Example question #1 : Praxis Core Skills: Reading

Adapted from "The Colors of Animals" by Sir John Lubbock in A Book of Natural
History (1902, ed. David Starr Jordan)

The color of animals is by no means a matter of chance; it depends on many

considerations, but in the majority of cases tends to protect the animal from
danger by rendering it less conspicuous. Perhaps it may be said that if coloring is
mainly protective, there ought to be but few brightly colored animals. There are,
however, not a few cases in which vivid colors are themselves protective. The
kingfisher itself, though so brightly colored, is by no means easy to see. The blue
harmonizes with the water, and the bird as it darts along the stream looks almost
like a flash of sunlight.

Desert animals are generally the color of the desert. Thus, for instance, the lion,
the antelope, and the wild donkey are all sand-colored. “Indeed,” says Canon
Tristram, “in the desert, where neither trees, brushwood, nor even undulation of
the surface afford the slightest protection to its foes, a modification of color
assimilated to that of the surrounding country is absolutely necessary. Hence,
without exception, the upper plumage of every bird, and also the fur of all the
smaller mammals and the skin of all the snakes and lizards, is of one uniform
sand color.”

The next point is the color of the mature caterpillars, some of which are brown.
This probably makes the caterpillar even more conspicuous among the green
leaves than would otherwise be the case. Let us see, then, whether the habits of
the insect will throw any light upon the riddle. What would you do if you were a
big caterpillar? Why, like most other defenseless creatures, you would feed by
night, and lie concealed by day. So do these caterpillars. When the morning light
comes, they creep down the stem of the food plant, and lie concealed among the
thick herbage and dry sticks and leaves, near the ground, and it is obvious that
under such circumstances the brown color really becomes a protection. It might
indeed be argued that the caterpillars, having become brown, concealed
themselves on the ground, and that we were reversing the state of things. But
this is not so, because, while we may say as a general rule that large caterpillars
feed by night and lie concealed by day, it is by no means always the case that
they are brown; some of them still retaining the green color. We may then
conclude that the habit of concealing themselves by day came first, and that the
brown color is a later adaptation.

The example of the mature caterpillar in the third paragraph is primarily intended
to demonstrate _____________.

Possible Answers:

None of these
how caterpillars have developed their specific coloring

how genetic adaptation follows and aids behavioral patterns

the extreme variability of color patterns among insects

the difficulty of explaining the reason behind specific color patterns in animals

Correct answer:

how genetic adaptation follows and aids behavioral patterns

Explanation:

In the third paragraph, the author describes the development of a brown

coloring among certain mature caterpillars, which aids their survival in the
daytime, when they hide among the sticks and twigs below their foods
sources. It is clear that the author is arguing that the caterpillar’s coloring
(“genetic adaptation”) follows and aids its habit of eating by night and hiding
during the day (“behavioral patterns”) from the excerpt that reads, “We may
then conclude that the habit of concealing themselves by day came first, and
that the brown color is a later adaptation.”
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Example Question #2 : Praxis Core Skills: Reading
Adapted from "The Colors of Animals" by Sir John Lubbock in A Book of Natural
History (1902, ed. David Starr Jordan)

The color of animals is by no means a matter of chance; it depends on many

considerations, but in the majority of cases tends to protect the animal from
danger by rendering it less conspicuous. Perhaps it may be said that if coloring is
mainly protective, there ought to be but few brightly colored animals. There are,
however, not a few cases in which vivid colors are themselves protective. The
kingfisher itself, though so brightly colored, is by no means easy to see. The blue
harmonizes with the water, and the bird as it darts along the stream looks almost
like a flash of sunlight.

Desert animals are generally the color of the desert. Thus, for instance, the lion,
the antelope, and the wild donkey are all sand-colored. “Indeed,” says Canon
Tristram, “in the desert, where neither trees, brushwood, nor even undulation of
the surface afford the slightest protection to its foes, a modification of color
assimilated to that of the surrounding country is absolutely necessary. Hence,
without exception, the upper plumage of every bird, and also the fur of all the
smaller mammals and the skin of all the snakes and lizards, is of one uniform
sand color.”

The next point is the color of the mature caterpillars, some of which are brown.
This probably makes the caterpillar even more conspicuous among the green
leaves than would otherwise be the case. Let us see, then, whether the habits of
the insect will throw any light upon the riddle. What would you do if you were a
big caterpillar? Why, like most other defenseless creatures, you would feed by
night, and lie concealed by day. So do these caterpillars. When the morning light
comes, they creep down the stem of the food plant, and lie concealed among the
thick herbage and dry sticks and leaves, near the ground, and it is obvious that
under such circumstances the brown color really becomes a protection. It might
indeed be argued that the caterpillars, having become brown, concealed
themselves on the ground, and that we were reversing the state of things. But
this is not so, because, while we may say as a general rule that large caterpillars
feed by night and lie concealed by day, it is by no means always the case that
they are brown; some of them still retaining the green color. We may then
conclude that the habit of concealing themselves by day came first, and that the
brown color is a later adaptation.

