CHAPTER THREE

 

LEARNER DIVERSITY: DIFFERENCES IN TODAY’S STUDENTS

Knowledge-Level Items

 

  1. The attitudes, values, customs, and behavior that characterize a social group are best described as

a.           culture.

b.           ethnicity.

c.           exceptionalities.

d.           socioeconomic status.

 

  1. A person’s ancestry and the way individuals identify themselves with the nation from which they or their ancestors came is best described as

a.        culture.

b.       ethnicity.

c.        exceptionalities.

d.       socioeconomic status.

 

  1. Consider the following ethnic groups: Hispanic, African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, American Indian/Alaskan Native and Non-Hispanic White.  Experts estimate that by 2020 significant increases will occur in the percentage of the school population in each of these groups except one, and this one will decrease in percentage.  The group that will decrease in percentage is

a.           Hispanic.

b.           African American.

c.           Asian/Pacific Islander.

d.           Non-Hispanic White.

 

  1. According to research, which of the following statements best de4scribes students’ tendencies to drop nonstandard English dialects in favor of standard English?

a.        Students quickly drop nonstandard dialects because they don’t want to appear as if they aren’t “cool” or “withit” to their peers.

b.       Students quickly drop nonstandard dialects because the school curriculum uses standard English.

c.        Students are sometimes reluctant to drop nonstandard dialects in favor of standard English because the nonstandard dialect is the language of the home.

d.       Students are sometimes reluctant to drop nonstandard dialects in favor of standard English for fear of alienating peers.

 

  1. Which of the following statements best describes “resistance cultures"?

a.        Cultural characteristics that detract from a group’s assimilation into American culture

b.       Ability differences that detract from a student’s success in school activities

c.        Peer values that don’t support, and sometimes actually oppose, school learning

d.       Learner exceptionalities that make acquiring certain skills, such as reading, difficult

 

  1. Researchers have attempted to understand the high success rates of Southeast Asian students who have been in the United States a relatively short period of time.  Of the following which is the most accurate description of the researchers’ findings?

a.        The researchers found that the families of these children placed heavy emphasis on the importance of education and hard work.

b.       The researchers found that these children were innately superior to American children as measured by intelligence tests.

c.        The researchers found that, because the children’s families had come from war-torn areas, teachers gave the children added support and attention.

d.       The researchers found that the children had virtually no involvement in extracurricular activities, so they devoted all their energies to academics.


  1. Researchers have examined the effects of teachers changing their instruction so they ask more open-ended questions, such as “What do you notice about the information on the overhead?” instead of asking questions requiring specific answers.  Which of the following is the most accurate description of the effects of this change in instruction?

a.        The participation of African American students in the class increased.

b.       The participation of African American students in the class was not changed.

c.        The participation of African American students was not changed but the answers the students gave to the open-ended questions indicated less thought on the part of the students.

d.       The participation of African American students decreased.

 

  1. The process of socializing cultural minorities so that their behaviors fit the social patterns of the majority is best described as

a.        cultural inversion.

b.       assimilation

c.        multicultural education.

d.       culturally responsive teaching.

 

  1. Evidence indicates that the concept of America as a melting pot never fully occurred.  Which of the following statements provides the best evidence indicating that America never was a true and complete melting pot?

a.        Neighborhoods and groups continue to celebrate unique cultural festivals and maintain cultural habits.

b.       Many people came to the United States as non-native English speakers.

c.        The number of minority students in America’s schools is rapidly increasing.

d.       The achievement of some minority groups tends to lag behind the achievement of white students.

 

  1. “A variety of strategies chools use to accommodate cultural differences and provide educational opportunities for all students” is best described as

a.        cultural inversion

b.       cultural assimilation

c.        cultural accommodation.

d.       multicultural education.

 

  1. Which of the following are considered to be characteristics of culturally responsive teaching?

(1)  Accepting and valuing differences among ethnic groups

(2)  Emphasizing that all ethnic groups are American

(3)  Accommodating different cultural learning styles

(4)  Building on students’ cultural backgrounds

(5)  Individualizing instruction for different cultural minorities

 

a.        1, 2, 3, 4, 5

b.       2, 3, 4

c.        1, 3, 4

d.       1, 3, 4, 5

 

  1. Which of the following is the most accurate description of English language learners (ELL)?

a.        Students who have developed English language proficiency

b.       Students whose first language is not English

c.        Students who are native English speakers

d.       Students who can read English but cannot yet speak English

 

  1. Which of the following best describes the primary disadvantage of maintenance bilingual programs?

a.        They maintain the native language at the expense of English.

b.       They require teachers trained in the first language (such as a teacher who speaks Spanish).

c.        They place unreasonable learning demands on the students.

d.       They maintain outmoded an ineffective ways of thinking about the world.

