New Deal TSIA2 Presentation
TSIA2 ELAR Prep Texas Success Initiative Assessment 2.0
10 Master Practice Questions
Historical Text Analysis: 1929–1939
The New Deal & The Great Depression
Reading Comprehension • Sentence Revision • Standard English Conventions
1-4
Reading Analysis
Main idea, vocabulary, text structure
5-7
Revising Skills
Transitions & sentence combining
8-10
Editing Conventions
Run-ons, modifiers & agreement
Question 01 Reading Comprehension • Central Idea
Passage Overview
Which statement best expresses the primary central idea of the passage?
A Herbert Hoover's commitment to laissez-faire capitalism was praised by historians as the optimal economic strategy for the Great Depression.
B Franklin D. Roosevelt used relief, recovery, and reform programs to fight the Great Depression, fundamentally expanding the federal government's role in citizen welfare.
C The New Deal succeeded solely because radio broadcasts enabled FDR to convince voters that government intervention was unnecessary.
D The Securities and Exchange Commission was the only agency created during the 1930s that had a lasting impact on modern American finance.
TSIA2 Diagnostic Series Record your selected answer and reasoning on your worksheet.
Answer & Breakdown 01 Central Idea & Scope
Key: Option B
Correct Answer: B
The passage traces the shift from Hoover's hands-off philosophy to FDR's three-part framework (Relief, Recovery, Reform) and explicitly concludes that the New Deal was a permanent "turning point" expanding federal responsibility for economic well-being.
Why Distractors Fail
A contradicts the passage (Hoover lost in a landslide). C is factually inaccurate. D is overly narrow—the text highlights the FDIC and Social Security alongside the SEC.
TSIA2 Strategic Hint
A true central idea covers the entire text from beginning to end. Beware of answers that describe only a single paragraph or detail rather than the full arc.
Next: Vocabulary in Context Question 2 of 10
Question 02 Reading Comprehension • Vocabulary in Context
Paragraph 3 Excerpt
"To address the bank failures that exacerbated the Great Depression, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) was formed."
As used in the sentence above, the word "exacerbated" most nearly means:
A worsened or intensified
B resolved or settled
C delayed temporarily
D predicted accurately
TSIA2 Diagnostic Series Plug each option into the sentence to test context clues.
Answer & Breakdown 02 Vocabulary in Context
Key: Option A
Correct Answer: A ("worsened or intensified")
The passage explains that bank runs caused Americans to lose their savings and banks to collapse, making an already severe economic disaster far more acute. "Exacerbate" means to make a bad situation even worse.
Why Distractors Fail
B ("resolved") is the direct antonym. Bank failures did not fix the crisis. C and D ignore the negative compounding cause-and-effect described in the text.
TSIA2 Strategic Hint
Replace the target word with your own synonym before looking at options. Does bank failure make a crisis better or worse? Tone polarity (+/-) eliminates half the choices immediately.
Next: Text Evidence & Inference Question 3 of 10
Question 03 Reading Comprehension • Inference & Evidence
Paragraphs 1 & 2
Based on paragraphs 1 and 2, what was the primary reason voters elected Franklin D. Roosevelt in a landslide victory in 1932?
A Hoover had promised to eliminate all private charities and religious assistance programs.
B Roosevelt presented a fully finalized, detailed economic blueprint guaranteeing immediate recovery.
C Americans facing acute financial devastation preferred federal assistance over Hoover's insistence on no direct government aid.
D Roosevelt had already instituted the FDIC and Social Security during his tenure as Governor of New York.
TSIA2 Diagnostic Series Find direct supporting lines in the passage text.
Answer & Breakdown 03 Inference & Evidence
Key: Option C
Correct Answer: C
Paragraph 2 states: "Although FDR's campaign promises were always a bit vague, most Americans believed vague support was better than no support at all." This directly contrasts with Hoover telling Americans to "expect no substantial aid from the government itself."
Why Distractors Fail
B is refuted by the text, which admits FDR's plans were "a bit vague." A is false (Hoover encouraged charity). D is historically and textually untrue.
TSIA2 Strategic Hint
Inference questions on the TSIA2 require close textual grounding. Never pick an answer that exaggerates or contradicts details explicitly mentioned in the passage.
Next: Text Structure & Analysis Question 4 of 10
Question 04 Reading Comprehension • Text Structure & Purpose
Paragraph 2 & Table
According to the passage, what is the key distinction between "relief" programs and "reform" programs?
A Relief programs provided immediate survival aid like food and temporary work, while reform programs restructured systems to prevent future crises.
B Relief programs focused exclusively on the stock market, whereas reform programs targeted agriculture and small businesses.
C Relief programs were enacted by President Hoover, while reform programs were exclusively designed by the Harding administration.
D Relief programs were permanent constitutional amendments, while reform programs were voluntary charitable organizations.
TSIA2 Diagnostic Series Refer to the "Three R's" comparison in paragraph 2 and the summary chart.
