School Improvement in Maryland

Public Release Item: Public Release items have appeared on HSA 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 core learning goals are assessed on the HSA.

Goal 3 Controlling Language

Expectation 3.1 The student will demonstrate understanding of the nature and structure of language, including grammar concepts and skills, to strengthen control of oral and written language.

Indicator 3.1.6 The student will compound various sentence elements—subjects, predicates, modifiers, phrases, and clauses—to link or contrast related ideas.

Assessment Limits:

  • Combining sentences through the use of
    • logical coordination
    • logical and effective subordination
    • logical sequencing of ideas

Selected Response Item - Released in 2005

Read these sentences related to the essay "Silencing the Sound of Music."

  1. The wood block is a musical instrument.
  2. It is used to create rhythm.
  3. It has been used as an instrument for thousands of years.

Which of these most effectively combines these ideas into one sentence?

  1. The wood block is a musical instrument that has been used for thousands of years to create rhythm.
  2. Creating rhythm as a musical instrument, the wood block has been used as an instrument for thousands of years.
  3. Having been used for creating rhythm for thousands of years, the wood block has been a musical instrument.
  4. The wood block, which has been used for thousands of years to create rhythm, has been a musical instrument for thousands of years, too.
/share/clg/xml/public_release/english/2005_316_eng31.xml

Correct Answer:
A

Selected Response Item - Released in 2005

Read these sentences about the wildebeest, an animal found in the Masai Mara game reserve in Kenya.

  1. The wildebeest is always on the move.
  2. It is searching for green grass.
  3. It is searching for water.

Which of these most effectively combines the ideas into one sentence?

  1. Always moving, the green grass and water is what the wildebeest searches for.
  2. Searching for water and green grass, it is the wildebeest that is always on the move.
  3. The wildebeest, always moving, is in search of green grass as well as water.
  4. Always on the move, the wildebeest searches for green grass and water.
/share/clg/xml/public_release/english/2005_316_eng43.xml

Correct Answer:
D

Selected Response Item - Released in 2005

Yuri is writing an article for the school paper about science in the classroom. The draft of Yuri's article requires revisions and edits. Read the draft. Then answer the following.

Which of these most effectively combines the ideas in Sentences 12 and 13 into one sentence?

  1. The sunken ships of the JASON Project have raised students' curiosity about the world above and the bottom of the sea.
  2. The sunken ships of the JASON Project have raised students' curiosity about the bottom of the sea, as well as the world above it.
  3. The sunken ships of the JASON Project have raised students' curiosity, and now they are curious about the bottom of the sea in addition to the world above it.
  4. The sunken ships of the JASON Project have raised students' curiosity, and it is the bottom of the sea, as well as the world above it, that they want to know more about now.
/share/clg/xml/public_release/english/2005_316_eng04.xml

Correct Answer:
B

Selected Response Item - Released in 2005

Read these sentences from a student's summary of "Starwalking with Sarah."

  1. A father takes a walk through the countryside.
  2. His daughter walks with him.
  3. The winter evening is cold and crisp.
  4. The stars overhead shine brilliantly.

Which pair of sentences most effectively combines the ideas of the four sentences?

  1. Coldly and crisply on a winter evening, a father and daughter walk through the countryside. Overhead, stars shine brilliantly.
  2. On a cold, crisp winter evening, a father and daughter take a walk through the countryside. The stars shine brilliantly overhead
  3. The countryside on a winter evening is cold and crisp with the stars overhead shining brilliantly. A father and his daughter take a walk.
  4. A father and daughter walk through the countryside. On a winter evening that is cold and crisp, the stars are overhead and shining brilliantly.
/share/clg/xml/public_release/english/2005_316_eng13.xml

Correct Answer:
B

Selected Response Item - Released in 2006

Read these sentences related to the story “Breakfast”, the first chapter from the novel Jim the Boy.

  1. Jim entered the kitchen.
  2. Jim’s heart fell.
  3. Jim saw Mama in the black skirt.

Which of these most effectively combines the ideas into one sentence?