 


  1. A program for ESL students in which they focus on learning English and only English is spoken best describes a(n)

a.        maintenance program.

b.       transition program.

c.        immersion program.

d.       English as a Second Language program.

 

  1. Based on research examining the rate at which newcomers to the United States are learning English, which of the following statements is most accurate?

a.        Newcomers are learning English at a much slower rate than they have in the past (about half as fast as they half in the past.

b.       Newcomers are learning English at a slightly slower rate than they have in the past (about 5% slower than in the past).

c.        Newcomers are learning English at a rate that is about equal to past rates.

d.       Newcomers are learning English more rapidly than they have in the past.

 

  1. As you move into your teaching career, you are almost certain to have non-native English speakers in your classroom.  Which of the following is the most effective way to help your non-native English speakers as their language skills are developing?

a.        Explain everything you do slowly and clearly so that your non-native English speakers have time to try to grasp the language.

b.       Use as many concrete examples as possible to provide real and tangible reference points for new concepts and vocabulary.

c.        Have students explain topics to other students in their own words, because students often better identify with other students’ language than the language of the teacher.

d.       Avoid having a classroom that is too highly structured, since some cultural groups are not comfortable in highly structured environments.

 

  1. Which of the following is NOT true of research on gender differences?

a.        Males are more likely to be found in remedial and special education classes.

b.       Males score lower on tests such as the SAT and ACT.

c.        Males receive lower grades in school.

d.       Males earn proportionally fewer bachelor’s degrees and master’s degrees.

 

  1. According to research on gender differences, which of the following statements are true?

(1)  Boys score higher than girls on standardized tests, such s the SAT and ACT.

(2)  Boys get higher grades than girls, and they score higher on measures of writing ability.

(3)  Boys earn a higher percentage of both bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

(4)  Boys have more behavior problems in school than do girls.

(5)  Boys are more likely to drop out of school than are girls.

 

a.        1, 2, 3, 4, 5

b.       1, 3, 5

c.        1, 4, 5

d.       1, 3, 4, 5

 

  1. Of the following what is the most likely cause of gender-role identity?

a.        It is primarily determined by genetics, which determines not only physical characteristics but also factors such as temperament and verbal ability.

b.       It is primarily environmental, resulting from different treatment by parents, peers, and teachers.

c.        It is a combination of genetics and environment, with both contributing in varying degrees.

d.       It is the result of gender-specific treatment during infancy, resulting in behavioral traits that endure throughout life.


  1. Of the following which is the most likely cause of gender-stereotyped views of appropriate careers for boys and girls (such as engineering or computer science being inappropriate careers for girls)?

a.        Parental attitudes and particularly the attitudes of fathers

b.       Parental attitudes and particularly the attitudes of mothers

c.        \Teachers’ subconscious discouragement of non-stereotypical careers (such as a teacher’s subtly discouraging a girl from majoring in engineering in college)

d.       The media portraying men’s and women’s careers in stereotypic ways (such as computer scientists in the media usually being portrayed as men)

 

  1. Which of the following best describes girls’ career choices in areas such as engineering or computer science?

a.        Girls historically chose not to major in these areas, but the percentage of girls who now major in them is rapidly increasing.

b.       Girls remain less than half as likely as boys to pursue careers in these areas.

c.        Girls now make up slightly less than half of the college majors in these areas.

d.       Girls now earn about 55 percent of the bachelor degrees in these areas.

 

  1. Which of the following is the most commonly cited criticism of single-gender schools?

a.        Girls in single-gender schools take fewer science courses than they take in traditional school settings.

b.       Boys in single-gender schools have higher levels of character development than do boys in traditional school settings.

c.        Girls in single-gender schools are more apt to assume leadership roles that are often reserved for boys in traditional school settings.

d.       Both boys and girls in single-gender schools develop more gender-stereotyped attitudes of the opposite sex than they develop in traditional school settings.

 

  1. Which of the following statements most accurately describes teachers’ interaction patterns with boys and girls?

a.        Teachers ask boys more questions than girls.

b.       Teachers ask girls more questions than boys.

c.        Girls initiate more questions than do boys, so teachers interact with them more often.

d.       Teachers treat boys and girls nearly the same.

 

  1. According to a survey conducted by the American Association of University Women (1993), what percentage of eighth through eleventh graders reported some type of sexual harassment in their schoolsL?

a.        15%

b.       30%

c.        50%

d.       80%

 

  1. According to research surveys, which statement best describes the experiences of homosexual students in schools?

a.        Homosexual students experience a much higher incidence of harassment than do students in general (over 90% of gay students hearing antigay comments).

b.       Homosexual students experience an incidence of harassment similar to that of heterosexual girls (about 80% having experienced some form of harassment).

c.        Homosexual students experience less harassment than heterosexual girls but more than heterosexual boys.

d.       Homosexual students experience a level of harassment similar to that of students in general, since many of their peers don’t know that they’re homosexual.