Answer & Breakdown 04 Text Structure & Categorization
Key: Option A
Correct Answer: A
The author categorizes programs by temporal objective: Relief solved acute day-to-day crises (food, shelter, short-term labor), while Reform instituted permanent structural barriers (SEC, FDIC, Social Security) to prevent recurrence.
Why Distractors Fail
B confuses relief with the SEC (which was reform). C misattributes programs to Hoover and Harding. D invents constitutional amendments not mentioned in the text.
TSIA2 Strategic Hint
When informational texts present a framework (like the "Three R's"), note the timeline and purpose of each category: Immediate (Relief) vs. Intermediate (Recovery) vs. Permanent (Reform).
Next: Revising (Sentence Combining) Question 5 of 10
Question 05 Revising • Sentence Combining & Economy
Paragraph 1 Revision
Draft Sentences: "He saw the economic trouble that Americans were facing from the crash. He recognized that they needed help."
Which revision most effectively combines the sentences with clarity and conciseness?
A Seeing the economic suffering caused by the crash, he recognized that Americans needed assistance.
B He saw economic trouble going through people, and then recognizing they needed help to overcome it.
C Because of the crash people had trouble, he recognized help was needed for challenges.
D He saw trouble, recognizing help, because Americans were going through the crash to overcome it.
TSIA2 Diagnostic Series Evaluate sentence flow, conciseness, and correct participial modifiers.
Answer & Breakdown 05 Sentence Combining
Key: Option A
Correct Answer: A
Option A converts the first independent clause into an introductory participial phrase ("Seeing the economic suffering caused by the crash...") correctly modifying "he," while eliminating wordy redundancy ("going through... trouble").
Why Distractors Fail
B creates a parallel structure error and a sentence fragment. C is a comma splice joining two independent clauses. D is convoluted and illogical.
TSIA2 Strategic Hint
The best combination on the TSIA2 is concise, logically ordered, and grammatically complete. Watch out for options that introduce comma splices or awkward participle modifiers.
Next: Revising (Transitions) Question 6 of 10
Question 06 Revising • Logical Transitions
Paragraph 4 Transition
Context (Moving from legislative reforms to public communication): "[ ], the president engaged in a number of efforts to promote the New Deal and calm Americans' fears. One of FDR's first actions was to declare a Bank Holiday."
Which transitional phrase best introduces this paragraph by connecting legislative policy to public reassurance?
A In addition to structural legislation
B In contrast to public opinion
C As a direct consequence of radio failure
D Regardless of the banking crisis
TSIA2 Diagnostic Series Determine the logical relationship between Paragraph 3 (laws/agencies) and Paragraph 4 (communication).
Answer & Breakdown 06 Logical Transitions
Key: Option A
Correct Answer: A ("In addition to structural legislation")
Paragraph 3 examined formal statutory bodies (SEC, FDIC, Social Security). Paragraph 4 pivots to FDR's interpersonal and psychological strategies (Bank Holiday, Fireside Chats). An additive transition provides smooth continuity between policy and public relations.
Why Distractors Fail
B ("In contrast...") implies opposition where none exists. C is factually wrong (radio was a great success). D contradicts the text, which discusses solving the bank crisis directly.
TSIA2 Strategic Hint
Always analyze the relationship between the preceding idea and the upcoming idea. Are they contrasting, sequential, causal, or additive? Pick the category that matches.
Next: Revising (Focus & Topic Development) Question 7 of 10
Question 07 Revising • Paragraph Coherence
Paragraph 5 Development
Context: "Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal is a turning point in American history. [ Proposed Insertion ] Prior to the Great Depression, America operated on 'Rugged Individualism'..."
Which sentence, if inserted, best clarifies the historical significance of this ideological shift?
A This transformation permanently altered the belief regarding how much responsibility the national government bears for citizen security.
B Radios became much more affordable during the 1930s, allowing families to listen to musical programs in the evening.
C Hoover preferred living in California rather than Washington, D.C. after his political loss in November 1932.
D Many bank managers did not support the bank holiday because institutions had to close on Mondays.
TSIA2 Diagnostic Series Choose the option that maintains the paragraph's focus on government philosophy.
Answer & Breakdown 07 Topic Development & Coherence
Key: Option A
Correct Answer: A
Paragraph 5 centers on the profound ideological transformation from individual self-reliance ("rugged individualism") to federal social safety nets. Option A directly establishes the significance of that transformation before the contrast is developed.
Why Distractors Fail
B, C, and D introduce off-topic, extraneous biographical and trivial details that disrupt the paragraph's cohesive argument about political philosophy.
TSIA2 Strategic Hint
When asked to insert a sentence, ask: "What is the single governing idea of this paragraph?" Eliminate any option that wanders into unrelated trivia, even if the factoid is historically interesting.
Next: Editing Conventions (Run-on Sentences) Question 8 of 10
Question 08 Editing Conventions • Comma Splice & Run-ons
Punctuation & Clauses
Comma Splice Error: "During the Great Depression many panicked citizens rushed to withdraw savings, this sudden run threatened entire banks."
