TSIA2 ELAR

TSIA2 ELAR

Upward Bound Math and Science

TSI Exam

As you may know, the TSI (Texas Success Initiative) is an exam that determines your readiness for college-level coursework in the general areas of reading, writing, and mathematics.

What is the TSIA2 exam?

Currently, the TSI exam rebranded as the The Texas Assessment Initiative Assessment 2.0 (TSIA2) and consists the same general areas of reading, writing, and mathematics as the TSI. The difference between the TSI and TSIA2 is the fact that they have combined the Reading and Writing sections and is now called "English

Language Arts and Reading (ELAR)."

TSIA2 ELAR

The TSIA2 English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR) test covers four main categories: two reading focused and two writing focused.

- Reading: ƒƒLiterary text analysis (explicit information, inferences, author’s craft, vocabulary) and ƒƒInformational text analysis and synthesis (main ideas and supporting details, inferences [single-passage], author’s craft, vocabulary, synthesis [paired argumentative passages])

- Writing: ƒƒEssay revision and editing (development, organization, effective language use, Standard English conventions) and ƒƒSentence revision, editing, and completion (conventions of grammar, conventions of usage, and conventions of punctuation)

TSIA2 ELAR

The TSIA2 English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR) test will still include an essay. The Essay Test requires you to provide a 300 to 600 word essay in response to one randomly selected prompt. 

Questions?

Questions 1-15

Read the corresponding passage for each question and then choose the best answer to the question.

Multiple Choice

1. The first paragraph (sentences 1–5) suggests which of the following about the relationship between university students and teachers and the Imperial Book Depot?

• University people avoid Yashwant and Balwant because the two do not speak English well.

• Students will soon start buying their books from a newer and more modern bookshop.

• Both students and teachers prefer the Imperial Book Depot to the bookshop closer to campus.

• Teachers dislike using complicated handwritten forms to order books for their classes.

Multiple Choice

2. In the second paragraph (sentences 6–9), the narrator indicates which of the following about Imperial Book Depot business practices?

• The staff acquire only those books that are most indemand.

• The clerks prefer to help people find nonacademicbooks and magazines.

• The owners employ students and rely on teachersfor information.

• Staff members are generally lazy and take too manybreaks for tea.

Multiple Choice

3. As used in sentence 8, “readily” most nearly means -

• easily

• gladly

• willingly

• voluntarily

Multiple Choice

4. The third paragraph (sentences 10–17) suggests that Lata regards science as

• a topic that is less engaging than fiction

• an interest that is not worth pursuing

• a simple but appealing field of study

• n unfamiliar but intriguing subject

Multiple Choice

5. The author of Passage 1 would most likely criticize the author of Passage 2 for

• overemphasizing the significance of a company’s size

• overlooking the environmental benefits ofgoing paperless

• failing to consider an alternative to eliminatingall paper

• underestimating the consequences oftechnological issues

Multiple Choice

6. The authors of both passages probably would characterize telecommuters as being generally

• unproductive

• stressed

• hardworking

• satisfied

Multiple Choice

7. The author uses the term “natural” to indicate that the dentures of the 18th and 19th centuries

• resembled real human teeth

• included some real human teeth

• contained animal teeth rather than artificialsubstances

• were made of materials found in nature

Multiple Choice

8. What is the main purpose of this passage?

• To explain the need for copyright laws

• To show how copyright laws have been applied

• To indicate how copyright laws have changed

• To argue that copyright laws need to be expanded

Multiple Choice

9. In the first sentence, “expanding” most nearly means

• intensifying

• broadening

• developing

• exaggerating

Multiple Choice

10. In context, “secure” (sentence 3) most nearly means

• shelter

• fasten

• obtain

• guarantee

Multiple Choice

11. It can be inferred from the passage that metal pipes

• are used more than PVC pipes outside of the United States

• are more expensive than PVC pipes

• are more likely to corrode than PVC pipes

• are no longer used in the United States

Multiple Choice

12. All of the following statements about the vending machines discussed in the passage are true EXCEPT

• they dispensed chewing gum in exchange for coins

• they were the first of their kind in the country

• they were utilized by train passengers

• they were originally designed to entertaincustomers

Multiple Choice

13. According to the passage, Noah Webster

• helped write the Constitution

• was a poor speller

• authored a new dictionary

• was unknown in his lifetime

Multiple Choice

14. The

passage is primarily about

• the damage done by swarms of desert locusts

• the consumption behavior of the desert locust

• comparing real plagues to mythical ones

• protecting vulnerable areas from desert locusts

Multiple Choice

15. Does the author agree with the “historians” who attribute the origins of the American front porch to the classical Roman portico?