  1. Which of the following items, or items similar to them, would likely appear on an intelligence test?

(1)     On what continent is Chile?

(2)     Who was Isaac Newton?

(3)     How are a river and a plateau alike?

(4)     A shirt priced at $36 is marked 1/3 off.  When it doesn’t sell, the sale price is reduced by half.  What is the price after the second reduction?

(5)     How far is it from Los Angeles to New York?

 

a.           1, 2, 3, 4, 5

b.           3, 4, 5

c.           3, 4

d.           1, 3, 4

 

  1. “The ability to learn, to deal with abstractions, and to solve problems” most clearly relates to a description of

a.        intelligence.

b.       learning style.

c.        field dependence/independence.

d.       impulsiveness and reflectiveness.

 

  1. Using Gardner’s theory of intelligence, in which of the following dimensions would sales people be most likely to score highly?

a.        Intrapersonal intelligence

b.       Visual-spatial intelligence

c.        Logical-mathematical intelligence

d.       Interpersonal intelligence

 

  1. Consider the issue of nature/nurture in intelligence.  Which of the following statements is most accurate according to researchers?

a.        Intelligence is determined primarily by genetics, and it is only minimally alterable by experience.

b.       Intelligence is determined primarily by the environment, with genetics having only a minimal impact.

c.        Genetics and the environment both make major contributions to intelligence.

d.       Intelligence is determined primarily by genetics when children are young (such as preschool), but later the environment is much more important.

 

  1. Within-class ability grouping is most commonly used in which of the following?

a.        Reading and math

b.       Math and science

c.        Reading and science

d.       Language arts and science

 

  1. research indicates that ability grouping often has negative effects on students placed in low-ability groups, resulting in lower than expected achievement.  Of the following the best explanation for these results is

a.        organizing instruction is more difficult for low ability students than it is for high ability students, and as a result, achievement is lowered.

b.       low-ability students are usually more fearful of their teachers, and as a result achievement is lowered.

c.        teachers tend to have lowered expectations for low-ability student, and as a result, teachers tend to lack enthusiasm about their instruction and stress conformity more than learning.

d.       Teachers of low-ability students tend to have less access to materials that enhance learning, and as a result achievement is lowered.


  1. Consider the effects on low-ability students of being homogeneously grouped (i.e., grouped with other low-ability students) as compared to low-ability students being placed in classes with a variety of ability levels.  Which of the following is the most accurate statements according to research?

a.        Homogeneously grouped low-ability students achieve more than low-ability students placed in classes with a variety of ability levels because of the extra help they receive in classes designed for low-ability students.

b.       Homogeneously grouped low-ability students achieve more than low-ability students placed in classes with a variety of ability levels because the pace of the classes designed for low-ability students is slow enough to allow them to keep up.

c.        Homogeneously grouped low-ability students achieve at about the same level as low-ability students placed in classes with a variety of ability levels.

d.       Homogeneously grouped low-ability students achieve less than low-ability students placed in classes with a variety of ability levels.

 

  1. “Your preferred way of learning and processing information” best describes

a.        intelligence.

b.       culture.

c.        socioeconomic status.

d.       learning style.

 

  1. A learner that is able to take a complex word problem in math, for example, and break it into several sub-steps that would make solving the problem easier would best be described as

a.        having an impulsive learning style.

b.       having a reflective learning style.

c.        being a field-dependent learner.

d.       being a field-independent learner.

 

  1. Naomi is very good at seeing the “big picture,” and she is frequently called on to put situations into a whole perspective.  Of the following which is the best conclusion about Naomi’s learning style?

a.        She has an impulsive learning style.

b.       She has a reflective learning style.

c.        She has a field-dependent learning style.

d.       She has a field-independent learning style.

 

  1. According to researchers, of the following what is the best example of a cultural learning style?

a.        The tendency of some cultural groups to score lower on standardized measures of achievement.

b.       The tendency of some cultural groups to favor cooperation over competition among their members

c.        The tendency of some groups to form resistance cultures, in which peer pressure devalues school achievement

d.       The tendency of some people to score very high on some of Gardner’s intelligences but not in others.

 

  1. Based on research, which of the following is the most valid implication of learning style research for the way we teach?

a.        We should be aware that students are different and vary the way we teach.

b.       We should try to match our instruction to the individual learning styles of our students.

c.        We should assess our students’ learning styles and group students according to the assessment results.

d.       We should try to do as much cooperative learning as possible, because cooperative learning capitalizes on learning style differences.