  1. Jim entered the kitchen, his heart fell, and he saw Mama in the black skirt.
  2. Since Jim saw Mama in the black skirt entering the kitchen, his heart fell.
  3. Seeing Mama in the black skirt while entering the kitchen, Jim’s heart fell.
  4. As Jim entered the kitchen, his heart fell because he saw Mama in the black skirt.
/share/clg/xml/public_release/english/2006_316_eng13.xml

Correct Answer:
D

Selected Response Item - Released in 2006

Read these sentences from a student’s summary of the essay “Yes, I Can!”

  1. Young children believe they can do anything.
  2. Then they grow up.
  3. Then they don't believe in themselves.

Which of these most effectively combines the ideas into one sentence?

  1. Young children grow up believing they can do anything, and then they don't believe in themselves.
  2. Young children believe they can do anything, but then they grow up and stop believing in themselves.
  3. Young children who believe they can do anything, grow up, and then later they don't believe.
  4. Young children, they believe they can do anything when they are young, but then they grow up and stop believing.
/share/clg/xml/public_release/english/2006_316_eng31.xml

Correct Answer:
B

Selected Response Item - Released in 2006

Read these sentences related to the essay “High Tide in Tucson.”

  1. The author went to the Bahamas for a vacation.
  2. She picked up shells on the beach.
  3. She found a hermit crab in one of the shells.

Which of these most effectively combines the ideas into one sentence?

  1. The author found a hermit crab in a shell she had picked up on the beach while vacationing in the Bahamas.
  2. A hermit crab was found by the author while on vacation picking up shells on the beach in the Bahamas.
  3. A hermit crab in a shell found on the beach in the Bahamas was picked up by the author when she was vacationing there.
  4. The author picked up shells on the beach and went to the Bahamas for a vacation when she found a hermit crab.
/share/clg/xml/public_release/english/2006_316_eng38.xml

Correct Answer:
A

Selected Response Item - Released in 2006

After reading literature from around the world, students researched their own family backgrounds. One student, Shelli, decided to research her Irish heritage and learned that some Irish sports are popular in the United States. The draft of Shelli's essay, “Irish Sports,” requires revisions and edits. Read the draft. Then answer the following.

Which of these best combines the ideas in sentences 9 and 10 into one sentence?

  1. Camogie, also known as Hurling, is one of the world's fastest field games and one of Ireland's oldest sports.
  2. One of Ireland's oldest sports, Camogie is one of the fastest field games in the world, and Camogie is also known as Hurling.
  3. One of the fastest field games in the world is Camogie, and it is also known as Hurling, and it is one of the oldest sports in Ireland.
  4. Hurling is another name for Camogie, which is one of the oldest Irish sports, and it is also one of the world's fastest field games.
/share/clg/xml/public_release/english/2006_316_eng48.xml

Correct Answer:
A

Selected Response Item - Released in 2007

Read the essay “A Sea Worry.” Then answer the following:

Read these sentences a student wrote after reading the essay.

  1. The waves formed tubes.
  2. The tubes were various colors.
  3. The waves crashed onto the beach.

Which of these most effectively combines the ideas into one sentence?

  1. The tubes that crashed onto the beach were waves, and they were colorful.
  2. Before the waves crashed onto the beach, they formed tubes of various colors.
  3. The various colors of the tubes, which formed the waves, crashed onto the beach.
  4. When the waves formed tubes, but before they crashed onto the beach, they became very colorful.
/share/clg/xml/public_release/english/2007_316_eng42.xml

Correct Answer:
B

Selected Response Item - Released in 2007

Terry is writing about the War of 1812 and the origin of the national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The draft of the first part of Terry’s essay, “Oh, Say Can You See,” requires revisions and edits. Read the draft. Then answer the following:

Which of these most effectively combines the ideas in Sentences 12 and 13 into one sentence?

  1. The poem was set to music in 1814 and became a patriotic song, and it did not become America’s national anthem until 1931.
  2. Set to music in 1814, the poem became a patriotic song, and then it did not become America’s national anthem until 1931.
  3. When the poem became a patriotic song after being set to music in 1814, it did not become America’s national anthem until 1931.
  4. Although the poem was set to music and became a patriotic song in 1814, it did not become America’s national anthem until 1931.
/share/clg/xml/public_release/english/2007_316_eng49.xml

Correct Answer:
D

Selected Response Item - Released in 2008

The following item should be answered upon reading the excerpt “Wanderlust” from the autobiography A Life on the Road by Charles Kuralt, which can be found at most local or school libraries.

