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Section 4: Sample Multiple-Choice Questions
WEST–E Family and Consumer Sciences Education (041)

The sample test questions in this study guide are designed to give you an introduction to the nature of the questions included in the Washington Educator Skills Tests—Endorsements (WEST–E). They represent the various types of questions you may expect to see on an actual test in this test field; however, they are not designed to predict your performance on the test as a whole.

Work through the sample questions carefully before referring to the answers. The correct response and test objective being assessed are provided for each question. When you are finished with the sample questions, you may wish to review the test objectives and descriptive statements provided in the test framework for this test field.

In addition to reading and answering the sample questions, you should also utilize the following preparation materials available in this study guide:

Practice Questions

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Interpersonal and Family Relationships

Objective 0001: Demonstrate knowledge of the characteristics of interpersonal relationships.

1. Friendships differ significantly from marriage, family relationships, and work relationships in that friendships:

  1. are not bound by social or contractual obligations.
  2. typically serve as the main source of social support across the life span.
  3. do not involve interdependency among the participants.
  4. meet the human need for closeness and connection with others.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.

2. Which of the following is essential for the development of a healthy interpersonal relationship?

  1. shared interests
  2. trust
  3. self-disclosure
  4. affection
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

3. A manager at a company is developing a set of guidelines for employees to follow when participating in video calls when working from home. The guidelines include:

Which of the following guidelines would be most important to add to this list?

  1. If you are primarily listening, work on other projects discretely.
  2. Speak loudly to ensure everyone can hear you.
  3. Mute the microphone when not speaking.
  4. Turn your camera off after the meeting begins.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.
Objective 0002: Demonstrate knowledge of the characteristics and significance of families.

4. Which of the following is an example of a stepfamily or blended family?

  1. a single mother raising her adopted daughter
  2. a cohabiting couple raising their mutual biological children
  3. two elderly brothers living in the same home
  4. a married couple raising their children from previous relationships
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

5. The parents of a fifth-grade student disclose to the classroom teacher that they are separating and would like the teachers to be aware to offer support to their child during this difficult transition. Which of the following strategies would best support this child at school during this time?

  1. having the student check-in daily with the teacher to ensure physical well-being
  2. establishing friendship groups to encourage supportive peer relationships
  3. providing a class-wide reward system of extra recess time for good behavior
  4. giving the student permission to leave class to talk to the school counselor at any time
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

Human Development and Parenting

Objective 0003: Understand factors that affect interpersonal, family, community, and professional relationships.

6. A hotel's housekeeping supervisor holds a quarterly meeting with her staff at which the staff are invited to share ideas about how to improve housekeeping services and to discuss specific problems they have encountered. The supervisor has incorporated many of the suggestions and decisions arrived at in these meetings into the hotel's housekeeping manual. This supervisor's leadership style is most likely to have which of the following effects on the housekeeping staff?

  1. reducing the staff's level of trust toward the supervisor
  2. promoting high morale and a sense of ownership
  3. creating a sense of confusion about their roles and responsibilities
  4. increasing the efficiency of their problem-solving processes
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

7. Before a business trip to another country, an employee researches interpersonal customs and etiquette in the country where the meeting will be held. This action demonstrates that the employee is aware of the importance of:

  1. being sensitive to ways communication styles in other countries can differ.
  2. having topics to discuss with people in other countries that they can relate to.
  3. quickly developing strong friendships with people in other countries.
  4. avoiding errors that would be considered rude or offensive behavior.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.

8. Which of the following examples demonstrates effective communication patterns during a conflict within a personal relationship?

  1. Each person expresses their anger and need for resolution so that the conflict is understood by both parties.
  2. The couple attempts to soften the conflict and minimize the problem by avoiding expressing strong feelings.
  3. Each person attempts to induce change from the other person as a way of ending the conflict.
  4. The couple focuses on having a cooperative discussion about the conflict and explores solutions to the problem.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.
Objective 0004: Demonstrate knowledge of the stages and characteristics of human growth and development from conception through adolescence.

