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 3.2 The student will identify how language choices in writing and speaking affect thoughts and feelings.

Indicator 3.2.2 The student will differentiate connotative from denotative meanings of words.

Assessment Limits:

  • Determining implied meaning(s) or image(s) associated with a particular word or phrase
    • Will not focus on the meaning of above-grade-level words

Selected Response Item - Released in 2006

Read the essay “High Tide in Tucson.” Then answer the following.

Read this sentence from the essay.

But our household had a deficit of males, so my daughter and I chose Buster, for balance.

What is meant by the phrase “deficit of males”?

  1. The females in the house have more money.
  2. The females outnumber the males in the house.
  3. The males spend less time inside the house than outside.
  4. The males in the house are interested in other things.
/share/clg/xml/public_release/english/2006_322_eng37.xml

Correct Answer:
B

Selected Response Item - Released in 2007

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

Read this sentence from the first paragraph.

The ocean pulls at the boys, who turn into surfing addicts.

In this sentence, the phrase “pulls at the boys” suggests that the ocean

  1. carries the boys out to sea
  2. creates problems for the boys
  3. captures the interest of the boys
  4. causes the boys to act strangely
/share/clg/xml/public_release/english/2007_322_eng35.xml

Correct Answer:
C
Resources for 3.2.2:
PUBLIC RELEASE ITEMS | Sample Assessment Items |