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Section 4: Sample Selected-Response Questions
Physical Education EC–12 (158)

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This section presents some sample exam questions for you to review as part of your preparation for the exam. To demonstrate how each competency may be assessed, sample questions are accompanied by the competency that they measure. While studying, you may wish to read the competency before and after you consider each sample question. Please note that the competency statements do not appear on the actual exam.

For each sample exam question, there is a correct answer and a rationale for each answer option. The sample questions are included to illustrate the formats and types of questions you will see on the exam; however, your performance on the sample questions should not be viewed as a predictor of your performance on the actual exam.

Domain I—Movement Skills and Knowledge

Competency 001—The teacher understands and applies principles of motor development and motor learning.

1. Milestones of refined finger control can be expected at which of the following ages?

  1. 4 years old
  2. 8 years old
  3. 12 years old
  4. 16 years old
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option B is correct because finger control is generally quite refined at the 8-year-old milestone of fine-motor skill development. Option A is incorrect because at 4 years old, a child is progressing but not yet at a refined-level fine-motor skill development. Fine-motor skills typically develop in a reasonably consistent pattern, starting from birth and, with practice, can be refined throughout adulthood. However, options C and D are incorrect because a 12 year old and a 16 year old should have already reached the milestone of refinement in finger control by 8 years old.

2. The relationship between personal-social skills and physical education is most accurately described by which of the following statements?

  1. Personal-social skills should be addressed in the physical education class through direct instruction.
  2. The physical education class reinforces the personal-social skills learned at home.
  3. In the physical education class, personal-social skills are typically addressed after fitness and motor skills are developed
  4. Personal-social skills typically develop concurrently with fitness and motor skills, given a physical education class with the proper environment.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option D is correct because physical education directly contributes to fitness, motor skill development, and personal-social development when instruction is given in a safe and supportive environment. Options A and C are incorrect because social skills should be incorporated into the physical education class instruction indirectly, accompanied with fitness and motor skill development. Option B is incorrect because social skills learned at home are generally unknown to the teacher and could possibly be inappropriate.

3. Which of the following terms best explains why a young student has greater control of his or her upper torso than of his or her legs and feet?

  1. Component stages
  2. Proximodistal development
  3. Developmental biodynamics
  4. Cephalocaudal development
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option D is correct because cephalocaudal development describes physical development that starts from the head and then progresses to the lower parts of the body, such as the legs and feet. Option A is incorrect because component stages do not exist as part of physical development. Option B is incorrect because proximodistal development describes physical development from the center of the body, such as the spinal cord, with progression outward to the fingers and toes. Option C is incorrect because developmental biodynamics is a field that describes brain, body, and behavior connections as related to motor development.

4. Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is typically associated with which of the following types of muscle contractions?

  1. Isometric
  2. Concentric
  3. Eccentric
  4. Co-contraction
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option C is correct because delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is generally associated with activities that cause muscles to lengthen while force is applied. This is eccentric muscle contraction. Options A and B are incorrect because the muscles endure higher forces and more soreness after eccentric exercise than during isometric and concentric exercises. Option D is incorrect because co-contraction is the synergistic activation of a group of muscles, such as the core, that provides support to perform exercises correctly.

5. To best provide students with positive corrective feedback, a physical education teacher should do which of the following?

  1. Take visual observation notes on each student’s performance
  2. Provide students with verbal cues as they practice skills
  3. Offer students written critiques after they demonstrate their ability
  4. Record students executing the skill using slow-motion video
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option B is correct because verbal cuing enhances attention and provides information that visual observation alone cannot provide. Option A is incorrect because visual observation allows the teacher to evaluate the student and does not offer ways to fix any errors produced while performing the motor skill. Option C is incorrect because a written critique could provide unclear explanations for improvement and may not help the student improve in a positive manner because of the potential lack of clarity. Additionally, the feedback is delayed and cannot be applied to begin making correction immediately and the student may never read the feedback. Option D is incorrect because recording the students’ movements in slow motion is a way to evaluate the students’ performance. In order to provide them with feedback, the teacher would need to discuss the slow-motion video with the students individually.

Competency 002—The teacher understands principles and practices for developing, combining and integrating motor skills.

6. Which of the following forms of movement most clearly demonstrates basic skill in nonlocomotor body management?

  1. Hopping up and down
  2. Standing on a balance beam
  3. Leaping with variation in distance
  4. Throwing an object various distances
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option B is correct because standing on a balance beam is a form of movement that demonstrates a student has the basic skill of nonlocomotor body management. Options A and C are incorrect because hopping and leaping are locomotor movement skills. Option D is incorrect because throwing is a manipulative movement skill.

