All answer choices should be plausible and homogeneous.

Example Read this sentence from the article: Rainfall data gleaned from ancient cypress trees shows that the region's worst drought in 800 years peaked in 1587, the year the 120 men, women and children of the Roanoke colony were last seen by Europeans. What does peaked mean? Top of Form A. was sharp B. was at its height C. was mountainous D. was rising All answer choices should be plausible and homogeneous. Non-Example Read this sentence from the article: Rainfall data gleaned, from ancient cypress trees shows that the region's worst drought in 800 years peaked in 1587, the year the 120 men, women and children of the Roanoke colony were last seen by Europeans. What does peaked mean. Top of Form A. was pale B. was at its height C. was hot D. was beautiful Answers should be similar in length and grammatical form.

Example Read this sentence from the article The scrub jay's numbers are dwindling so rapidly that some fear it soon may be found nowhere at all. What does the word dwindling mean. Top of Form A. multiplying B. dividing C. growing smaller D. growing larger Answers should be similar in length and grammatical form. Non-Example Read this sentence from the article: The scrub jay's numbers are dwindiling so rapidly that some fear it soon may be found nowhere at all. What does the word dwindiling mean. Top of Form A. multiplying B. dividing C. growing smaller D. it means the scrub jays are disappearing List answer choices in logical (alphabetical or numerical) order. Example One of the largest black sea bass ever caught in Florida weighed 5 pounds, 1 ounce. Which of the following shows the weight of the black sea bass in ounces? Top of Form

A. 81 ounces B. 86 ounces C. 91 ounces D. 96 ounces List answer choices in logical (alphabetical or numerical) order. Non-Example One of the largest black sea bass ever caught in Florida weighed 5 pounds, 1 ounce. Which of the following shows the weight of the black sea bass in ounces? Top of Form A. 91 ounces B. 81 ounces C. 96 ounces D. 86 ounces Avoid using "All of the Above" options. Example How was the Grand Canyon formed? Top of Form A.The canyon once had a waterfall. B. Big rainstorms washed rocks out of the canyon. C. A flowing river cut into the rocks to form the canyon. D. The canyon was formed from rocks that came from other places. Avoid using "All of the Above" options.

Non-Example How was the Grand Canyon formed? Top of Form A.The wind eroded many of the rocks. B. By the movement of large plates of rocks -- many years ago. C. A flowing river cut into the rocks to form the canyon. D. All of the above. Alternatives should be short, homogeneous and arranged in logical order. Example Match the following equations (place the corresponding letter in the blank). _____ Area of triangle _____ Area of rectangle _____ Area of parallelogram _____ Area of circle A. A=bh B. A=1/2(bh) C. A=lw D. A=lwh E. A=r2

Alternatives should be short, homogeneous and arranged in logical order.

Non Example

Match the following equations (place corresponding letter in the blank). _____ Area of triangle _____ Pythagorean theorem _____ Interest _____ Area of circle _____ One gallon A. A=1/2(bh) B. I=prt C. a2+b2=c2 D. 2 kilometers E. 4 quarts

Responses should be plausible and similar in length and grammatical form. Example Match the following. _____ Botany _____ Zoology _____ Biology _____ Chemistry A. Science of all living organisms B. Science of plants C. Science of the earth D. Science of matter E. Science of animals Responses should be plausible and similar in length and grammatical form. Non-Example Match the following. _____ Botany _____ Zoology A. Science of all living organisms B. A childs playpen

_____ Biology

C. Plants D. Study of the composition, structure, properties, and reactions of matter, especially of atomic and molecular systems. E. Animals

_____ Chemistry

Include more response options than stems. Example Match the following equations (place corresponding letter in the blank). _____ 7/25 _____ 5/4 _____ 1/4 _____ 9/10 A. 0.09 B. 0.25 C. 0.28 D. 0.90 E. 1.25

Include more response options than stems. Non-Example Match the following equations (place corresponding letter in the blank). _____ 7/25 _____ 5/4 _____ 1/4 A. 0.09 B. 0.25 C. 0.28

_____ 9/100

D. 1.25

As a general rule, the stems should be longer and the responses should be shorter. Example Match the description of the flag to its country. _____ Red background with white cross _____ Green background with large red circle _____ Two red strips and one white stripe (in center) _____ Red strip (top); white stripe; green stripe (bottom A. Austria B. Germany C. Denmark D. Bangladesh E. Hungary As a general rule, the stems should be longer and the responses should be shorter. Non-Example Match the following equations (place corresponding letter in the blank).. _____ Austria _____ Denmark _____ Hungary _____ Bangladesh A. Red background with white cross B. Green background with large red circle C. Two red strips and one white stripe (in center) D. Red strip (top); white stripe; green stripe (bottom E. Blue background with large white star

Statements should be completely true or completely false. Example

Mark the following statement as True or False. The metric system is used consistently in Canada. Top of Form True False Statements should be completely true or completely false. Non-Example Mark the following question as True or False. The metric system is used consistently in Canada, France, Germany, and the United States. Top of Form True False

Use simple, easy-to-follow statements. Example Mark the following question as True or False. Botany is a branch of the biological sciences that embraces the study of plants and plant life. Top of Form True False Use simple, easy-to-follow statements. Non-Example Mark the following question as True or False.

Botany is the study of plants as sources of food, (cereals, millets, pulses oilseeds) fodder, forage, fatty acids, essential oils, wood, timber, fibre, paper rubber beverages, spices and condiments, drugs, narcotics Resins and gums, dyes and tannings, insecticides and pesticides, ornamental and medicina. Top of Form True False Bottom of Form

Avoid absolutes such as "always; never." Example Mark the following question as True or False. The news and information posted on the CNN website is usually accurate. Top of Form True False Bottom of Form

void absolutes such as "always; never." Non-Example Mark the following question as True or False. The news and information posted on the CNN website is always accurate. Top of Form True False Bottom of Form

Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Bottom of Form