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Family and Consumer Science  6 to 12 

Test Format and Sample Questions

The Family and Consumer Science  6 to 12  subject area test consists of approximately 80 multiple-choice questions. You will have two-and-one-half hours to complete the test.

Each of the questions will contain four response options. You will choose the best response out of the available options, and indicate A, B, C, or D.

The table below presents types of questions on the exam and directs you to examples of these formats among the sample items that follow.

Table of Question Formats

Type of Question Sample Question
Sentence Completion
Select the response option that best completes the sentence.
Question 5
Command
Select the best response option.
Question 6
Direct Question
Choose the response option that best answers the question.
Question 12
Scenario
Examine a situation, problem, or case study. Then answer a question or recommend a course of action by selecting the best response option.
Question 14

Sample Questions

The following questions represent both the form and content of questions on the examination. These questions will acquaint you with the general format of the examination; however, these sample questions do not cover all of the competencies and skills that are tested and will only approximate the degree of examination difficulty.


Question 1

Competency 1—Knowledge of families

DIRECTIONS: Read the item and select the best response.

Charles, aged 80, lives alone and is socially isolated from family and friends. He is physically healthy, takes care of his clothes, and is able to cook simple meals. He often forgets to take his medication and going to the grocery store is becoming extremely difficult due to his poor vision. Which arrangement is best for Charles?

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.

Question 2

Competency 1—Knowledge of families

DIRECTIONS: Read the item and select the best response.

A mother, father, two children, and an aunt living together is an example of which family type?

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

Question 3

Competency 1—Knowledge of families

DIRECTIONS: Read the item and select the best response.

Sam and Ida Moffat are 65 years old and receive Social Security income. The Moffats are in which stage of the life cycle?

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

Question 4

Competency 2—Knowledge of personality development

DIRECTIONS: Read the item and select the best response.

Parents of a 7-year-old boy are concerned about his self-concept. He does not have many friends because he bosses them around. In order to help him overcome this problem and develop a better self-concept, they should

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

Question 5

Competency 3—Knowledge of decision making and problem solving

DIRECTIONS: Read the item and select the best response.

Lourdes had to ride the city bus to work because her car was being repaired. She realized this saved her time and money so she continued to ride the bus. Her decision was based on

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.

Question 6

Competency 4—Knowledge of marriage

DIRECTIONS: Read the item and select the best response.

Select the factor that has the greatest influence on the development of marital stability.

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

Question 7

Competency 5—Knowledge of preparation for parenthood

DIRECTIONS: Read the item and select the best response.

Which disease can be inherited and might lead a couple to consider not having children?

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.

Question 8

Competency 5—Knowledge of preparation for parenthood

DIRECTIONS: Read the item and select the best response.

Dave and MaryAnn have been trying to conceive a child for the past year. MaryAnn has learned she has a damaged fallopian tube that prevents pregnancy, but she would like to have a biological child. Which would be the best alternative for them?

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

Question 9

Competency 6—Knowledge of prenatal care, fetal development, and childbirth

DIRECTIONS: Read the item and select the best response.

A mother who continues to smoke throughout her pregnancy risks delivering an infant born

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.

Question 10

Competency 6—Knowledge of prenatal care, fetal development, and childbirth

DIRECTIONS: Read the item and select the best response.

Which element of prenatal care is the most critical for a typical pregnancy?

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.

Question 11

Competency 6—Knowledge of prenatal care, fetal development, and childbirth

DIRECTIONS: Read the item and select the best response.

Jane is a 15-year-old expectant mother. What complications may arise due to her young age?

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.

Question 12

Competency 7—Knowledge of social, emotional, physical, and intellectual development

DIRECTIONS: Read the item and select the best response.

Which is the LEAST effective method of dealing with a toddler who is displaying a temper tantrum?

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

Question 13

Competency 7—Knowledge of social, emotional, physical, and intellectual development

DIRECTIONS: Read the item and select the best response.

Most 7-year-olds are

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

Question 14

Competency 8—Knowledge of parenting

DIRECTIONS: Read the item and select the best response.

Jean is a single parent with a teenaged daughter. The daughter wants to attend a father-daughter dance. Her uncle has agreed to take her to this event. What kind of support is the uncle providing for the family?