7. Which of the following activities is considered an open skill?

  1. Bowling
  2. Putting a golf ball
  3. Batting in a softball game
  4. Shooting a basketball free throw
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option C is correct because batting in a softball game is performed in a constantly changing environment and so is considered an open skill. Options A, B, and D are incorrect because bowling, putting a golf ball, and shooting a free throw are generally performed in an unchanging environment at the pace of the performer, making these closed skills.

8. In the assessment of running form, which of the following should be the same for long-distance running and sprinting?

  1. The amount of arm swing
  2. The amount of upper-body lean
  3. The part of the foot used to push off
  4. The degree of foreleg extension
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option C is correct because the part of the foot used to push off when doing either a sprint or a long-distance run should be the ball of the foot. Option A is incorrect because the amount of arm swing is generally greater during sprinting than during long-distance running. Option B is incorrect because the amount of upper-body lean is generally greater during the initial phases of sprinting than during long-distance running. Option D is incorrect because compared with long-distance running, sprinting requires greater power; therefore, the degree of foreleg extension in sprinting would be smaller.

9. In swimming, which of the following sequences is correct for the breaststroke?

  1. Pull, kick, inhale, glide
  2. Pull, inhale, kick, glide
  3. Glide, pull, inhale, kick
  4. Kick, glide, inhale, pull
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option B is correct because during the breaststroke, the arms pull out and back toward the body while the head and upper body lift for a breath and the knees bend to prepare for the kick. After the kick, the upper body and arms are in the glide position. Therefore, the sequence for the breaststroke is pull, inhale, kick, and glide. Options A, C, and D are incorrect because they do not describe the proper sequence of the breaststroke.

Competency 003—The teacher understands and applies knowledge of movement concepts and biomechanical principles.

10. A first-grade teacher is having students march to the sound of a drumbeat. Which of the following instructions is most appropriate for teaching the movement concepts of spatial awareness and relationship awareness?

  1. Follow the person in front of you but keep a comfortable distance between you.
  2. Stomp your foot on the fourth beat of each measure, and turn to your right.
  3. March faster as the drumbeat gets faster but freeze when the drumbeat stops.
  4. Time your steps so your foot touches the ground at the same time as the drumbeat.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option A is correct because the instruction to follow the person in front but keep a comfortable distance is focused on the movement concept of spatial awareness. Spatial awareness is the ability to see and understand objects in relation to each other and to oneself. Options B, C, and D are incorrect because the directions focus on how the body moves, not where the body moves.

11. Which of the following biomechanical principles must be applied prior to a leap to achieve the greatest height possible?

  1. Using rotational inertia with a leg extension
  2. Maintaining a steady center of gravity
  3. Establishing balance and pointing the feet
  4. Creating speed and applying force from the legs
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option D is correct because the height of a leap is affected by the force and speed. The more force that is placed on the legs, the more power is generated for the leap. Option A is incorrect because torque and rotational inertia are the physics principles that can affect the speed and balance of your spin. You slow down when the leg is extended and speed up when the leg is retracted. Option B is incorrect because timing the leap to raise your center of gravity at the peak of the parabola creates an illusion of maintaining center of gravity. Option C is incorrect because when balancing on your toes, you are exerting a force against the floor that is equal to the force of gravity being exerted on you. This results in a zero-sum force acting on the body, placing you in your center of gravity.

12. Which of the following activities best represents a way in which a student can help to extend his or her shooting range in basketball to make a three-point shot?

  1. Facing the basket after catching a basketball at the three-point line and preparing to release the ball while aiming for the shooter’s square
  2. Keeping the palms facing the basket and protecting the ball with two hands on the same side before using a finger roll while shooting
  3. Shooting five feet from the basket until an all-net shot is made, then moving back one step and repeating the process
  4. Aligning the feet comfortably on the free throw line with bent knees before releasing the ball with the shooting hand
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option C is correct because adjusting the distance from closer to farther as each distance is mastered helps to extend the shooting range and accuracy of the three-point shot in basketball. Option A is incorrect because the activities described are similar to those that help develop the triple-threat move in basketball. Option B is incorrect because the sequence of activities described helps with performing the lay-up shot in basketball. Option D is incorrect because the movement progress describes skills needed to develop a good free throw in basketball. A free throw does not help extend a student’s shooting ability for a three-point throw.