9. Which of the following best describes a major principle of physical growth and development in relation to infants and toddlers?

  1. Physical growth occurs gradually from the head downward and from the center of the body outward.
  2. Physical growth occurs in all major regions of the body proportionately at about the same rate.
  3. Physical growth occurs first in the arms and legs and proceeds inward and upward to the torso and head.
  4. Physical growth occurs variably in individual children with no typical starting point or pattern.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.

10. In the usual sequence of motor development, which of the following manipulative skills do young children generally attain last?

  1. making a block tower by stacking six or seven blocks
  2. using a fork and spoon to eat food at meal times
  3. using crayons to color within the lines in a coloring book
  4. cutting a sheet of paper in two with safety scissors
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

11. Which of the following social-emotional milestones is typically developed by the time a child is 5 to 6 years old?

  1. understanding that actions may have positive and negative consequences
  2. grasping and associating multiple concepts at a time
  3. looking primarily for approval from peers rather than adults
  4. having a longer attention span to engage in sustained activities
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.
Objective 0005: Demonstrate knowledge of human growth and development throughout adulthood.

12. In studies of adult development, which of the following factors has been shown to be a strong predictor of psychological well-being and positive emotional health among older adults?

  1. experimenting with a variety of self-improvement strategies
  2. becoming and persevering as a caregiver for a loved one
  3. maintaining close, warm relationships with family and friends
  4. proceeding cautiously in developing new intimate relationships
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

13. Which of the following types of intellectual abilities typically increases as individuals progress from young adulthood to middle adulthood?

  1. practical problem solving
  2. information processing
  3. working memory capacity
  4. perceptual speed
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.
Objective 0006: Demonstrate knowledge of the effects of parenting roles and responsibilities on strengthening the well-being of individuals and families.

14. A parenting approach characterized by routine participation in activities with children is likely to be a key factor in strengthening the well-being of children mainly because this type of approach:

  1. familiarizes children with social cues and conventions used by adults.
  2. enhances children's sense of safety and security.
  3. creates a family dynamic that is based on friendship rather than on family ties.
  4. encourages children to experiment with adult roles.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

15. A person who was raised in a family where the parents often fought and did not provide a supportive home is anxious about becoming a new parent. Which of the following actions would provide the most effective support while preparing for the baby’s arrival?

  1. subscribing to magazines for parents
  2. looking for parenting Web sites on the Internet
  3. taking a parenting class at a local community center
  4. discussing parenting with friends who have young children
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

16. A parent is concerned that their two-year-old child is developing language at a slower rate than an older sibling. Contacting which of the following community resources would be most appropriate to directly address this parent’s concerns?

  1. Department of Health and Human Services
  2. Early Intervention Services
  3. Local Education Agency
  4. Department of Children and Families
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

Nutrition and Wellness

Objective 0007: Demonstrate knowledge of principles of nutrition and nutrition practices that enhance well-being.

17. Foods such as green leafy vegetables, yogurt, and low-fat milk and cheese are valuable components of children's diets because they are good sources of:

  1. vitamin E, which protects white blood cells and other elements of the immune system.
  2. calcium, which is a key requirement for bone and teeth formation.
  3. vitamin A, which helps promote and maintain healthy vision.
  4. selenium, which is essential in regulating basal metabolism and body temperature.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

18. Recommendations to eat more fish such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel and more seeds such as chia seeds and flax seeds are due to these foods' high levels of:

  1. Omega 3 fatty acids.
  2. Vitamin K.
  3. Vitamin C.
  4. Medium chain triglycerides.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.

19. A significant deficiency in vitamin C is most likely to lead to which of the following health issues?

  1. night blindness
  2. bone pain
  3. tingling hands and feet
  4. softened and bleeding gums
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.
Objective 0008: Demonstrate knowledge of principles of food selection, purchasing, handling, preservation, and preparation.

20. Which of the following techniques for cooking vegetables in water is most effective in retaining the nutrient value of the vegetables?