Which revision best corrects the comma splice in the sentence above?
A During the Depression many panicked citizens rushed to withdraw savings; this sudden run threatened entire banks.
B During the Depression many panicked citizens rushed to withdraw savings, however this sudden run threatened banks.
C During the Depression many panicked citizens rushed to withdraw savings this sudden run threatened entire banks.
D During the Depression, many panicked citizens rushing to withdraw savings, and this run threatened banks.
TSIA2 Diagnostic Series Remember the 4 ways to connect two independent clauses correctly.
Answer & Breakdown 08 Comma Splice & Run-ons
Key: Option A
Correct Answer: A (Semicolon joins independent clauses)
The sentence contains two independent clauses: [citizens rushed...] and [this sudden run threatened...]. Joining two independent clauses with only a comma creates a comma splice. A semicolon correctly links them without needing a coordinating conjunction.
Why Distractors Fail
B still has a comma splice (the conjunctive adverb "however" requires a semicolon before it). C is a fused run-on sentence. D creates a sentence fragment.
TSIA2 Strategic Hint
To fix a comma splice, use one of three methods: (1) Period, (2) Semicolon, or (3) Comma + FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so). Never use a comma alone!
Next: Editing Conventions (Subject-Verb Agreement) Question 9 of 10
Question 09 Editing Conventions • Subject-Verb Agreement
Agreement Across Prepositions
Sentence to Evaluate: "Each of the three landmark reform programs created under the New Deal continue to protect modern Americans against financial instability."
Which change should be made to ensure standard English subject-verb agreement?
A
Change "continue" to "continues"
Singular subject requires singular verb
B
Change "Each" to "Every one of all"
Alter the pronoun form
C
Change "created" to "has created"
Shift past participle tense
D
Make no change
The sentence is already correct
TSIA2 Diagnostic Series Isolate the true grammatical subject by crossing out intervening prepositional phrases.
Answer & Breakdown 09 Subject-Verb Agreement
Key: Option A
Correct Answer: A (Change "continue" to "continues")
The grammatical subject is the singular indefinite pronoun "Each". The phrase "of the three landmark reform programs created under the New Deal" is an intervening prepositional and participial phrase. A singular subject requires the singular verb form: Each continues.
The Interrupter Trap
Writers often get tricked by the plural noun closest to the verb ("programs"). On the TSIA2, always ignore the prepositional phrase to match the true head noun to its verb.
TSIA2 Strategic Hint
Indefinite pronouns such as Each, Neither, Either, Everyone, Anyone, and Someone are always grammatically singular. Test by substituting "It" for the subject phrase: "It continues" (not "It continue").
Next: Editing Conventions (Dangling Modifiers) Question 10 of 10
Question 10 Editing Conventions • Dangling & Misplaced Modifiers
Modifier Placement
Dangling Modifier: "Broadcasting directly into living rooms, the American public felt reassured by Roosevelt's calm explanations."
Which revision places the modifier with the noun it logically modifies?
A Broadcasting directly into living rooms, radio broadcasts made the American public feel reassured by Roosevelt.
B Broadcasting directly into living rooms, President Roosevelt reassured the public with his calm explanations.
C Broadcasting directly into living rooms, calm explanations were reassuring to the public from Roosevelt.
D The public, broadcasting directly into living rooms across the nation, felt reassured by Roosevelt's chats.
TSIA2 Diagnostic Series Ask: Who was doing the broadcasting? That subject must immediately follow the comma.
Answer & Breakdown 10 Modifier Placement
Key: Option B
Correct Answer: B
The introductory participial phrase is "Broadcasting directly into living rooms across the nation..." The agent performing the broadcasting is President Roosevelt, not "the American public," "the radio broadcasts," or "calm explanations." Therefore, "President Roosevelt" must immediately follow the introductory comma.
Why Distractors Fail
In the original and D, the modifier illogically says the public was broadcasting. In C, the modifier attaches to "calm explanations" (words cannot broadcast).
TSIA2 Strategic Hint
The Golden Rule of Participial Modifiers: The noun directly following the comma must be the entity physically performing the action described in the -ing phrase.
All 10 Questions Completed Review Summary Ahead
Session Debrief TSIA2 ELAR Performance Tracker
10 / 10 Mastered
Reading Takeaways
- • Anchor main ideas across the whole text, not single paragraphs.
- • Use surrounding tone clues (+ / -) for context vocabulary.
Revising Takeaways
- • Combine sentences by trimming duplicate pronouns and repetitive verbs.
- • Identify transition function: contrast, additive, causal, or sequential.
Editing Takeaways
- • Never join independent clauses with a lone comma (comma splice).
- • Isolate indefinite pronouns ("Each") from intervening plural prepositions.
Student Follow-up
Complete the reflection prompt and self-correction audit on page 3 of your worksheet.
TSIA2 Ready!