Competency 004—The teacher understands and applies knowledge of individual, dual and team sports and activities.

13. Several students in a physical education class are having difficulty reaching the basket with their shots, even while using a youth-sized ball. Which of the following options is most appropriate for the teacher to introduce to increase the students’ success?

  1. Allowing students to use a balloon instead of a basketball
  2. Lowering the height of the basketball goal
  3. Raising the height of the basketball goal
  4. Allowing students to use a bouncy playground ball
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option B is correct because by lowering the height of the basketball goal, the teacher is decreasing the distance the students need to throw and increasing the likelihood that they will successfully make a basket. Options A and D are incorrect because changing the ball will not make it easier for the students to reach the goal. Option C is incorrect because increasing the height of the basketball goal will increase the distance the ball must travel and make the task more challenging for students.

14. When teaching a new skill for a particular sport, which of the following should the teacher do first?

  1. Provide drills to lead up to the skill
  2. Have students practice the skill
  3. Introduce the skill
  4. Provide feedback to correct errors
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option C is correct because when teaching a new skill to students for any sport, the teacher should always introduce the skill first to the students. Option A is incorrect because providing drills to lead up to the skill should occur after the skill has been introduced. Option B is incorrect because having students practice the skill should occur after the skill has been introduced and lead-up drills have been performed. Option D is incorrect because feedback should be provided after the skill has been introduced, lead-up drills have been performed, and students have had an opportunity to practice the newly learned skill.

15. Which of the following refers to the soccer ball size that is most appropriate for students 13 years or older?

  1. 1
  2. 3
  3. 4
  4. 5
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option D is correct because the largest size soccer ball is an adult ball that is considered a size 5. Option A is incorrect because a size 1 ball is a peewee ball that is used for skills and small children. Option B is incorrect because a size 3 ball is a junior ball that is used for children 8 and under. Option C is incorrect because a size 4 ball is a youth ball that is used for children ages 8 to 12.

16. A physical education teacher is introducing students to the game of lacrosse. Which of the following adaptations is most likely to increase the success of students playing lacrosse for the first time?

  1. Expanding the size of the goal
  2. Playing without keeping score
  3. Creating large teams
  4. Using unlimited field space
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option A is correct because expanding the size of the goal allows for success for all students, including those who are new to this sport. Option B is incorrect because keeping score or not keeping score doesn't necessarily change how people play a game. Option C is incorrect because creating larger teams can lead to crowded areas in the playing space and safety issues. Option D is incorrect because using unlimited space can cause confusion with rules and boundaries.

Competency 005—The teacher understands principles, techniques, skills and safety practices for dance, personal performance activities, cooperative and nontraditional games, recreational activities and outdoor pursuits.

17. A community golf course is located next to the high school. A physical education teacher has a golf unit planned and makes arrangements with the course to use its practice facilities during class. Students will be able to practice putting, chipping and driving. Which of the following is most important for the teacher to do to ensure the lessons run smoothly during the unit?

  1. Tell students they must dress in appropriate golf attire
  2. Ensure that the course has an adequate inventory of practice equipment
  3. Require students to take golf lessons before the unit
  4. Have students study the different types of turf on the course
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option B is correct because in order for the teacher to effectively instruct students, enough practice equipment must be available for all students. Option A is incorrect because proper golf attire is not required in a physical education setting. Option C is incorrect because the teacher is responsible for developing students’ golf skills and should assume that students have not had prior golf lessons. Option D is incorrect because having students study the different types of turf surfaces will not ensure that the lesson will run smoothly.

18. Which of the following skills should be learned first in the skill progression for a heel stop during a lesson on in-line skating?

  1. Shifting the weight to the left leg and rolling the right leg forward
  2. Aligning the body in the ready position with the arms out in front and bending slightly forward at the waist
  3. Tilting the right toe up to engage the heel brake and pressing down on the gymnasium floor
  4. Dragging one skate behind and perpendicular to the other
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option B is correct because students should be instructed to achieve proper balance for skating before beginning to stop. Options A, C, and D are incorrect because students should learn how to position the body correctly for balance before learning the brake steps. When learning progression in skating, students should learn proper movement progression, balance, and body positioning before learning brake steps.

19. Students in a physical education class are about to begin a warm-up jog. Which of the following is the most appropriate advice for the teacher to give them regarding proper jogging technique?