The example of the kingfisher in the first paragraph is intended to

prove ______________.

Possible Answers:

that the color of an animal is an extraneous detail, evolutionarily speaking

None of these answers; it is an anecdotal story designed to inject some levity

into the passage

that the color of an animal is, statistically speaking, most likely to be adapted

to match the background color of its environment

that the color of an animal is always adapted to match the background color of

its environment

that the color of an animal is not always adapted to match the background

color of its environment

Correct answer:

that the color of an animal is not always adapted to match the background

color of its environment

Explanation:
This question asks you to read the first paragraph carefully and to understand
the argument that the author is making. Lubbock says, “Perhaps it may be
said that if coloring is mainly protective, there ought to be but few brightly
colored animals. There are, however, not a few cases in which vivid colors are
themselves protective.” So, while the colors of different animals
generally match their environment, sometimes there are cases in which vivid
colors offer better protection, as in the case of the kingfisher. There is no one
rule about how an animal’s coloring might be adapted. As the author says,
“The blue harmonizes with the water, and the bird as it darts along the stream
looks almost like a flash of sunlight.” So, the kingfisher is better protected by
vibrant colors. This question asks you to relate a specific detail to the larger
argument and logic of the passage.
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Example Question #3 : Praxis Core Skills: Reading
Adapted from "The Colors of Animals" by Sir John Lubbock in A Book of Natural
History (1902, ed. David Starr Jordan)

The color of animals is by no means a matter of chance; it depends on many

considerations, but in the majority of cases tends to protect the animal from
danger by rendering it less conspicuous. Perhaps it may be said that if coloring is
mainly protective, there ought to be but few brightly colored animals. There are,
however, not a few cases in which vivid colors are themselves protective. The
kingfisher itself, though so brightly colored, is by no means easy to see. The blue
harmonizes with the water, and the bird as it darts along the stream looks almost
like a flash of sunlight.

Desert animals are generally the color of the desert. Thus, for instance, the lion,
the antelope, and the wild donkey are all sand-colored. “Indeed,” says Canon
Tristram, “in the desert, where neither trees, brushwood, nor even undulation of
the surface afford the slightest protection to its foes, a modification of color
assimilated to that of the surrounding country is absolutely necessary. Hence,
without exception, the upper plumage of every bird, and also the fur of all the
smaller mammals and the skin of all the snakes and lizards, is of one uniform
sand color.”

The next point is the color of the mature caterpillars, some of which are brown.
This probably makes the caterpillar even more conspicuous among the green
leaves than would otherwise be the case. Let us see, then, whether the habits of
the insect will throw any light upon the riddle. What would you do if you were a
big caterpillar? Why, like most other defenseless creatures, you would feed by
night, and lie concealed by day. So do these caterpillars. When the morning light
comes, they creep down the stem of the food plant, and lie concealed among the
thick herbage and dry sticks and leaves, near the ground, and it is obvious that
under such circumstances the brown color really becomes a protection. It might
indeed be argued that the caterpillars, having become brown, concealed
themselves on the ground, and that we were reversing the state of things. But
this is not so, because, while we may say as a general rule that large caterpillars
feed by night and lie concealed by day, it is by no means always the case that
they are brown; some of them still retaining the green color. We may then
conclude that the habit of concealing themselves by day came first, and that the
brown color is a later adaptation.

What is the main idea of this passage?

Possible Answers:

None of these

Animals inherit their coloration from their parents and pass on the same genes
to their offspring

The color of an animal is not coincidental, but is an adaptation developed over

time to aid its survival

The coloring of animals changes widely over time and in different parts of the
world

The coloring of mature caterpillars is very difficult to explain without

considering the behavior patterns they exhibit

Correct answer:

The color of an animal is not coincidental, but is an adaptation developed over

time to aid its survival

Explanation:

The main argument made in this excerpt is that the coloring of animals is not
coincidental, and that every animal is a particular color for a reason. Either the
coloring matches with the environment to offer the animal some protection, or
else it somehow supports the animal’s behavioral patterns. This idea is most
clearly stated by the author in the opening sentence where he says, "The
color of animals is by no means a matter of chance; it depends on many
considerations . . . "
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Example Question #1 : Determining How A Specific
Detail Informs The Argument
Adapted from "The Colors of Animals" by Sir John Lubbock in A Book of Natural
History (1902, ed. David Starr Jordan)

The color of animals is by no means a matter of chance; it depends on many

considerations, but in the majority of cases tends to protect the animal from
danger by rendering it less conspicuous. Perhaps it may be said that if coloring is
mainly protective, there ought to be but few brightly colored animals. There are,
however, not a few cases in which vivid colors are themselves protective. The
kingfisher itself, though so brightly colored, is by no means easy to see. The blue
harmonizes with the water, and the bird as it darts along the stream looks almost
like a flash of sunlight.

