many principles" he (Lincoln) "shall have no controversy with him." During the debates, the two men exaggerated their differences.

First Weak Response Analysis

Analysis of First Weak Response to Open-Response Item Assignment

This is an example of a weak response because it is characterized by the following:

Purpose: The purpose of the assignment is partially achieved. The response represents some of the main ideas of the two sources—for example, that the Republican party was opposed to the expansion of slavery and that Lincoln and Douglas exaggerated their differences. There is no comparison of the main ideas of the two sources. There is some discussion of Lincoln's purpose and point of view ("Lincoln favors liberty and prosperity"), but none whatsoever of Donald's, and thus there is no comparison of the purposes and points of view of the two sources.

Subject Matter Knowledge: There is a limited application of subject matter knowledge. Some of the claims demonstrate an inability to correctly construct the meaning of the sources. For example, the claim that the Republicans "worry that it will be hard to get rid of  dot dot dot  constitutional obligations" is inaccurate. Characterizing the Democratic party as "the pro-slavery party" is simplistic, especially considering Donald's argument that Lincoln and Douglas had similar feelings about slavery.

Support: The supporting evidence is limited. Quotations are abundant but often uncontextualized and undiscussed, which leaves their meaning and relevance unclear. "Regard its actual existence among us" is a misquotation, and it misrepresents Lincoln's meaning. Although both candidates disliked slavery, it was Douglas who "regretted its existence," not both.

Rationale: The response reflects a limited, poorly reasoned understanding of the topic. Much of the response consists of quotation and summary; there is little analysis. The first paragraph presents examples of Lincoln's rhetorical questions but never makes a point about those questions or about Lincoln's use of them. The response does not elaborate on the claim that "the two men exaggerated their differences," even though this is one of Donald's main points. The use of the conjunction "Therefore" in the second paragraph misrepresents the source: Donald is not suggesting that slavery was the most popular topic because Lincoln and Douglas regretted its existence.

Second Sample Weak Response

Second Sample Weak Response to Open-Response Item Assignment

The two writings were about the Lincoln Douglas debates and how they were mainly about slavery and how voters in Illinois would accept it or reject it by voting for one man or the other. In the first writing, Lincoln says the Republican Party believes that slavery is wrong, "They look upon it as being a moral, social, and political wrong." But he also knows that slavery exists and that it would be hard to get rid of it and that there are constitutional obligations thrown about it. Lincoln wants to limit the spread of slavery and reassure the voters that if he is elected, he will keep slavery from coming to Illinois. He stands for liberty and prosperity and believed that by spreading slavery it would only make things worse, not better. Lincoln was strongly against slavery and went on to fight the Civil War against the slaveholding South and issue the Emancipation Proclamation.

The second writing by the biographer, David Donald, takes a distinct perspective on the debates 137 years later. He thinks that Lincoln and Douglas should have spent more time talking about other serious issues like regulation of the banks, immigration, and factory workers. He says "But the debaters focused on none of these because they, and the Illinois voters, felt that the major concern of the country was the present condition and future prospects of the institution of slavery." Lincoln and Douglas actually had a lot in common and held a lot of the same views. Lincoln admitted that he approved of most of the Douglas principles and that he had no controversy with him.

Second Weak Response Analysis

Analysis of Second Weak Response to Open-Response Item Assignment

This is an example of a weak response because it is characterized by the following:

Purpose: The purpose of the assignment is partially achieved. The response represents some of the main ideas of the two sources—for example, that Lincoln saw slavery as a wrong and that Lincoln and Douglas held many of the same views. There is some discussion of purpose ("Lincoln wants to limit the spread of slavery and reassure the voters"). There is little comparison of the two sources outside of the general claim that both sources suggest that the debates were mainly about slavery and the vague claim that Donald "takes a distinct perspective" on the topic. The candidate does not address the pointed distinction that Lincoln draws between the two parties or Donald's claim that Lincoln and Douglas exaggerated their differences.