  1. Moving hands and arms across the body’s midline
  2. Limiting movement at the knees and ankles
  3. Maintaining an upright and stable body posture
  4. Lowering the chest and lunging forward
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option C is correct because of the choices listed, the most important in jogging would be to maintain an upright and stable body posture. Option A is incorrect because moving the hands and arms across the body’s midline has no impact on proper jogging technique. Option B is incorrect because a person should actually have good flexibility in the knees and ankles during jogging. Option D is incorrect because lowering the chest and lunging forward would be the opposite of an upright and stable posture.

Domain II—Health-Related Physical Fitness

Competency 006—The teacher understands major body systems, principles of physical fitness development and training and the benefits of a healthy, active lifestyle.

20. Which of the following is an uncontrollable factor that can affect a person’s health?

  1. Diet
  2. Heredity
  3. Smoking
  4. Stress
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option B is correct because heredity is inherited and uncontrollable, causing people to be predisposed to certain health-related advantages and disadvantages. Options A, C, and D are incorrect because they include factors affecting health that can be controlled by oneself.

21. Which of the following are the four components, or principles, of training and exercise?

  1. Health, skill, body composition, and flexibility
  2. Speed, power, balance, and coordination
  3. Frequency, intensity, time, and type of activity
  4. Agility, reaction time, endurance, and strength
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option C is correct because the four components of fitness and exercise are frequency, intensity, time, and type of activity. Options A, B, and D are incorrect because they are combinations of health- and skill-related components.

22. Which of the following best describes how regular exercise is beneficial to the brain?

  1. Increased levels of endorphins are released into the brain, boosting a person’s mood.
  2. Decreased levels of proteins are released, hindering the ability of the person to develop new brain cells.
  3. Increased levels of lactic acid are produced, stimulating the person’s energy level and allowing for sustained exercise.
  4. Decreased blood flow to the brain occurs both during and after the workout, allowing the person to worry less about weight gain.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option A is correct because exercise produces endorphins in the brain resulting in an elevated mood and feelings of euphoria. Option B is incorrect because exercise activates proteins to help form new brain cells. Option C is incorrect because lactic acid is a side-effect of exercise and will lead to reducing activity. Option D is incorrect because during exercise, there is an increase in blood flow to the brain.

Competency 007—The teacher understands principles and activities for developing and maintaining cardiovascular endurance.

23. Which of the following best describes VO₂ max?

  1. The system that provides most of the oxygen needed for long-duration or endurance exercises
  2. The maximum amount of oxygen that an individual can use during maximal or exhaustive exercise
  3. The method by which the body supplies energy for short, high-intensity bursts of activity lasting several minutes
  4. The way the circulatory and respiratory systems supply energy to the working muscles for sustained activity
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option B is correct because the definition of VO₂ max is the maximum rate of oxygen consumption measured during incremental exercise. Option A is incorrect because the system that provides most of the oxygen needed for long-duration or endurance exercises refers to aerobic metabolism, or the set of metabolic reactions that convert biochemical energy from nutrients into adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Option C is incorrect because the method by which the body supplies energy for short, high-intensity bursts of activity refers to anaerobic metabolism, where the system uses respiration without oxygen. Option D is incorrect because the manner in which energy is supplied from the circulatory and respiratory systems to the muscles for sustained activity is a definition of endurance.

24. Which of the following best explains why age-predicted maximal heart rate is used to regulate the intensity of aerobic exercise?

  1. Perceived exertion and exercise duration are inversely correlated.
  2. Exercise intensity and exercise duration are inversely correlated.
  3. Exercise velocity and exercise intensity are directly correlated.
  4. Heart rate and oxygen consumption are closely related.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option D is correct because as the body moves from rest to exercise, the heart rate begins to increase steadily. This allows for faster oxygen delivery to the working tissues and muscles, which allows for an increase in oxygen consumption. The age-predicted maximal heart rate method is simple and objective in that it uses age alone to predict maximal heart rate during activity. Options A, B, and C are incorrect because age-predicted maximal heart rate does not take into consideration perceived exertion, exercise duration, exercise intensity, or exercise velocity.

25. To prepare his class for a unit on aerobic exercise, Mr. Peal taught his students the Karvonen formula to calculate their heart rate (HR) for a specific training intensity. One of the components of this calculation is the heart rate reserve (HRR). The HRR is used to determine the HR to be attained during exercise, which is calculated by doing which of the following?

  1. Adding the resting HR to the blood pressure reading
  2. Subtracting the resting HR from the maximal HR
  3. Dividing the maximal HR by the resting HR
  4. Multiplying the resting HR by the maximal HR
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option B is correct because this is the proper way to utilize the Karvonen formula in calculating the heart rate reserve by subtracting the resting HR from the maximal HR. Options A, C, and D are incorrect because the Karvonen formula requires the participant to subtract their resting HR from the maximal HR to calculate the heart rate reserve.

