School Improvement in Maryland

Sample Item
Selected Response Item for Grade 4

Standard 3.0 Comprehension of Literary Text

Topic A. Comprehension of Literary Text

Indicator 3. Use elements of narrative texts to facilitate understanding

Objective c. Identify and describe the setting and the mood

Assessment limits:

  • Details that create the setting
  • Details that create the mood
Read this story about two girls named Molly and Miracle, 'Root Beer and Banana'. Then answer the following.


Which of these details about the setting is most important to the events in the story?

  1. the ceiling fan
  2. the willow tree
  3. the summer heat
  4. the squeaky door

Correct Answer
C. the summer heat
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_ela_4_043.xml