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Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential Exam

3. Learning environment: practice questions

Our CDA exam bank has 23 questions on this topic. Here are 5 of them with answers; the full mock exam draws from every topic, like the real one.

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Question 1

How should a classroom be arranged for a child who uses a wheelchair?

  1. With the child kept out of active centers
  2. With no changes, since the child can watch the other children from the doorway
  3. With the child kept at one table all day
  4. With accessible pathways and materials the child can reach, adapting as needed
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D. With accessible pathways and materials the child can reach, adapting as needed — Learning spaces must be accessible to children with disabilities, with any needed accommodations in equipment and materials (1302.31(d)).

Question 2

Which practice supports dual language learners in the classroom?

  1. Waiting until children learn English to include them
  2. Including books, labels and songs in children's home languages as well as English
  3. Not allowing home languages in class
  4. Asking families to speak only English at home so children learn it faster
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B. Including books, labels and songs in children's home languages as well as English — 1302.31(b)(2) requires recognizing bilingualism as a strength and supporting home language development, for example with culturally and linguistically appropriate materials.

Question 3

What is the main benefit of a predictable daily routine for young children?

  1. Teachers never need to change plans
  2. Children never need to make choices
  3. Children learn to sit still for longer periods without needing to move
  4. Children feel secure because they know what will happen next
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D. Children feel secure because they know what will happen next — Consistent routines help create the secure, enjoyable environment described in the Learning Environment functional area.

Question 4

How can teachers make transitions between activities smoother?

  1. Give a warning before the change and use songs or simple cues
  2. Skip transitions entirely by keeping children seated at tables for most of the day
  3. Turn off the lights without warning
  4. Make children wait silently in line
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A. Give a warning before the change and use songs or simple cues — Head Start treats transitions between activities as opportunities for learning (1302.31(e)(3)); warnings and cues support self-regulation.

Question 5

Why should the curriculum be developmentally appropriate and research-based?

  1. So all children do the same thing at the same time and finish the same worksheets
  2. So teachers do not need to observe children
  3. So children can finish lessons faster
  4. So activities match how children of that age learn and are shown to work
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D. So activities match how children of that age learn and are shown to work — 1302.32 requires developmentally appropriate, research-based curricula aligned with the ELOF.

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