26. A few days ago, a distance runner increased his running mileage. Since then he has noticed that his muscles are much more sore than usual and his times have not improved. Which of the following is the athlete most likely experiencing?

  1. Overtraining
  2. Overreaching
  3. Hyperplasia
  4. Cross-training
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option B is correct because overreaching is a short-term increase in training volume that can eventually turn into overtraining. Option A is incorrect because overtraining is a longer-term increase; with overtraining, the body requires a period of rest to recover. Option C is incorrect because hyperplasia is an increase in the amount of organic tissue that results from cell proliferation. Option D is incorrect because in cross-training, an athlete trains in a variety of sports, usually to overcome imbalances caused by only doing one type of training.

Competency 008—The teacher understands principles and activities for developing and maintaining flexibility, posture and muscular strength and endurance.

27. An exaggerated curvature of the vertebral column involving an excessive bending of the thoracic area toward the anterior is called

  1. kyphosis.
  2. lordosis.
  3. scoliosis.
  4. spondylosis.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option A is correct because exaggerated upper back curvature of the vertebral column, generally involving an excessive bending of the thoracic area, is known as kyphosis. Option B is incorrect because lordosis is exaggerated lower back curvature of the vertebral column. Option C is incorrect because scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the vertebral column. Option D is incorrect because spondylosis refers to osteoarthritis of the cervical spine.

28. Which of the following is the best activity to increase muscular endurance?

  1. Resistance training using high repetitions and light weight
  2. Resistance training using low repetitions and heavy weight
  3. Isotonic resistance training
  4. Plyometric resistance training
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option C is correct because during isotonic resistance training, the muscles shorten while lifting a constant load, increasing blood flow to muscles and muscular endurance. Options A and B are incorrect because using high repetitions and light weights or low repetitions and heavy weights describes resistance training that develops muscular strength. Option D is incorrect because plyometric resistance training is designed to increase muscular power and explosiveness.

29. Which of the following abdominal-strength exercises benefits the rectus abdominis muscle while protecting the lower back?

  1. Keeping the knees straight while doing half sit-ups
  2. Keeping the knees straight while doing full sit-ups
  3. Bending the knees at a 90-degree angle while doing half sit-ups
  4. Bending the knees at a 90-degee angle while doing full sit-ups
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option C is correct because performing half sit-ups with the knees bent at a 90-degree angle is the optimal way to strengthen the abdominal muscles without placing stress on the lower back. Options A, B, and D are incorrect because performing full sit-ups or half sit-ups with the knees straight creates a high-compression force that places strain on lower back muscles.

30. Which of the following tests is used to determine muscular strength?

  1. Twelve-minute walk/run test
  2. One-repetition max test
  3. Sit-and-reach test
  4. Twenty-meter shuttle run test
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option B is correct because the one-repetition max test is a standard test for muscular strength. Option A is incorrect because the twelve-minute walk/run test is a cardiovascular fitness test. Option C is incorrect because the sit-and-reach test is a flexibility test. Option D is incorrect because the twenty-meter shuttle run test is an agility test.

Competency 009—The teacher understands health and wellness concepts, including those related to nutrition, weight control and stress management, and analyses ways in which personal behaviors influence health and wellness.

31. Which of the following most accurately represents the number of pounds a person would lose if 3,500 more calories were burned rather than taken in over a span of time?

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 5
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option A is correct because creating a 3,500-calorie deficit through diet and exercise will result in a weight loss of 1 pound over time. Option B is incorrect because a person would need to burn 7,000 calories to lose 2 pounds over time. Option C is incorrect because a person would need to burn 10,500 calories to lose 3 pounds over time. Option D is incorrect because a person would need to burn 17,500 calories to lose 5 pounds over time.

32. The use of anabolic-androgenic steroids is known to deepen the voice and increase the growth of body hair, muscle size, and aggression. Which TWO of the following are the main reasons for the changes?

  1. The substances are nearly identical to male sex hormones
  2. The substances function in the human body as testosterone
  3. The substances are nearly identical to carbohydrates
  4. The substances speed up cell metabolism
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Options A and B are correct because anabolic-androgenic steroids are the synthetic variants of the male sex hormone testosterone and function in the human body to increase male sexual characteristics such as a deepened voice and increased growth of body hair, muscle size, and aggression. Option C is incorrect because the substances in anabolic-androgenic steroids are nearly identical to male sex hormones. Option D is incorrect because the use of anabolic-androgenic steroids to speed up cell metabolism could increase the risk of liver damage and increase a person’s chance of having a heart attack or a stroke.

