School Improvement in Maryland

Sample Item
Selected Response Item for Grade 8

Standard 2.0 Comprehension of Informational Text

Topic A. Comprehension of Informational Text

Indicator 4. Analyze important ideas and messages in informational texts

Objective g. Synthesize ideas from text

Assessment limit: From one text or a portion of the text or across multiple texts

Read the passage 'The Lost People of Mesa Verde.' Then answer the following.

Based on information in this article, a reader can best conclude that

  1. the Anasazi were a talented but unlucky people
  2. the Anasazi were good farmers but careless with land
  3. the Mesa Verde's animals made it a dangerous place to live
  4. the Mesa Verde's lack of trees caused bad growing seasons

Correct Answer
A. the Anasazi were a talented but unlucky people
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