  1. keeping cooking times short and cooking temperatures moderate
  2. placing vegetables in cool water and then bringing the water to a boil
  3. paring and cutting vegetables well in advance of their immersion in water
  4. adding a pinch of baking soda to cooking water to increase its alkalinity
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.

21. Which of the following electric kitchen appliances intended for home use utilizes convection heat?

  1. sous vide
  2. pressure cooker
  3. air fryer
  4. slow cooker
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

22. Which of the following guidelines would best protect diners from spreading communicable disease to each other in a buffet restaurant setting?

  1. having temperature-controlled food tables for maintaining cold and hot foods within safe temperature zones
  2. placing sneeze guards over food tables and frequent replacement of serving utensils with clean ones
  3. having a separate buffet table for children to use that is at a lower height than the adult table
  4. keeping foods that must be handled at one end of the table past all of the foods requiring serving utensils
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.
Objective 0009: Demonstrate knowledge of wellness practices that enhance well-being throughout the life span.

23. Members of a family decide to improve health and wellness by participating in fitness activities together. They plan to collaborate in choosing a few different activities so that they have year-round opportunities for physical fitness. Which of the following additional considerations is likely to be most important in ensuring the success of this family fitness plan?

  1. allowing each family member to choose an activity that he or she has mastered, so that family members can coach one another during activities
  2. selecting activities that all family members are likely to enjoy and find interesting and that are suited to family resources and schedules
  3. ensuring that the final set of activity choices addresses each of the components of health-related physical fitness relatively equally
  4. choosing one activity for each season of the year that can be enjoyed outdoors with minimal preparation and equipment
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

24. In general, individuals can best reduce the adverse effects of everyday stressors by:

  1. creating a list of the likely sources or causes of stress and attempting to systematically address or resolve each item.
  2. challenging oneself to complete problem-solving activities or tasks that have been previously put off due to lack of time.
  3. examining one's responses to stress, classifying them as normal or abnormal, then consciously rejecting the abnormal responses.
  4. developing personal coping strategies that refocus one's mental energy and promote a relaxation response.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

25. Which strategy best applies a decision-making and planning process to improve overall individual wellness?

  1. joining a free weekly yoga class and walking shorter distances rather than using transportation
  2. setting a goal to walk briskly every weekday and adapting goals as fitness increases
  3. avoiding eating fast food more than once a week and cooking all other meals at home
  4. buying light hand weights to lift and watching Internet videos to learn good form
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

Resource Management

Objective 0010: Demonstrate knowledge of personal and family financial management skills.

26. In which of the following situations is a consumer using credit to support an investment?

  1. Sam obtains a student loan to pay for college.
  2. Jean uses a credit card to purchase a new DVD player.
  3. Alex uses a home equity line of credit to pay for a family vacation.
  4. Tom obtains a bank loan to pay for a new car.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.

27. In general, which of the following is a key advantage of investing in a 401(k) or 403(b) plan?

  1. Participants do not pay taxes on earnings and withdrawals.
  2. The range of investment choices is broad and diversified.
  3. There is no limit to how much one can deposit each year.
  4. Contributions reduce one's current taxable income.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

28. An individual planning a major purchase makes a point to do some online research looking for reviews of the product. Which of the following limitations should the individual be aware of when considering online product reviews?

  1. Online reviews are often sponsored by the manufacturer or retail sites, so may be biased in presenting only favorable reviews of the product.
  2. Consumers who are disappointed with a product typically complain to consumer protection organizations rather than posting online reviews.
  3. Online reviews present such a range of opinions that it is unlikely to provide a reasonable overview of the positive and negative features of the product.
  4. Consumers may be dishonest and exaggerate positive reviews in hopes of soliciting more review opportunities directly from the manufacturer.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.
Objective 0011: Demonstrate knowledge of personal and family resource management skills.