33. According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, children and adolescents should engage in muscle- and bone-strengthening activities at least

  1. four days per week.
  2. three days per week.
  3. two days per week.
  4. one day per week.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option B is correct because the United States Department of Health and Human Services recommends that children and adolescents should engage in muscle- and bone-strengthening physical activity at least three days of the week. Options A, C, and D are incorrect because they do not exist as appropriate recommendations for bone-strengthening physical activity.

34. Which of the following groups of athletes has the greatest risk of developing early osteoporosis because of insufficient calcium intake?

  1. Female basketball players
  2. Male track-and-field sprinters
  3. Male swimming sprinters
  4. Female gymnasts
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option D is correct because, in addition to gymnastics being a weight-centric sport, females are predisposed toward osteoporosis, thus putting female gymnasts at high risk for early onset of the condition. Option A is incorrect because, although females in general are predisposed toward osteoporosis, the condition is not determined by participation in a particular sport. Options B and C are incorrect because males in general do not have a high risk for osteoporosis, nor is the condition determined by participation in a particular sport.

Domain III—The Physical Education Program

Competency 010—The teacher knows how to use effective, developmentally appropriate instruction and assessment to prepare physically educated individuals.

35. When preparing lesson plan objectives, the physical education teacher should refer to which THREE of the following?

  1. National standards
  2. Local curriculums
  3. State standards
  4. United States Bill of Rights
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Options A, B, and C are correct because when a physical education teacher is writing lesson plan objectives, he or she should refer to the national standards, state standards, and local curriculums. Option D is incorrect because the United States Bill of Rights is not a useful reference document for teachers writing lesson plan objectives.

36. Which of the following methods best demonstrates effective teaching behavior using nonverbal communication during physical education class?

  1. Pointing to the next station to direct students to a new activity
  2. Telling the class that they are spending too much time changing their clothes for gym
  3. Looking students in the eye while giving individual feedback on a skill they are performing
  4. Asking students to respond to feedback from their peers during an activity
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option C is correct because looking directly at the students provides them with a clear nonverbal cue to reinforce specific feedback about skill performance. Option A is incorrect because pointing does not provide students with information on what they are supposed to do when they get to a new activity. Options B and D are incorrect because they are verbal cues that do not provide specific feedback to students.

37. In a certain kindergarten class, about half of the students use an immature form when jumping, and the remaining students use a mature form. Which of the following statements best explains the difference in ability?

  1. The students jumping with mature form may have started school a year early.
  2. The students jumping with mature form have developed at a faster rate.
  3. Females develop physical abilities at a much slower rate than males.
  4. Motor ability is directly related to parental involvement.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option B is correct because while there are age-related guidelines as to when students achieve milestones of development, some mature at a faster rate than others. Option A is incorrect because it is unlikely that all the students with mature jumps started school a year early. Option C is incorrect because the question did not differentiate between males and females. Some girls may be mature jumpers at this stage, and some boys may not be. Option D is incorrect because while parental involvement may have some impact on students' jumping ability, overall development and natural ability have the biggest impact.

Competency 011—The teacher understands factors relevant to learning and performance in physical education and uses this knowledge to create learning environments and opportunities that promote students’ development in various domains (e.g., cognitive, social, emotional).

38. A student is most likely to be self-motivated and engage in physical activities long term when the student

  1. participates in physical activities several times a week at school.
  2. understands the effects of physical activity versus the effects of nonactivity.
  3. knows the rules and understands a wide variety of team sports.
  4. possesses the knowledge, skills, and attitude to lead a healthy lifestyle.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option D is correct because by educating students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to lead a healthy lifestyle, students will be more self-motivated to do so for a lifetime. Option A is incorrect because a physical education teacher’s main goal is for all students to be physically active, not only in the classroom but for a lifetime. Option B is incorrect because although it is important to know the effects of physical activity and nonactivity, it will not necessarily incline students to participate in physical activity. Option C is incorrect because knowing the rules and understanding a particular sport will not necessarily lead students to participate in the sport or activity.

39. In a problem-solving classroom culture, which TWO of the following are the primary responsibilities of the physical education teacher?

