School Improvement in Maryland

Public Release Items: Reading Grade 6

Public release items have appeared on MSA forms and then are released for public viewing and use. Releasing items is one step to ensuring that schools, districts, and other stakeholders understand how the content standards are assessed on the MSA.

 (1) Selected Response Public Release
Read "Sierra Oscar Sierra" and answer the following question.

Eric sets his ham-radio to scan for his friends because he is

  1. worried about Mac
  2. excited to hear an SOS
  3. bored by the weather report
  4. afraid of freezing in the blizzard

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_6_004.xml

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 (2) Selected Response Public Release
Read "Sierra Oscar Sierra" and answer the following question.

The most important element of the setting in this story is that it takes place

  1. in January
  2. in the evening
  3. during a blizzard
  4. in the Rocky Mountains

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_6_005.xml

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 (3) Selected Response Public Release
Read "Sierra Oscar Sierra" and answer the following question.

In Paragraph 13, Eric tells himself, "Calm down..." because he is

  1. excited about recognizing Mac
  2. worried that the rescue team is too slow
  3. having trouble understanding the Morse code
  4. upset that the blizzard knocked out the phone line

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_6_006.xml

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 (4) Selected Response Public Release
Read "Sierra Oscar Sierra" and answer the following question.

The author uses italics in this story to show

  1. that Eric is talking
  2. that Eric is excited
  3. what Eric is planning to do
  4. what is going on in Eric's mind

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_6_007.xml

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 (5) Selected Response Public Release
Read "Sierra Oscar Sierra" and answer the following question.

To add more excitement and suspense to the story, the author makes Mac

  1. Eric's friend
  2. Eric's teacher
  3. a radio operator
  4. a semi-truck driver

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_6_009.xml

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 (6) Selected Response Public Release
Read "Sierra Oscar Sierra" and answer the following question.

In Paragraph 28, why does Eric say both "SOS" and "Sierra Oscar Sierra"?

  1. It is Eric's radio name.
  2. His phone line is dead.
  3. He wants to be sure he is understood.
  4. The radio is making a crackling sound.

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_6_012.xml

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 (7) Selected Response Public Release
Read "Alexander Calder" and answer the following question.

What is Paragraph 1 of "Alexander Calder" mainly about?

  1. Calder's early years
  2. Calder's life as an artist
  3. The influence of Calder's family
  4. The reasons Calder made mobiles

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_6_013.xml

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 (8) Selected Response Public Release
Read "Making a Mobile" and answer the following question.

Which of these changes would best help the reader understand the steps in "Making a Mobile"?

  1. Putting the first paragraph in a box
  2. Including a shopping list of materials
  3. Adding illustrations to show how each step is done
  4. Moving suggestions for other hanging pieces to the beginning

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_6_015.xml

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 (9) Selected Response Public Release
Read this sentence from "Making a Mobile" and answer the following question.

Think of a seesaw, which is balanced when people of similar weight sit on each end.

The author most likely includes this sentence to

  1. show how a seesaw works
  2. provide a definition of a mobile
  3. relate a mobile to a common object
  4. describe the ideal weight of a seesaw

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_6_017.xml

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 (10) Selected Response Public Release
Read "Making a Mobile" and answer the following question.

Which step from "Making a Mobile" is least important to the building of a successful mobile?

  1. Step 1
  2. Step 2
  3. Step 5
  4. Step 6

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_6_018.xml

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 (11) Brief Constructed Response Public Release
Read "Sierra Oscar Sierra" and answer the following question.

Explain how the setting of the story creates a conflict for Eric. Use details from the story in your explanation. Write your answer in your answer book.

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_6_008.xml

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 (12) Brief Constructed Response Public Release
Read "Sierra Oscar Sierra" and answer the following question.

Choose one example of dialogue from the story. Explain what this example shows about the characters in the story. Use details from the story in your explanation. Write your answer in your answer book.

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_6_011.xml

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 (13) Brief Constructed Response Public Release
Read "Making a Mobile" and answer the following question.

Explain what information could be added to "Making a Mobile" to help the reader better understand the art of making mobiles. Use information from "Making a Mobile" in your explanation. Write your answer in your answer book.

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_6_014.xml

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 (14) Brief Constructed Response Public Release
Read "Alexander Calder" and answer the following question.

The author of "Alexander Calder" describes Calder's mobiles as "clever sculptures." Do you agree or disagree that mobiles are "clever sculptures"? Use information from both passages to support your answer. Write your answer in your answer book.

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_6_016.xml

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 (15) Brief Constructed Response Public Release
Read "Making a Mobile" and answer the following question.

Explain how the mobiles made by Alexander Calder are similar to the mobiles described in "Making a Mobile." Use information from both passages in your explanation. Write your answer in your answer book.

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_6_019.xml

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