• Yes, because the word “porch” derives from theLatin word portico

• Yes, because the buildings of ancient Rome haveinfluenced many American architects

• No, because Roman porticos had public uses ratherthan domestic ones

• No, because Italian architecture was popular inEurope but not in America

Questions 16-19

Read the following early draft of an essay and then choose the best answer to the question or the best completion of the statement.

Multiple Choice

16. In context, which phrase should replace the vague pronoun “them” in sentence 4 (reproduced below)?

In one study, researchers asked participants to read words and have them scanned by a brain imaging machine.

• the researchers

• the participants

• the words

• their brains

Multiple Choice

17. Which sentence provides unnecessary information and should be deleted from the second paragraph (sentences 4–10)?

• Sentence 4

• Sentence 5

• Sentence 6

• Sentence 9

Multiple Choice

18. In context, which of the following is the best way to revise and combine sentences 7 and 8 (reproduced below)?

In another study, metaphors involving texture, suchas “The singer had a velvet voice,” roused the sensory cortex, while phrases such as “The singer had a pleasing voice” did not. The sensory cortex is the part of the brain responsible for perceiving texture through touch.

• Since the sensory cortex is the part of the brain responsible for perceiving texture through touch, in another study, metaphors involving texture, such as “The singer had a velvet voice,” roused it, while phrases such as “The singer had a pleasing voice” did not.

• In another study, metaphors involving texture, such as “The singer had a velvet voice,” roused the sensory cortex, the part of the brain responsible for perceiving texture through touch, while phrases such as “The singer had a pleasing voice” did not.

• In another study, metaphors involving texture, such as “The singer had a velvet voice,” roused the sensory cortex, while phrases such as “The singer had a pleasing voice” did not and it is the part of the brain responsible for perceiving texture through touch.

• In another study, metaphors involving texture, such as “The singer had a velvet voice,” roused the sensory cortex, while phrases such as “The singer had a pleasing voice” did not; however, the sensory cortex is the part of the brain responsible for perceiving texture through touch.

Multiple Choice

19. Which piece of evidence, if added to the third paragraph (sentences 11–13), would best support the writer’s argument?

• Information about a study that showed substantialoverlap in the parts of the brain used to understand stories and those used to navigate interactions with other people

• A discussion of how the nature of reading has changed due to people choosing to read books, magazines, and newspapers on computers and mobile devices rather than in print

• A quote from a neuroscientist about the connection between watching television and decreasedbrain activity

• A statement from a teacher about how reading great literature enhances students’ minds and improves students as human beings

Questions 20-30

Select the best version of the underlined part of the sentence. If you think the original sentence is best, choose the first answer.

Multiple Choice

20. Indiana is the smallest state in the Midwest although they have one of the largest populations of any state in that region.

• although they have

• although with

• but has

• but they have

Multiple Choice

21. The fans in the audience expressed one’s appreciation for the performance by giving the lead actor a standing ovation.

• one’s

• their

• its

• your

Multiple Choice

22. Charleston, South Carolina, is a popular city for tourists, with their historical sites and beautiful weather.

• with their historical sites and beautiful weather

• with its historical sites and beautiful weather

• it has historical sites and beautiful weather

• because of their historical sites and beautifulweather

Multiple Choice

23. If I see the man who works at that store, he is wearing a green baseball cap.

• If

• Until

• Whenever

• Even though

Multiple Choice

24. Walking on a leash and barking on command, the judges were impressed by the dog.

• judges were impressed by the dog

• dog impressed the judges

• judges were being impressed by the dog

• dog having impressed the judges

Multiple Choice

25. Nothing grows as well in Kentucky as burley tobacco, being the state’s chief agricultural crop.

• tobacco, being the

• tobacco, the

• tobacco and the

• tobacco, it is the

Multiple Choice

26. Some children are taught by precept rather than by example, they do not tend to adopt their parents’ values.

• Some children are taught by precept rather than by example, they

• Teaching children by precept rather than by example, the result is they

• Because some children are taught by precept rather than by example and

• Children who are taught by precept rather than by example

Multiple Choice

27. With the increase in fuel prices, and some truck drivers being in very difficult circumstances.

• With the increase in fuel prices, and some truck drivers being

• With the increase in fuel prices, some truck drivers are

• With fuel prices being what they are, some truck drivers being

• Fuel prices being what they are, thus some truck drivers are

Multiple Choice

28. Because Jean Rhys grew up in the West Indies island of Dominica and was educated there; this served as excellent background material for her most successful novel, Wide Sargasso Sea, which is set in the West Indies.

• there; this served as

• there; thus giving her

• there, she had

• there, and therefore she had

Multiple Choice

29. Stamp collecting being a hobby sometimes used in schools to teach economics and social studies.

• collecting being a hobby

• collecting, a hobby,

• collecting, which is a hobby

• collecting is a hobby

Multiple Choice

30. The committee members took a long lunch break to tour the city, the committee members reconvened.

• The committee members took

• After taking

• While the committee members took

• Although taking