“Wanderlust” is a memoir of Kuralt’s early life on the road with his father, his childhood experiences on the farm, and the memory of winning a journalistic contest at age twelve.

Read these sentences related to the passage.

  1. Charles Kuralt’s father took him on work-related trips.
  2. Charles learned many things from his father.
  3. The trips often lasted several days.

Which of these most effectively combines these ideas into one sentence?

  1. Even though Charles Kuralt learned many things from his father, his father would take him on work-related trips that often lasted several days.
  2. Lasting several days, Charles Kuralt’s father took Charles on work-related trips, and Charles learned many things from his father on these trips.
  3. Charles Kuralt learned many things from his father, who would take him on work-related trips that often lasted several days.
  4. Charles Kuralt’s father took Charles along on work-related trips that often lasted several days, learning many things.
/share/clg/xml/public_release/english/2008_316_eng14.xml

Correct Answer:
C

Selected Response Item - Released in 2008

Read the essay “The Architecture of a Soul.” Then answer the following item.

Read these sentences related to the essay.

  1. My grandmother found a conch shell on a beach in Hawaii.
  2. She gave me the conch shell.
  3. It was a present for my birthday.

Which of these most effectively combines the ideas into one sentence?

  1. Having found it on a beach in Hawaii, for my birthday, my grandmother gave me a conch shell as a present.
  2. For my birthday, my grandmother gave me a present of a conch shell, and she had found it on a beach in Hawaii.
  3. As a present for my birthday, my grandmother gave me a conch shell that she had found on a beach in Hawaii.
  4. After my grandmother had found a conch shell on a beach in Hawaii, she gave me, as a present for my birthday, the shell.
/share/clg/xml/public_release/english/2008_316_eng19.xml

Correct Answer:
C

Selected Response Item - Released in 2008

Read the story “Winter Hibiscus.” Then answer the following item.

Read these sentences related to the story.

  1. Saeng’s mother started to dig a hole in the ground for the plant.
  2. Saeng took the shovel and finished the planting.
  3. Saeng’s mother took the hot peppers and the bitter melons.
  4. Saeng’s mother went inside to start dinner.

Which pair of sentences most effectively combines the ideas of the four sentences?

  1. After her mother had started to dig a hole in the ground for the plant, Saeng took the shovel and finished the planting. Meanwhile, Saeng’s mother took the hot peppers and bitter melons and went inside to start dinner.
  2. Having started to dig a hole in the ground for the plant, the shovel was given to Saeng by her mother to finish the planting. Her mother then went inside to start dinner taking the hot peppers and the bitter melons with her.
  3. Saeng took the shovel and finished the planting after her mother had started digging a hole in the ground for the plant. In this way, Saeng’s mother was able to go inside to start dinner, taking in the hot peppers and bitter melons.
  4. Saeng took the shovel and finished the planting after her mother started digging a hole in the ground for the plant. Saeng’s mother took the hot peppers and bitter melons also going inside to start dinner.
/share/clg/xml/public_release/english/2008_316_eng44.xml

Correct Answer:
A

Selected Response Item - Released in 2008

In Jessica’s English class, students are writing about artists they admire. Jessica decided to write about the piano player and composer Eubie Blake. The draft of Jessica’s essay requires revisions and edits. Read the draft. Then answer Numbers 48 through 52.

In Jessica’s English class, students are writing about artists they admire. Jessica decided to write about the piano player and composer Eubie Blake. The draft of Jessica’s essay requires revisions and edits. Read the draft. Then answer the following item.

Which of these best combines the ideas in Sentences 1 and 2?