Subject Matter Knowledge: There is a limited application of subject matter knowledge. Some claims demonstrate an inability to correctly construct the meaning of the sources. For example, the claim that Donald thinks that Lincoln and Douglas "should have spent more time" on other issues is inaccurate. The claim that Lincoln wanted to reassure voters that slavery would be kept out of Illinois is historically inaccurate, as Illinois was already a free state in 1858.

Support: The supporting evidence is limited. The summary of the sources is partially accurate and appropriate. The quotation in the first paragraph merely restates a point already made. The quotation in the second paragraph is long, and no analysis of the quotation is provided. Language from the sources is sometimes reproduced without being placed in quotation marks.

Rationale: The response reflects a limited, poorly reasoned understanding of the topic. The second paragraph consists largely of quotation and summary; there is little analysis. Rationale is further limited by the candidate's misrepresentation of the sources. For example, the obvious claim that Lincoln "knows that slavery exists" fails to convey the more precise point that Lincoln wants to make.

First Sample Strong Response

First Sample Strong Response to Open-Response Item Assignment

Both sources address the Lincoln-Douglas debates, which, as biographer David Donald points out, focused "almost exclusively" on slavery. Although there were many issues the candidates "could have discussed," Illinois voters were most concerned about "the present condition and future prospects of the institution of slavery," particularly its spread into the western territories. In pursuing this focus, there was a risk that Lincoln and Douglas would come across as insufficiently distinct, for, as Donald shows, their positions on slavery were in many ways similar. Focusing on slavery forced the candidates to distinguish themselves from each other, and, though he provides no examples, Donald claims that Lincoln and Douglas therefore "naturally exaggerated their differences."

Donald's Lincoln is a savvy politician playing to and manipulating his audience. Read through this lens, Source #1 illustrates Lincoln's cleverness in packaging his message. To emphasize the difference between himself and Douglas, and also to reaffirm the voters' sense that slavery was a vitally important issue for the country, Lincoln does two things. First, he frames the debate in moral terms. The "real issue," he explains, comes down to a stark difference in the parties' attitudes toward slavery. One party, the Republicans, sees it "as a wrong," and the other, the Democrats, "does not look upon it as a wrong." Lincoln thus forces voters to choose between clear alternatives. Second, he frames slavery as an existential threat to the Union. He asks the voters to think not about the inalienable rights of enslaved Black Americans but about "Our own liberty and prosperity," meaning, presumably, the liberty and prosperity of white Illinois voters. Lincoln wants voters to see the expansion of slavery as a clear and present danger to their own well-being and to the existence of the nation, which it would in fact become with the outbreak of war three years later.

First Strong Response Analysis

Analysis of First Strong Response to Open-Response Item Assignment

This is an example of a strong response because it is characterized by the following:

Purpose: The purpose of the assignment is fully achieved. The first paragraph presents Donald's main ideas (that the debates focused on slavery and that the candidates exaggerated their differences) and his point of view ("Donald's Lincoln is a savvy politician"). The second paragraph presents Lincoln's main ideas (that the Republican Party saw slavery as a wrong and that slavery was an existential threat) and his purpose ("To emphasize the difference"; "Lincoln wants voters"). The comparison drawn between the two sources is that the Lincoln excerpt is presented as an illustration of Donald's argument.

Subject Matter Knowledge: There is a substantial application of subject matter knowledge. The response shows a comprehensive understanding of the context of the debates in its claim that Illinois voters were concerned about the spread of slavery "into the western territories." The response accurately places the debates in the context of "the outbreak of war three years later."

Support: The supporting evidence is sound. All claims are grounded in textual evidence. Evidence is drawn from the entire text, and, while abundant, is economically used.

Rationale: The response reflects an ably reasoned, comprehensive understanding of the topic. Given the decision to read the Lincoln excerpt as an illustration of Donald's argument, the response strategically discusses the second source first. The examination of Lincoln's rhetoric in the second paragraph shows a comprehensive understanding of the excerpt, and, in its forecasting ("Lincoln does two things") and its first/second structure, is ably reasoned.