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

Question 15

Competency 8—Knowledge of parenting

DIRECTIONS: Read the item and select the best response.

A socially competent child is one who

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

Question 16

Competency 9—Knowledge of stress and crises

DIRECTIONS: Read the item and select the best response.

Which is the most common factor leading a person from substance use to substance abuse?

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

Question 17

Competency 10—Knowledge of clothing selection

DIRECTIONS: Read the item and select the best response.

The dress style that minimizes large hips is a

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

Question 18

Competency 11—Knowledge of clothing, textiles, and technology

DIRECTIONS: Read the item and select the best response.

Which of the following best represents the characteristics associated with fabric?

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

Question 19

Competency 11—Knowledge of clothing, textiles, and technology

DIRECTIONS: Read the item and select the best response.

The Flammable Fabrics Act

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

Question 20

Competency 12—Knowledge of the American economic system

DIRECTIONS: Read the item and select the best response.

Which statement best describes the role of government in the American economic system?

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

Question 21

Competency 13—Knowledge of money and resource management

DIRECTIONS: Read the item and select the best response.

Which of the following statements about insurance is correct?

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

Question 22

Competency 13—Knowledge of money and resource management

DIRECTIONS: Read the item and select the best response.

An engaged couple plans to graduate from college, marry, and begin their careers within the next three months. Their current goal is to establish their own home and have their first child within the next two years. At this stage of the family life cycle, what management issue would be of primary importance?

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

Question 23

Competency 15—Knowledge of factors affecting housing selection

DIRECTIONS: Read the item and select the best response.

Creditors say that only 25 percent of take-home pay should be spent on housing expenses. If an individual's take-home pay is 30,000 dollars per year, how much should that individual pay for housing each month?

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.

Question 24

Competency 16—Knowledge of home design features

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

The use of a wall hanging that consists of bright, vivid colors in a room with pale, subdued colors is an example of

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

Question 25

Competency 17—Knowledge of nutrition and wellness

DIRECTIONS: Read the item and select the best response.

Jared regularly eats large amounts of cheese, hot dogs on buns with pickles, ketchup, mustard, and potato chips. He also likes canned vegetable soup and frozen dinners and often snacks on bananas and apples.

Which of the dietary guidelines is Jared abusing?

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

Question 26

Competency 17—Knowledge of nutrition and wellness

DIRECTIONS: Read the item and select the best response.

The primary function of protein is to

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

Question 27

Competency 17—Knowledge of nutrition and wellness

DIRECTIONS: Read the item and select the best response.

The diet of a person with scurvy is lacking

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

Question 28

Competency 18—Knowledge of meal planning and service

DIRECTIONS: Read the item and select the best response.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that individuals

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

Question 29

Competency 18—Knowledge of meal planning and service

DIRECTIONS: Read the item and select the best response.

The Baker family is on a limited budget, and family members have little time for food preparation. The most appropriate dinner menu for this family would include

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.

Question 30

Competency 19—Knowledge of principles of food selection, safety, and storage

DIRECTIONS: Read the item and select the best response.

A food-borne illness that may result from eating spoiled mayonnaise is

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

Question 31

Competency 19—Knowledge of principles of food selection, safety, and storage

DIRECTIONS: Read the item and select the best response.

Lucy wants to buy peaches at a roadside stand. If a peach is fresh and ripe, it appears

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

Question 32

Competency 20—Knowledge of food preparation

DIRECTIONS: Read the item and select the best response.

The kitchen traffic pattern for the stove, sink, and refrigerator should be arranged in a

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

Question 33

Competency 20—Knowledge of food preparation

DIRECTIONS: Read the item and select the best response.

A student baked yeast bread for her class, but it did not rise. One of the possible causes was the use of

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

Question 34

Competency 21—Knowledge of the profession

DIRECTIONS: Read the item and select the best response.

Courses designed to provide students with the minimum competencies needed for effective entry into an occupation are classified as

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

Question 35

Competency 21—Knowledge of the profession

DIRECTIONS: Read the item and select the best response.

A home economics teacher is interested in joining a professional organization to become a certified home economist. Which professional organization must she join to obtain certification as a home economist?

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.