  1. To foster and promote decision making among learners
  2. To maintain an overall emphasis on inquiry
  3. To serve as the ultimate decision maker
  4. To ensure that students follow classroom rules
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Options A and B are correct because a classroom culture that supports problem solving fosters and promotes decision making among learners and maintains an emphasis on student inquiry. Option C is incorrect because the teacher serves as a guide, while students are encouraged to reach decisions on their own. Option D is incorrect because students can work out the rules together, through discussion, rather than the teacher setting and enforcing the rules.

40. According to current research in the field of physical education, which of the following best promotes student participation in lifelong physical activity?

  1. Learning how to play popular sports and games
  2. Playing for a team that wins games regularly
  3. Acquiring basic skills needed to participate in a variety of activities
  4. Becoming familiar with common gymnasium equipment
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option C is correct because current research indicates that when students acquire the basic skills needed to participate in a variety of activities, they will be more willing and confident in their ability to do so. Option A is incorrect because not all popular sports and games will appeal to some students. Option B is incorrect because it is unlikely that students will always be on a winning team and it is important for a teacher to educate students on how to win and lose gracefully. Option D is incorrect because becoming familiar with common gymnasium equipment will not teach students how to use the equipment to participate in lifelong physical activity.

41. Which of the following is the best plan for a student who wants to begin a personal fitness program?

  1. Joining a gym that offers only group activities and exercises
  2. Focusing specifically on one type of activity or exercise
  3. Allotting time for extended sessions of high-intensity exercise
  4. Choosing a variety of activities in which to participate
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option D is correct because before beginning any personal fitness program a student should decide which activities he or she enjoys. In setting goals and developing a personal fitness plan, a student should consider different activities but should choose an activity that he or she enjoys enough to do on a regular basis. Option A is incorrect because a student may not have access to a gym or may prefer individual activities over group activities. Option B is incorrect because a common mistake when starting an exercise program is focusing on only one activity or exercise. Option C is incorrect because a student should not exercise for too long or with too much intensity. Children and adolescents should do 60 minutes (one hour) or more of physical activity each day, which should be incorporated throughout the day.

42. Outdoor education, such as rock climbing, hiking, and kayaking classes, promotes lifelong physical activity and builds self-esteem because these activities provide students with opportunities to do which of the following?

  1. Mentally block out problems and distractions by meditating
  2. Achieve goals and experience a sense of accomplishment
  3. Enjoy time in nature while competing against peers
  4. Attempt to break personal fitness records each time they participate
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option B is correct because outdoor education courses give students the opportunity to challenge themselves as well as develop self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-efficacy. Option A is incorrect because the benefits of outdoor education classes do not necessarily include the ability to block out distractions and meditate. Option C is incorrect because while outdoor education courses do increase students’ exposure to nature and environmental resources, there should not be competition involved. Option D is incorrect because outdoor education courses can increase one’s physical fitness level, however, breaking personal fitness records is not the most important benefit of participation in outdoor education courses.

Competency 012—The teacher understands the structure, organization, goals and purposes of physical education programs.

43. In the 1980s, among students who participated in high-visibility intercollegiate sports (e.g., Division I football, baseball, and basketball) which of the following was the postcollegiate experience of those who had received full athletic scholarships?

  1. Fewer than 5 percent of men and women went on to play their sport at a professional level.
  2. About 50 percent of men and women went on to play their sport at a professional level.
  3. About 75 percent of men and women had careers in sports management, ownership, or professional or college coaching.
  4. The majority of men but not of women went on to play their sport at a professional level.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option A is correct because only a small percentage of intercollegiate athletes go on to play their sport at a professional level. Options B and D are incorrect because, although men are more likely than women to make it to the professional level, only a minority of men move on to pursue professional sports careers, and even fewer women do. Option C is incorrect because only a small percentage of men and women have careers in college or professional coaching, management, or ownership.

44. Which of the following factors is most highly correlated with positive gains in motor learning and achievement in a physical education classroom setting?

  1. Provision of feedback that is mainly linked to results or outcomes rather than performance
  2. The amount of time students are physically active and having fun, regardless of the activity
  3. The amount of time students spend engaged successfully in activities related to lesson objectives
  4. Provision of feedback that is primarily nonverbal rather than verbal in nature
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option C is correct because active student learning time in which students are engaged in activities directly related to the lesson’s objective is highly correlated with a positive gain in motor learning in a physical education setting. Option A is incorrect because the feedback on the performance of the skill is more important than the outcome. Option B is incorrect because all activities should be taught and performed with a lesson objective in mind. Option D is incorrect because verbal feedback is more successful in a physical education setting.