29. A family is concerned about the amount of fossil fuels it is using to heat the family home. As part of the planning process for solving this problem, the family should begin by:

  1. selecting and implementing one action to reduce fossil fuel consumption.
  2. agreeing on an amount by which the family would like to reduce its use of fossil fuels.
  3. brainstorming a list of concerns the family has in association with its use of fossil fuels.
  4. evaluating the family resources that can be used to help reduce the family's need for fossil fuels.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

30. Which of the following actions would most directly address a goal to decrease personal consumption of natural resources?

  1. composting food waste instead of throwing it in the trash
  2. using washable cleaning cloths instead of paper towels
  3. recycling cans and bottles instead of redeeming them for the deposit
  4. planting a garden instead of buying some fruits and vegetables.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

31. Which of the following financial decisions by a young adult will result in greater long-term benefits?

  1. leasing a car with low monthly payments
  2. making minimum payments on a loan debt
  3. avoiding applying for or using any credit cards
  4. maximizing retirement account contributions
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

32. Which of the following situations is a violation of the Truth in Lending Act (TILA)?

  1. raising interest rates if a customer misses two consecutive loan payments
  2. failing to disclose the finance charge or annual percentage rate of a loan
  3. checking a customer’s credit history before deciding to provide a loan
  4. being told the reason for a denial of a loan several weeks after the rejection
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.
Objective 0012: Demonstrate knowledge of consumer rights, responsibilities, and protections.

33. When selecting herbal supplements or "natural remedies" to manage or treat health-related conditions, it is most important for consumers to be aware that:

  1. there are few or no side effects associated with these products.
  2. these types of products are not regulated by the government.
  3. many of these products use gimmicks to attract buyers.
  4. these products are often made by manufacturers of prescription drugs.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

34. Which of the following types of phone calls would constitute fraud?

  1. A caller who says they will conduct a free energy saving home inspection with a presentation about new home products.
  2. A caller who says they are from a debt collection agency requesting to set up a payment plan for an acknowledged debt.
  3. A caller who says they are from the Internal Revenue Service and requires immediate payment of an overdue tax debt.
  4. A caller who requests donations for a charitable organization and provides an address for where to send checks.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.
Objective 0013: Understand the Career and Technical Education program.

35. Federal safety and health standards prohibit restaurants from using copper cookware for foods that:

  1. are alkaline.
  2. have a high sugar content.
  3. are acidic.
  4. have a high water content.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

36. According to safety guidelines published by the Center for Disease Control for career and technical education, instructors are responsible for:

  1. asking students to read and sign information about the safety risks involved in technical courses.
  2. providing simulated experiences to maintain the highest levels of student safety.
  3. delegating supervision responsibilities to students specially trained in safety procedures.
  4. maintaining safe equipment and ensuring students behave appropriately.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

37. A Family and Consumer Sciences teacher is interested in starting a Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) chapter and discusses the matter with the school principal. When considering points to make in the discussion with the principal, which of the following aspects of having an FCCLA chapter would demonstrate the most direct benefit to the school?

  1. FCCLA provides opportunities for students to learn leadership and career skills.
  2. FCCLA helps advisors meet administrative requirements.
  3. FCCLA advances the professions within Family and Consumer Sciences programs.
  4. FCCLA offers student scholarships and national programs.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.

Family and Consumer Sciences Programs and Careers

Objective 0014: Understand careers related to family and consumer sciences.

38. The Occupational Outlook Handbook provides job-seekers with which of the following types of information?

  1. specific employers' human resources policies
  2. projections of job prospects in specific career paths
  3. suggestions of careers that would best match one's interests and skills
  4. listings of job openings, organized by career path
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

39. Which of the following is the best source of information regarding what a particular job is like on a day-to-day basis?

  1. the description of the job included in postings for job openings
  2. the Human Resources page of an employer's Web site
  3. online databases of occupational information
  4. informational interviews with people who have the job
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

40. The increase in functionality and popularity of Internet-based teleconferencing programs has led to the most significant changes in which of the following areas of Family and Consumer Sciences?

  1. Facilities and Property Management
  2. Apparel and Interior Design
  3. Education and Early Childhood
  4. Food Science and Culinary Arts
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.