Family and Consumer Science 6–12 6 to 12 

Test Format and Sample Questions

The Family and Consumer Science 6–12 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.

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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

1. assisted living
2. nursing home
3. independent living
4. rehabilitation center

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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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

1. blended
2. commune
3. extended
4. nuclear

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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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

1. empty nest
2. beginning
3. expanding
4. retirement

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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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

1. boss him around to show him what it feels like.
2. compliment and reinforce his successes.
3. encourage him to play alone.
4. teach him how to avoid being bossy.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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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

1. personal values.
2. energy conservation.
3. social needs.
4. financial goals.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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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

1. social-economic lifestyle
2. large wedding ceremony
3. mutual respect and honesty
4. meeting the families' expectations

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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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

1. sickle cell anemia
2. ulcers
3. cerebral palsy
4. hyperthyroidism

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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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

1. artificial insemination
2. in vitro fertilization
3. ovum transfer
4. sperm donation

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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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

1. prematurely.
2. with PKU.
3. with a cleft palate.
4. with a birth weight greater than 10 pounds.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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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

1. balanced diet
2. aerobic exercises
3. weight control
4. breathing exercises

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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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

1. shorter gestational period; low birth-weight baby
2. miscarriage; high birth-weight baby
3. physical defects; high birth-weight baby
4. large weight gain by mother; low birth-weight baby

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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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

1. distracting the child with a new activity
2. ignoring the behavior
3. moving the child to a quiet location
4. withdrawing love and affection

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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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

1. competitive with adults.
2. eager for praise and approval.
3. fearful of playmates.
4. sociable and carefree.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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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

1. intellectual
2. cognitive
3. economic
4. emotional

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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Competency 8—Knowledge of parenting

DIRECTIONS: Read the item and select the best response.

A socially competent child is one who

Choose an answer

1. demonstrates control of possessions.
2. only plays independently.
3. interacts with children of varying ages.
4. immediately takes charge in a situation.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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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

1. positive self-concept
2. experimentation with substances
3. pressure from peers
4. lack of coping skills

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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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

1. dropped-waist dress with full skirt.
2. dress with horizontal lines.
3. large-print belted dress.
4. dress with vertical lines.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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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

1. strength, durability, resiliency
2. texture, hand, weight
3. glazing, napping, lustering
4. mercerization, waterproofing, elasticity

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Competency 11—Knowledge of clothing, textiles, and technology

DIRECTIONS: Read the item and select the best response.

The Flammable Fabrics Act

Choose an answer

1. requires that labels indicate whether the fiber is new or used.
2. prohibits manufacturing children's clothing with fabrics that burn easily.
3. protects consumers from the use of toxic substances.
4. specifies the type-of-care information required on labels.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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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

1. The government determines goods and services provided to consumers.
2. The government controls most of the productive resources.
3. The government's role is limited to making laws that ensure fair competition and fair business practices.
4. The government attempts to control the amount of money in circulation by controlling interest rates and credit terms.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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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

1. Hospital insurance pays for routine office visits to the doctor.
2. Liability coverage is not required in any state in the United States.
3. Comprehensive insurance covers damage to a car from events other than collision.
4. Term life insurance is a good investment for a retirement fund.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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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

1. beginning their careers
2. deciding where to spend their honeymoon
3. determining who will manage the family finances
4. beginning a retirement fund

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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Competency 15—Knowledge of factors affecting housing selection

DIRECTIONS: Read the item and select the best response.

Creditors say that only 25% of take-home pay should be spent on housing expenses.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 per year, how much should that individual pay for housing each month?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

1. $625625 dollars
2. $750750 dollars
3. $825825 dollars
4. $850850 dollars

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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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

1. balance.
2. emphasis.
3. intensity.
4. repetition.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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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

1. a diet moderate in sugar
2. a diet with plenty of grain products, fruits, and vegetables
3. a diet including a variety of foods
4. a diet moderate in salt and sodium

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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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

1. provide quick energy.
2. regulate body temperature.
3. build and repair body cells.
4. transport water-soluble vitamins.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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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

1. meat products.
2. fresh citrus fruit.
3. whole-grain products.
4. dairy products.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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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

1. eliminate empty calories.
2. eliminate the use of alcohol.
3. limit salt and sodium intake.
4. limit the intake of red meat.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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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

1. grilled cheese sandwiches, tomato soup, oranges, and milk.
2. spaghetti and meat sauce, asparagus, homemade bread, and milk.
3. fried chicken, baked potatoes, green salad, and milk.
4. grilled hamburgers, stuffed potatoes, chef's salad, and milk.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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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

1. botulism.
2. hepatitis A.
3. toxoplasmosis.
4. salmonellosis.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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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

1. soft and lightweight.
2. firm and fuzzy.
3. smooth and light colored.
4. soft and slightly wrinkled.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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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

1. square.
2. rectangle.
3. triangle.
4. circle.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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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

1. self-rising flour.
2. too much sugar.
3. too much milk.
4. cold water.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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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

1. practical arts.
2. supplemental.
3. job preparatory.
4. exploratory.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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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

1. American Association of Family and Consumer Services
2. Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
3. Association of Career and Technical Education
4. National Association of Phi Delta Kappa

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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