Desert animals are generally the color of the desert. Thus, for instance, the lion,
the antelope, and the wild donkey are all sand-colored. “Indeed,” says Canon
Tristram, “in the desert, where neither trees, brushwood, nor even undulation of
the surface afford the slightest protection to its foes, a modification of color
assimilated to that of the surrounding country is absolutely necessary. Hence,
without exception, the upper plumage of every bird, and also the fur of all the
smaller mammals and the skin of all the snakes and lizards, is of one uniform
sand color.”

The next point is the color of the mature caterpillars, some of which are brown.
This probably makes the caterpillar even more conspicuous among the green
leaves than would otherwise be the case. Let us see, then, whether the habits of
the insect will throw any light upon the riddle. What would you do if you were a
big caterpillar? Why, like most other defenseless creatures, you would feed by
night, and lie concealed by day. So do these caterpillars. When the morning light
comes, they creep down the stem of the food plant, and lie concealed among the
thick herbage and dry sticks and leaves, near the ground, and it is obvious that
under such circumstances the brown color really becomes a protection. It might
indeed be argued that the caterpillars, having become brown, concealed
themselves on the ground, and that we were reversing the state of things. But
this is not so, because, while we may say as a general rule that large caterpillars
feed by night and lie concealed by day, it is by no means always the case that
they are brown; some of them still retaining the green color. We may then
conclude that the habit of concealing themselves by day came first, and that the
brown color is a later adaptation.

Why is it particularly important for desert animals to match their coloration to the

color of the desert?

Possible Answers:
Because food and water are especially scarce in the desert

Because the color of the desert is remarkably similar to the natural colors of
many animals

Because the barren, sparse environment of the desert ensures a lack of

natural protection and cover

Because the predators in the desert are especially quick and deadly

Because the color tones of the desert are particularly suited to swift

evolutionary adaptation

Correct answer:

Because the barren, sparse environment of the desert ensures a lack of

natural protection and cover

Explanation:

This question requires that you to pay attention to details and be able to
interpret a small portion of text. In the relevant section, the author says, "in the
desert, where neither trees, brushwood, nor even undulation of the surface
afford the slightest protection to its foes, a modification of color assimilated to
that of the surrounding country is absolutely necessary.” So, in the desert,
there are no trees or changes in the surface of the earth to provide cover and
protection (“inherent desolation”); therefore, it is especially vital for desert
animals to mimic the color of their environment to ensure they can remain
hidden. Understanding the reasoning behind this specific detail reveals an
understanding of the overall logic of the passage.
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Example Question #5 : Praxis Core Skills: Reading
Adapted from "The Colors of Animals" by Sir John Lubbock in A Book of Natural
History (1902, ed. David Starr Jordan)

The color of animals is by no means a matter of chance; it depends on many

considerations, but in the majority of cases tends to protect the animal from
danger by rendering it less conspicuous. Perhaps it may be said that if coloring is
mainly protective, there ought to be but few brightly colored animals. There are,
however, not a few cases in which vivid colors are themselves protective. The
kingfisher itself, though so brightly colored, is by no means easy to see. The blue
harmonizes with the water, and the bird as it darts along the stream looks almost
like a flash of sunlight.

Desert animals are generally the color of the desert. Thus, for instance, the lion,
the antelope, and the wild donkey are all sand-colored. “Indeed,” says Canon
Tristram, “in the desert, where neither trees, brushwood, nor even undulation of
the surface afford the slightest protection to its foes, a modification of color
assimilated to that of the surrounding country is absolutely necessary. Hence,
without exception, the upper plumage of every bird, and also the fur of all the
smaller mammals and the skin of all the snakes and lizards, is of one uniform
sand color.”

The next point is the color of the mature caterpillars, some of which are brown.
This probably makes the caterpillar even more conspicuous among the green
leaves than would otherwise be the case. Let us see, then, whether the habits of
the insect will throw any light upon the riddle. What would you do if you were a
big caterpillar? Why, like most other defenseless creatures, you would feed by
night, and lie concealed by day. So do these caterpillars. When the morning light
comes, they creep down the stem of the food plant, and lie concealed among the
thick herbage and dry sticks and leaves, near the ground, and it is obvious that
under such circumstances the brown color really becomes a protection. It might
indeed be argued that the caterpillars, having become brown, concealed
themselves on the ground, and that we were reversing the state of things. But
this is not so, because, while we may say as a general rule that large caterpillars
feed by night and lie concealed by day, it is by no means always the case that
they are brown; some of them still retaining the green color. We may then
conclude that the habit of concealing themselves by day came first, and that the
brown color is a later adaptation.