Second Sample Strong Response

Second Sample Strong Response to Open-Response Item Assignment

Lincoln's purpose in this excerpt is to make his position on slavery crystal clear—that it is "a moral, social, and political wrong." This is not only his position but the guiding principle of the recently founded Republican Party. Slavery must be gotten rid of, as it threatens "our liberty and prosperity" and the very "existence of this Union." This dramatic language, which would have resonated with a nation reeling from Bleeding Kansas and Dred Scott, helps Lincoln ramp up the tension, making it seem like the very lives of Illinois voters depend on Lincoln being elected Senator. By putting himself in the class that sees slavery as wrong, he puts Douglas in "another class that does not look upon it as a wrong." Asking a series of rhetorical questions (which he answers himself), he puts Douglas on the defensive: "What is it that we hold dear among us? Our own liberty and prosperity. What has ever threatened our liberty and prosperity, save and except this institution of slavery?" Douglas now has to explain why he would support expanding an institution that poses a mortal threat to the people of Illinois and to the nation.

David Donald provides a context for understanding Lincoln's stark rendering of the choice between himself and Douglas as a clear choice between "wrong" and "not wrong." Donald's purpose is to address the question "Why did the Lincoln-Douglas debates focus exclusively on slavery?" He concludes that the candidates simply gave the people what they wanted—that other concerns, such as banks, tariffs, and immigration paled in comparison to "the present condition and future prospects of slavery." Donald suggests that this was a risky strategy, because Lincoln and Douglas agreed on many points concerning slavery, making it hard for them to present themselves as clear alternatives. Thus, they "exaggerated their differences."

Second Strong Response Analysis

Analysis of Second Strong Response to Open-Response Item Assignment

This is an example of a strong response because it is characterized by the following:

Purpose: The purpose of the assignment is fully achieved. The first paragraph presents Lincoln's purpose (to make his position on slavery clear and to put Douglas on the defensive) and his main ideas (that he sees slavery as a wrong and that Douglas does not). The second paragraph presents Donald's purpose (to explain Lincoln's "stark rendering" and to explain the candidates' focus on slavery) and his main ideas (that voters were most interested in the slavery issue and that Lincoln and Douglas exaggerated their differences).

Subject Matter Knowledge: There is a substantial application of subject matter knowledge. References to Bleeding Kansas, Dred Scott, and the "recently founded Republican Party" show thorough knowledge and understanding of the immediate context of the debates and their importance to an audience concerned about the expansion of slavery.

Support: The supporting evidence is sound. Quotations are purposefully chosen—for example, to illustrate the point that Lincoln uses "dramatic language." Quotations are succinct and integrated with paraphrase and summary. When a longer quotation is used, its length is necessary for the point being made. In this case, the point is that Lincoln not only asks rhetorical questions but also answers them himself.

Rationale: The response reflects an ably reasoned, comprehensive understanding of the topic. Lincoln is discussed in the first paragraph; the second paragraph discusses Donald, beginning with a sentence that draws a relationship between the two sources. The response indicates where and how it is addressing the prompt ("Lincoln's purpose in this excerpt is"). The response never lapses into mere summary. It puts its emphasis not on what Lincoln's language says but on what it does—for example, that it "helps Lincoln ramp up the tension" or that it "puts Douglas on the defensive."

Review the Performance Characteristics and Score Scale for Written Performance Assignments.

Multiple Choice Question
Practice Test Evaluation Chart

In the evaluation chart that follows, the multiple-choice questions are arranged in numerical order and by test objective. Check your responses against the correct responses provided to determine how many questions within each objective you answered correctly.

