School Improvement in Maryland

Sample Items: Reading Grade 6

Each sample assessment item gives an idea of how an assessment item on the MSA might be presented. The items appropriately measure the content of the VSC and may be formatted similarly to those appearing on the MSA; however, these are sample items only and have not appeared on any MSA form.

 (1) Selected Response Sample
Choose the word or group of words that means the same, or about the same, as the underlined word. Then mark the space for the answer you have chosen.

An assignment is most like a _____.

  1. duty
  2. project
  3. quiz
  4. task

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_6_001.xml

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 (2) Selected Response Sample
Choose the word or group of words that means the same, or about the same, as the underlined word. Then mark the space for the answer you have chosen.

The batter had to check his swing to avoid a strike.

Check means _____.

  1. test
  2. stop
  3. mark
  4. choose

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_6_002.xml

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 (3) Selected Response Sample
Choose the word or group of words that means the same, or about the same, as the underlined word. Then mark the space for the answer you have chosen.

John cast his fishing line from the boat.

In which sentence does the word cast mean the same thing as in the sentence above?

  1. The doctor put the cast on his leg.
  2. The girl cast the dog a treat.
  3. The artist cast a bronze statue.
  4. The director began to cast the play today.

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_6_003.xml

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 (4) Selected Response Sample
Read this passage from 'The Coastwatcher', a novel that takes place during World War II when the United States was at war with Germany. Then answer the following.

Read this line which is paragraph 5.
Not yet, Mama

These italicized words show Hugh's

  1. anger
  2. annoyance
  3. nervousness
  4. shock

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_6_027.xml

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 (5) Selected Response Sample
Read this passage from 'The Coastwatcher', a novel that takes place during World War II when the United States was at war with Germany. Then answer the following.

Read what Hugh's mother says in paragraph 12.
"Oh no, you don't" she said. "Go wash off that sand."

Which word best describes the tone of Hugh's mother's words?

  1. concerned
  2. confused
  3. determined
  4. excited

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_6_028.xml

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 (6) Selected Response Sample
Read this passage from 'The Coastwatcher', a novel that takes place during World War II when the United States was at war with Germany. Then answer the following.

Which of these questions is NOT answered by the details and events in this passage?

  1. Why does Hugh want his ocean discovery to be a secret?
  2. How determined is Hugh about ocean watching?
  3. What kind of relationship does High have with Jiggs?
  4. How observant about Hugh's behavior is his mother?

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_6_029.xml

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 (7) Brief Constructed Response Sample
Read the article 'Persistence' and answer the following question.

What other title would help a reader understand the main idea of this passage? Explain how the title you selected will help the reader better understand the main idea of the passage.

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_6_020.xml

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 (8) Brief Constructed Response Sample
Read the story 'Swamp Talk' and answer the following question.

Explain the mood the author creates in paragraph 7. In your response, use examples from the paragraph that show how the author creates this mood. Write your answer on your answer document.

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_6_021.xml

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 (9) Brief Constructed Response Sample
Read the story 'Swamp Talk' and answer the following question.

Explain how Billie Wind demonstrates her understanding of the setting. In your response, use details and examples from the story that support your explanation.

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_6_022.xml

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 (10) Brief Constructed Response Sample
Read the story 'Saints and Strangers on the Ship of Hope' and answer the following question.

Compare the way the Saints and Strangers describe the events of the voyage to the way the author describes them. In your response, use information from the article that supports your answer. Write your answer on your answer document.

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_6_023.xml

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 (11) Brief Constructed Response Sample
Read the poem 'At The Library' and answer the following question.

Explain how the speaker in "At the Library" feels about reading. In your response, use details and examples from the poem that support your explanation. Write your answer on your answer document.

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_6_024.xml

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 (12) Brief Constructed Response Sample
Read this passage from 'The Coastwatcher', a novel that takes place during World War II when the United States was at war with Germany. Then answer the following.

Explain how the setting affects the mood of the passage. In your response, use details from the passage that help explain how the setting affects the mood of the passage. Write your answer on the lines below.

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_6_025.xml

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 (13) Brief Constructed Response Sample
Read this passage from 'The Coastwatcher', a novel that takes place during World War II when the United States was at war with Germany. Then answer the following.

Explain how the author makes Hugh and his mother seem like real people. In your response, use details from the passage that show how Hugh and his mother seem like real people. Write your response on the lines below.

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_6_026.xml

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