The tone of this passage is __________.

Possible Answers:

noble

authoritative

serene

irate

abrasive

Correct answer:
authoritative

Explanation:

This passage reads like an academic essay with a clear and focused thesis.
There is little tonal inflection one way or another, so answering this question is
probably most easily done by eliminating answer choices that are definitely
incorrect. For example, the author is definitely not “irate” (angry) or “abrasive”
(rude and offensive). Likewise, he is not really “serene” (peaceful). That
leaves “humble” and “authoritative,” which are in many ways opposites of one
another. As the author’s argument is well laid out and seems to offer little
room for compromise, we can reasonably deduce his tone is more
“authoritative” than it is “noble.”
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Example Question #6 : Praxis Core Skills: Reading
Adapted from "The Colors of Animals" by Sir John Lubbock in A Book of Natural
History (1902, ed. David Starr Jordan)

The color of animals is by no means a matter of chance; it depends on many

considerations, but in the majority of cases tends to protect the animal from
danger by rendering it less conspicuous. Perhaps it may be said that if coloring is
mainly protective, there ought to be but few brightly colored animals. There are,
however, not a few cases in which vivid colors are themselves protective. The
kingfisher itself, though so brightly colored, is by no means easy to see. The blue
harmonizes with the water, and the bird as it darts along the stream looks almost
like a flash of sunlight.

Desert animals are generally the color of the desert. Thus, for instance, the lion,
the antelope, and the wild donkey are all sand-colored. “Indeed,” says Canon
Tristram, “in the desert, where neither trees, brushwood, nor even undulation of
the surface afford the slightest protection to its foes, a modification of color
assimilated to that of the surrounding country is absolutely necessary. Hence,
without exception, the upper plumage of every bird, and also the fur of all the
smaller mammals and the skin of all the snakes and lizards, is of one uniform
sand color.”

The next point is the color of the mature caterpillars, some of which are brown.
This probably makes the caterpillar even more conspicuous among the green
leaves than would otherwise be the case. Let us see, then, whether the habits of
the insect will throw any light upon the riddle. What would you do if you were a
big caterpillar? Why, like most other defenseless creatures, you would feed by
night, and lie concealed by day. So do these caterpillars. When the morning light
comes, they creep down the stem of the food plant, and lie concealed among the
thick herbage and dry sticks and leaves, near the ground, and it is obvious that
under such circumstances the brown color really becomes a protection. It might
indeed be argued that the caterpillars, having become brown, concealed
themselves on the ground, and that we were reversing the state of things. But
this is not so, because, while we may say as a general rule that large caterpillars
feed by night and lie concealed by day, it is by no means always the case that
they are brown; some of them still retaining the green color. We may then
conclude that the habit of concealing themselves by day came first, and that the
brown color is a later adaptation.

In the context of how it is used throughout this passage, the bolded and
underlined word “conspicuous” means _____________.

Possible Answers:

difficult to see

noticeable

annoying

dreadful

None of these

Correct answer:

noticeable

Explanation:

The word “conspicuous” means obvious, easily noticed, or noticeable. Even

if you did not know this precise definition, you can still answer the question
correctly by examining the context in which "conspicuous" is used to try and
decipher any clues the text provides about its meaning. The author, referring
to the brown color of certain mature caterpillars, says, "This probably makes
the caterpillar even more conspicuous among the green leaves than would
otherwise be the case.” The author is saying that the caterpillar is brown and
is among green leaves; it therefore makes sense that a brown creature on a
green background would be more “noticeable” than a green creature on a
green background.
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Example Question #7 : Praxis Core Skills: Reading
Let me say this clearly: Becky stole the money. The proof is that when I asked her
about it she averted her gaze, and I certainly can't think of any other reason to
explain that.

The claim made in the first sentence of this passage is ________________.

Possible Answers:

supported by quantitative evidence

supported by solid anecdotal evidence

supported by deeply inadequate evidence

supported by logical evidence

not supported by any evidence whatsoever

Correct answer:

supported by deeply inadequate evidence

Explanation:

The key thing to remember here is that the claim made in the passage IS
supported by evidence. Even inadequate evidence, when used in support of a
claim is evidence, it's just bad evidence. The evidence here is a simple
aversion of a gaze, which neither logically nor empirically is evidence of
anything. The claim is thus supported by deeply inadequate evidence.