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Study Guide

Field 130: American Sign Language CST 
Receptive Comprehension

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Directions for Receptive Comprehension Selected-Response Questions

For the Receptive Comprehension section of the test, you will watch video recordings containing an  A S L  video (for example, a presentation or a conversation in  A S L ) and answer selected-response questions written in English based on each  A S L  video.

For each video recording, a  start underline preview end underline  of the test questions associated with the  A S L  video will be presented on the screen. Then the video recording will begin playing automatically. Once the video recording begins, you will not be able to pause, stop, or replay it.

There will be a 90-second countdown at the beginning of each video recording. During these 90 seconds, you should familiarize yourself with the test questions that are previewed on the screen. You may need to scroll down to preview all the questions. You will not be able to select your response choices during this preview.

After the 90-second countdown, you will see an  A S L  video. Watch carefully. You will then have 90 seconds to review the questions again before the  A S L  video plays for the second time.

After the  A S L  video has played twice, move to the next screen to begin answering the questions.

 start bold Note that in this section of the test, you can go back to previous screens to review or change your responses to questions. However, you will  start uppercase NOT end uppercase  be able to replay the video recordings.  end bold 

Please be aware that the visual enhancements Example of the Color Scheme visual enhancement control and Example of the Font Size visual enhancement control are  start uppercase NOT end uppercase  available during the Receptive Comprehension section of the test. You must make any desired adjustments now before you select " start bold Next end bold " to begin the Receptive Comprehension section. You will not be able to adjust these features again until you have completed this section of the test.

Click the  start bold Next end bold  button when you have finished reading these directions and are ready to begin the Receptive Comprehension section of the test. Once you advance to the next screen, the first video recording will start automatically with a 90-second countdown.

Select the start bold Next end bold button to continue.

Sample Receptive Comprehension Selected-Response Questions

Competency 0001 
Receptive Comprehension

 start bold For this set of questions, you will watch a presentation about microwave ovens and food safety. Follow the instructions on the screen below. end bold 

 start italics [The Play and Pause features are available in this study guide. These features will not be available during the actual test.] end italics 

 start italics [The examinee will see the following directions on right side of screen:] end italics 

 start bold Below is a preview of the questions related to the presentation.  end bold 

 start italics [Preview versions of the 5 questions appear on the actual test.] end italics 

 start bold Click "Next" when the recording ends to answer the questions. end bold 

[Each of the following 5 screens on the actual test will present a single item for the examinee to answer.]

1. What overall structure does the man use in presenting this monologue to achieve his intended purpose?

  1. an introduction followed by advice
  2. a list of specific food preparation techniques to use
  3. an opinion based on a personal experience
  4. a description of a recipe and how to cook the dish
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A. This question requires examinees to analyze the communicative strategies and social and cultural contexts of a message signed in  A S L  to determine an assumption, an intent, a perspective, or a point of view. The man uses the communicative strategy of structuring his message by first giving a general introduction to the topic of microwaves and then moving into a discussion of how to ensure food safety when using the microwave. The purpose of this monologue is general information and advice.

2. What was the man's purpose in discussing the people who got sick?

  1. He is recommending that people do not eat the same product as those who became ill.
  2. He is providing an example to illustrate the importance of reading cooking instructions.
  3. He is advocating that people only cook chicken, either fresh or frozen, in an oven.
  4. He is concerned about the rise in foodborne illnesses people are contracting at home.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B. This question requires examinees to demonstrate the ability to summarize key ideas in a message signed in  A S L  and evaluate the signer's use of reasoning and evidence in presenting these ideas. This question is focused on determining the underlying intent of the man's use of an example, which in this case was to provide evidence that if you don't read the cooking instructions on food packaging, you could contract illnesses like salmonella.

3. What does the man tell people to do at the end of the monologue?

  1. Use a food thermometer to ensure that food is hot enough throughout.
  2. Cook food for longer than the recommended time to kill all bacteria.
  3. Finish food on the grill or in the oven after first thawing in the microwave.
  4. Only buy frozen foods that have instructions for multiple cooking methods.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A. This question requires examinees to identify explicit and relevant information in a message signed in  A S L . In this monologue, the man explicitly tells people to use a thermometer to check the temperature of foods cooked in the microwave in several places to ensure that the product has reached a high enough temperature to be safe to consume.

4. This information is most likely intended for which audience?

  1. professional chefs
  2. food manufacturers
  3. home consumers
  4. grocery store owners
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C. This question requires examinees to make inferences or draw conclusions based on the context, situation, and information given in a message signed in  A S L . This monologue contains information that is required for professionals in the food industry and the most plausible audience for this information is home consumers who use microwaves to cook food frequently but may not know the best ways to ensure that foods cooked in the microwave are safe to consume.

5. Rhetorical questions are used in this monologue primarily for which purpose?

  1. prefacing important information
  2. making requests for clarification
  3. connecting opposite ideas
  4. asking an opinion or point of view
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A. This question requires examinees to analyze the form and use of complex linguistic structures used in  A S L , including how these linguistic structures are used to achieve particular effects in a message signed in  A S L . As a way of introducing important concepts, the signer uses rhetorical questions. For example, before fingerspelling "salmonella," the man uses a rhetorical question. Prefacing this information with a question highlights that it is a critical point.