Subarea: Language Arts

Objective 001: Apply knowledge of major genres and works of literature, including literature written for children, that represent a range of perspectives, with regard to gender; race; ethnicity; diversity of ability; sexual orientation; nation of origin; religion; age; and cultural, economic, and geographic backgrounds.
Question Number Your Response Correct Response
1 A
2 A
3 C
4 A

 out of 4

Objective 002: Apply knowledge of informational texts.
Question Number Your Response Correct Response
5 C
6 A
7 D
8 A
9 C

 out of 5

Objective 003: Apply knowledge of the characteristics of effective writing and research.
Question Number Your Response Correct Response
10 B
11 D
12 C
13 B
14 A
15 A
16 D

 out of 7

Objective 004: Demonstrate knowledge of techniques for speaking and/or expressive communication and listening and/or receptive communication to use in a variety of contexts.
Question Number Your Response Correct Response
17 A
18 C
19 D
20 D

 out of 4

Subarea: Language Arts (Objectives 001–004) Total  out of 20

Subarea: History/Social Science

Objective 005: Apply knowledge of basic economics, physical and human geography, and the relationships between geography and culture.
Question Number Your Response Correct Response
21 A
22 B
23 D
24 B
25 D
26 B
27 B

 out of 7

Objective 006: Apply knowledge of major political, economic, social, cultural, and technological developments in world history to 1700  C E .
Question Number Your Response Correct Response
28 D
30 D
31 B
32 A
33 A
34 C
35 D
36 D

 out of 8

Objective 007: Apply knowledge of the history of the United States and the history of Massachusetts.
Question Number Your Response Correct Response
37 D
38 A
39 A
40 D
41 C
42 A
43 C
44 C

 out of 8

Objective 008: Apply knowledge of the development, principles, structure, and functions of government in the United States.
Question Number Your Response Correct Response
45 D
47 A
48 C
49 C
50 C
51 C
52 A
53 A

 out of 8

Objective 009: Apply knowledge of methods, procedures, and sources used in the study of history and social science and of the guiding principles and instructional practices of effective history and social science education.
Question Number Your Response Correct Response
29 A
46 A
54 B
55 B
56 B
57 C
58 A
59 D
60 B

 out of 9

Subarea: History/Social Science (Objectives 005–009) Total  out of 40

Practice Test Score Calculation

The practice test score calculation is provided so that you may better gauge your performance and degree of readiness to take an MTEL test at an operational administration. Although the results of this practice test may be used as one indicator of potential strengths and weaknesses in your knowledge of the content on the official test, it is not possible to predict precisely how you might score on an official MTEL test.

The Sample Responses and Analyses for the open-response item may help you determine whether your response is more similar to the strong or weak samples. The Scoring Rubric can also assist in estimating a score for your open response. You may also wish to ask a mentor or teacher to help evaluate your response to the open-response question prior to calculating your total estimated score.

How to Calculate Your Practice Test Score

Review the directions in the sample below and then use the blank practice test score calculation worksheet to calculate your estimated score.


Multiple-Choice Section

Enter the total number of multiple-choice questions you answered correctly: 32
Use Table 1 below to convert that number to the score and write your score in Box A: A: 220


Open-Response Section

Enter the number of points (2 to 4) for your open-response question: 3
Use Table 2 below to convert that number to the score and write your score in Box B: B: 27


Total Practice Test Score (Estimated MTEL Score)

Add the numbers in Boxes A and B for an estimate of your MTEL score: A + B = 247

Practice Test Score Calculation Worksheet: Language Arts and History/Social Science (178)

Table 1:

Number of Multiple-Choice Questions Correct Estimated MTEL Score
0 to 25 201
26 to 30 210
31 to 35 220
36 to 40 229
41 to 45 238
46 to 50 248
51 to 55 257
56 to 60 266

Table 2:

Number of Open-Response Question Points Estimated MTEL Score
2 24
3 27
4 30

Use the form below to calculate your estimated practice test score.


Multiple-Choice Section

Enter the total number of multiple-choice questions you answered correctly:
Use Table 1 above to convert that number to the score and write your score in Box A: A:


Open-Response Section

Enter the number of points (2 to 4) for your open-response question:
Use Table 2 above to convert that number to the score and write your score in Box B: B:


Total Practice Test Score (Estimated MTEL Score)

Add the numbers in Boxes A and B for an estimate of your MTEL score: A + B =