  1. A very famous African American musician, Eubie Blake was from Maryland, and he wrote and performed ragtime music, which is a kind of jazz.
  2. Eubie Blake wrote and performed ragtime music, a kind of jazz, and was born in Maryland, and was a very famous African American musician.
  3. Eubie Blake, a very famous African American musician from Maryland, wrote and performed ragtime music, a kind of jazz.
  4. Ragtime music, which is a kind of jazz, was written and composed by Eubie Blake, who was a very famous African American who was a musician and whose home state was Maryland.
/share/clg/xml/public_release/english/2008_316_eng48.xml

Correct Answer:
C

Selected Response Item - Released in 2009

Read this excerpt from the first chapter of The Sea of Grass, a novel set in New Mexico in the late 1800s. Then answer the following item.

Read these sentences related to the excerpt.

  1. Hal’s Uncle Jim owned a ranch.
  2. The ranch was in New Mexico.
  3. The ranch was bigger than two small states combined.

Which of these most effectively combines the ideas into one sentence?

  1. Hal’s Uncle Jim owned a ranch in New Mexico bigger than two small states combined.
  2. Bigger than two small states combined, Hal’s Uncle Jim owned a ranch in New Mexico.
  3. The ranch Hal’s Uncle Jim owned was bigger than two small states combined in New Mexico.
  4. Hal’s Uncle Jim, who owned a ranch in New Mexico, was bigger than two small states combined.
/share/clg/xml/public_release/english/2009_316_eng23.xml

Correct Answer:
A

Selected Response Item - Released in 2009

Read the essay “Water.” Then answer the following item.

Read these sentences related to the essay “Water.”

  1. People need safe drinking water.
  2. Survival depends on safe drinking water.
  3. Safe drinking water is increasingly difficult to find.

Which of these most effectively combines the ideas into one sentence?

  1. Finding safe drinking water is increasingly difficult when people depend on it for survival.
  2. For survival, people depend on safe drinking water, since it is becoming increasingly difficult to find.
  3. Because safe drinking water is increasingly difficult to find, people depend on it for survival.
  4. People need safe drinking water to survive, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to find.
/share/clg/xml/public_release/english/2009_316_eng30.xml

Correct Answer:
D

Selected Response Item - Released in 2009

After seeing a film about secret military codes used during World War II, Anne decided to write an essay about code breaking during that war. Anne’s draft requires revisions and edits. Read the draft. Then answer the following item.

Which of these best combines the ideas in Sentences 9 and 10 into one sentence?

  1. First, there was a flaw with the Germans’ machine because no letter could represent itself in a coded message.
  2. First, there was a flaw with the Germans’ machine, although no letter could represent itself in a coded message.
  3. No letter could represent itself in a coded message in the first place since there was a flaw with the Germans’ machine.
  4. No letter could represent itself in a coded message, being that there was a flaw with the Germans’ machine in the first place.
/share/clg/xml/public_release/english/2009_316_eng33.xml

Correct Answer:
A

Selected Response Item - Released in 2009

Read the poem “Hope.” Then answer the following item.

Read these sentences about the poet Karen Hesse.

  1. Karen Hesse was born in Baltimore in 1952.
  2. She researched the lives of people who lived in Oklahoma in the 1930s.
  3. Those people lived through the Depression.
  4. Hesse did not experience the Great Depression directly.

Which pair of sentences most effectively combines the ideas of the four sentences?

  1. Karen Hesse, born in Baltimore in 1952, researched the lives of people who had lived in Oklahoma in the 1930s. The people lived through the Great Depression even though she did not experience it directly.
  2. Born in Baltimore in 1952, Karen Hesse did not experience the Great Depression directly. However, she researched the lives of people who lived through the Depression in Oklahoma in the 1930s.
  3. Because Karen Hesse did not experience the Great Depression directly, she researched the lives of people from Oklahoma who lived in the 1930s. She was born in Baltimore in 1952 while those people lived through the Depression.
  4. Before Karen Hesse researched the lives of people who had lived in Oklahoma in the 1930s, they lived through the Great Depression. She did not experience it directly, being born in Baltimore in 1952.
/share/clg/xml/public_release/english/2009_316_eng51.xml

Correct Answer:
B
Resources for 3.1.6:
PUBLIC RELEASE ITEMS | Sample Assessment Items |