Vocabulary: Part 1: Pre-Test

Multiple Choice
1. Knowing vocabulary words is important for students because
a. it opens them up to a wider range of reading materials.
b. it improves their ability to communicate through speaking, listening, and writing.
c. the more words they know, the better they will comprehend.
d. all of the above

2. Beginning readers
a. can easily read words that are not already part of their oral vocabulary.
b. have a difficult time reading words that are not part of their oral vocabulary.
c. have no effective difference in oral and reading vocabulary.
d. need both oral and reading vocabulary to learn phonemic awareness.

3. Scientific research tells us that
a. most vocabulary must be taught explicitly
b. some vocabulary is learned indirectly
c. most vocabulary is learned indirectly
d. there are no research-based ways to teach vocabulary

4. The words we use in speaking or recognize in listening are called
a. Reading vocabulary
b. Oral vocabulary
c. Writing vocabulary
d. Speaking vocabulary

5. Children learn word meanings directly by:
a. engaging in daily in oral language;
b. listening to adults read to them;
c. reading extensively on their own;
d. engaging in vocabulary-building activities.

6. There are three levels of word knowledge:
a. Unknown, acquainted, known
b. Known, related, acquainted
c. Related, contextual, written
d. None of the above

7. When selecting which words to teach, teachers should look for
a. Words that essential to understanding the passage (important).
b. Words that might be difficult for students (difficult).
c. Words that students are likely to see again (useful).
d. All of the above.
e. a and b only

8. Children can be helped to understand the meaning of the word “geology” by teaching them
a. The prefix “ology” means “study of.”
b. The suffix “ology” means “study of.”
c. The root word “geo” means “rock.”
d. Both b and c.

9. Children should be taught to use the dictionary
a. As the first strategy to use when determining the meaning of an unknown word.
b. As a means of determining the best definition when there are multiple meanings possible for a word.
c. As a last strategy when context clues fail.
d. Both b and c.

True and False
1. Vocabulary is one of the five pillars of reading comprehension as set forth in No Child Left Behind legislation.

2. Reading comprehension depends upon the meaning readers give words.

3. It is not necessary for there to be direct and explicit instruction of vocabulary words to improve academic success.

4. Stahl and Fairbanks (1986) suggest that teaching students 350 words each year may improve learning by as much as 10 to 30%.

5. Direct instruction includes specific word instruction and teaching word learning strategies.

6. To read more advanced texts, children must learn the meanings of words that are not part of their oral vocabulary.

7. Idiomatic expressions need to be explained to children whose first language is not English.

8. There are no reliable ways to teach context clues.

9. Word analogy is a technique to help children figure out unknown words by comparing parts of them to known spelling patterns.

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