 

  1. Students’ awareness of the ways they learn most effectively and their ability to control these factors is best described as

a.        field independence.

b.       cultural inversion.

c.        learning style.

d.       metacognition.


  1. Which of the following are classified as students with exceptionalities?

(1)     Students who are mentally retarded

(2)     Students who are learning disabled

(3)     Students who are behaviorally disordered

(4)     Students who are gifted and talented

 

a.           1, 2, 3, 4

b.           1, 2, 3

c.           1, 2

d.           1, 2, 4

 

  1. If you have students with exceptionalities in your classes, into which of the following categories are they most likely to fall?

a.        Students with visual impairments

b.       Students with mental retardation

c.        Students with learning disabilities

d.       Students with behavioral disorders

 

  1. Which of the following is the most accurate description of Public Law 94-142?

a.        Students with exceptionalities should be taught in as normal a school setting as possible while still meeting the students’ special academic, social, and physical needs.

b.       Students with exceptionalities should be given as much extra academic assistance as necessary to accommodate their special learning needs and help them compete acceptably with non-exceptional students.

c.        Students with exceptionalities should be provided with the extra counseling services needed to help them maintain self-esteem and learn to cope with their physical, emotional, and academic exceptionalities.

 

  1. Of the following the description that most closely relates to mainstreaming is

a.        Parents are guaranteed involvement in all aspects of the evaluation of their children.

b.       Students with exceptionalities must be laced in environments as similar to the regular classroom as possible.

c.        Minorities must have a mainstream form of test, rather than an IQ test, as the basis for placement

d.       All school-age children with exceptionalities must be provided free public education.

 

  1. The major difference between mainstreaming and inclusion is that

a.        inclusion addresses both cognitive and social adaptations, whereas mainstreaming does not.

b.       mainstreaming is designed to help teachers accelerate learning for students with exceptionalities, whereas inclusion is not.

c.        inclusion is intended to provide support within the classroom for regular classroom teachers, whereas mainstreaming does not provide these services.

d.       mainstreaming provides a comprehensive web of services for learning with exceptionalities, whereas inclusion does not.

 

  1. Which of the following is the most accurate description of students who have behavior disorders?

a.        Persistent age-inappropriate behaviors that result in social conflict, personal unhappiness, and school failure

b.       Persistent inattention and hyperactivity often associated with difficulty in a single skill area, such as reading

c.        Persistent classroom management problems, often leading to or resulting from school failure

d.       Persistent impairment in ability to adapt to the requirements of the everyday world, often associated with low self-esteem


Items for Analysis and Critical Thinking

 

  1. Ann Henderson says to her second graders, “All right, everyone, let’s put our math papers away now.”  Don, a white student, puts his math materials away, while Leroy, an African American student, does not.  If the students’ behavioral patterns are typical of white and African American students, which of the following is the most likely explanation according to research?

a.        Leroy is more likely to be disobedient than is Don, so he is more likely to disregard the directive.

b.       Leroy is more likely than Don to misread Mrs. Henderson’s directing, not interpreting it as a command.

c.        Leroy is less likely than Don to be attentive, so he is more likely not to hear the directive.

d.       Leroy is more likely than Don to socialize with his peers, so he is more likely to be off-task.

 

  1. Wayne Villegas is involved in a question-and-answer session with his fourth graders.  During the lesson Wayne attempts to call on all his students as equally as possible, and he wants to ask questions and have the students answer at a quick pace to maintain all the students’ attention.  In the process he directs a question to Bill, a white student, and then another to Michael, one of his Native American students.  If Bill and Michael fit patterns identified by research into lessons like Wayne’s, which of the following is the most valid conclusion?

a.        Both Bill and Michael are likely to be attentive and responsive in the lesson.

b.       Michael is likely to be responsive, but Bill is likely to drift off.

c.        Michael is more likely than Bill to be uncomfortable in a lesson like Wayne’s.

d.       Bill is more likely than Michael to be uncomfortable in a lesson like Wayne’s.

 

Use the following information for Items 47 and 48:

 

Tony, a high school junior, has a somewhat difficult time in school as compared to that of his peers, particularly with word problems in math and other areas that aren’t tangible.  In spite off high motivation, he still struggles, and new situations and problems throw him more than they do his classmates.  In order to succeed, he needs a lot of practice, and his approach is somewhat more mechanical than that of his peers.  He comments, “I need to be able to ‘see it’ to understand it.  Some of these ideas are just too abstract for me.  Who cares about what would have happened if the Crusades had been more successful for Christianity?  I can get it, though, if I get enough practice.”  When Tony gets frustrated, he retreats to his room, where he plays his guitar; he has even done some of his own arrangements.  Tony is very skilled at working with people, and some of his peers turn to