45. In addition to teaching students movement skills, physical education programs should incorporate cooperative group activities that provide students with natural and valuable opportunities. The physical education teacher can best achieve this through which of the following strategies?

  1. Ensuring students understand the superior benefits of competing against oneself rather than against others
  2. Developing students’ familiarity with and use of effective organizational and leadership traits and styles
  3. Ensuring students understand the structure and dynamics of groups and how to best work within that setting
  4. Developing in students a variety of positive social skills, attitudes, and behaviors
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option D is correct because developing a variety of positive social skills, attitudes, and behaviors in a physical education setting best embodies cooperative learning among students. Options A, B, and C are incorrect because they do not reflect or help to achieve appropriate cooperative learning strategies within a physical education setting.

46. A high school administrator has decided to focus on incorporating physical education across all academic disciplines for the upcoming school year. Which of the following is the most appropriate strategy for executing the plan?

  1. Having physical education teachers give fifteen-minute presentations during planning periods about the benefits of physical activity and academic success
  2. Asking outstanding senior athletes to explain to teachers how being physically fit has helped them throughout their high school years
  3. Using planning periods as a time for teachers to co-plan units incorporating physical activity throughout the disciplines
  4. Showing a presentation during back-to-school night that encourages students and parents to become aware of the benefits of physical education
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option C is correct because representatives from each discipline can best work together during planning periods to integrate units across curriculums. Option A is incorrect because it does not establish a relationship between subjects. Option B is incorrect because student athletes speaking about fitness has nothing to do with cross-curricular teaching strategies. Option D is incorrect because a presentation about the awareness of physical education does not achieve cross-curriculum integration.

Competency 013—The teacher understands legal issues and responsibilities of physical education teachers in relation to supervision, planning and instruction, safety, first aid and risk management.

47. A portion of Texas Senate Bill 530 mandates that all students in Texas take a fitness test. How often must each student take a fitness test?

  1. Once every six weeks
  2. Once every nine weeks
  3. Twice a semester
  4. Once a year
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option D is correct because according to Texas Senate Bill 530, students in grades 3–12 are required to undergo a yearly fitness test. Options A, B, and C are incorrect because Texas Senate Bill 530 only requires fitness testing once a year.

48. Which of the following teaching practices is most likely to ensure that a physical education teacher receives legal protection against a lawsuit that might arise from a student who becomes injured in class?

  1. Using written lesson plans that feature curriculum activities appropriate for the age and skill level of the students
  2. Regularly attending in-service and staff development programs to learn about innovative physical activities and techniques
  3. Ensuring that the goals and objectives of the physical education program incorporate the educational mission and goals of the school
  4. Ensuring that general rules for student behavior and participation in physical activities are prominently posted
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option A is correct because by using written lesson plans that feature curriculum activities appropriate for the age and skill level of the students, the teacher has a documented reference of appropriate and safe practices that are being followed during class if a student becomes injured in class. Option B is incorrect because professional development does not document safe and appropriate learning. Options C and D are incorrect because incorporating the mission and goals of the school into goals and objectives of a program or posting general participation and behavior rules does not legally protect the teacher in the event a student is injured during class.

49. Which of the following statements is the most accurate interpretation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 as it pertains to sports and physical education?

  1. Physical education teachers are required to modify lesson plans to accommodate students with disabilities.
  2. Males and females must have an equal opportunity to participate in sports and physical education in any school or entity receiving federal financial assistance.
  3. The government must provide equal sports and physical education funding to all of the school districts within a state.
  4. Coaches must allow eligible players who are passing all academic subjects to participate in school sports.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option B is correct because Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 states that males and females must have an equal opportunity to participate in sports and physical education in any school or entity receiving federal financial assistance. Option A is incorrect because accommodating students with disabilities is covered in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Option C is incorrect because funding of sports and physical education comes from state, local and federal government, which may vary between school districts. Option D is incorrect because rules and regulations for participation in school sports are established by the school district.

50. An elementary school has created a policy that prohibits students from using physical education or playground equipment unless a teacher is present. The primary reason for the policy is to reduce the risk of

  1. practice-restriction violations.
  2. curriculum deviations.
  3. equipment damage.
  4. student injury.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option D is correct because the school wants to limit liability of injury because of misuse of the equipment. Options A and B are incorrect because the school would not have any problems with either of these issues. Option C is incorrect because the school is less concerned with the damage to the equipment than it is with a student being injured and a potential lawsuit stemming from the injury.

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