School Improvement in Maryland

Sample Assessments: Each sample assessment item gives an idea of how an assessment item on the High School Assessment (HSA) might be presented. The items appropriately measure the content of the Core Learning Goals and are formatted similarly to those appearing on the HSA.

Goal 2 Composing in a Variety of Modes

Expectation 2.2 The student will compose texts using the prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing strategies of effective writers and speakers.

Indicator 2.2.3 The student will revise and edit texts for clarity, completeness, and effectiveness.

Assessment Limits:

  • Completing or expanding ideas
    • logical coordination of ideas
    • subordination to replace excessive coordination
    • logical or succinct subordination
    • subordination to show space or time, cause or effect, condition, or concession
    • sequence of ideas in a sentence for effectiveness and emphasis
    • conciseness (eliminating redundancy, superfluous words and phrases, and awkward constructions)
  • Attending to audience
    • elaboration or support sentences
    • transitional devices between sentences and paragraphs
    • coherence (focusing on a central idea)
    • clear connectors
    • word choice
    • inverted word order for effectiveness
  • Controlling language structures
    • clear placement of modifiers
    • shifts in person, number, and tone
    • misplaced and dangling modifiers

Selected Response Item - Released in 2003

For the following question, read the sentence. Then choose the best way to revise the sentence without changing its meaning.

Planned by the ninth-grade class, a book sale was held last week in the gym and made a $600 profit.

  1. The ninth-grade class planned a book sale that made a $600 profit last week in the gym.
  2. The ninth-grade class held a book sale they planned in the gym that made a $600 profit last week.
  3. The ninth-grade class held a book sale they planned last week in the gym and made a $600 profit.
  4. The ninth-grade class planned a book sale that was held last week in the gym and made a $600 profit.
/share/clg/xml/sample_assessment/english/2003_223_eng17.xml

Correct Answer:
D

Selected Response Item - Released in 2003

For the following question, read the sentence. Then choose the best way to revise the sentence without changing its meaning.

Moaning and staggering across the stage for dramatic effect, the actor tripped and fell, ending the most comical scene of the play.

  1. The most comical scene of the play ended when the actor, moaning and staggering across the stage for dramatic effect, tripped and fell.
  2. The most comical scene of the play was when the actor who was moaning and staggering across the stage tripped and fell for dramatic effect.
  3. The most comical scene of the play ended as the actor was moaning and staggering across the stage for dramatic effect, and then he tripped and fell.
  4. The most comical scene of the play was when, for dramatic effect, the actor was moaning and staggering across the stage, and it ended when he tripped and fell.
/share/clg/xml/sample_assessment/english/2003_223_eng18.xml

Correct Answer:
A

Selected Response Item - Released in 2003

For the following question, read the sentence. Then choose the best way to revise the sentence without changing its meaning.

The employees were very happy because they were given the day off while their offices were being painted.

  1. Because the employees were very happy, they were given the day off while their offices were being painted.
  2. Because they were given the day off while their offices were being painted, the employees were very happy.
  3. Because their offices were being painted, the employees were very happy while they were given the day off.
  4. Because the employees were very happy while their offices were being painted, they were given the day off.
/share/clg/xml/sample_assessment/english/2003_223_eng19.xml

Correct Answer:
B

Selected Response Item - Released in 2003

Read the paragraph. Then answer the following.

Which of these is the best way to revise the underlined part of Sentence 7?

  1. new flavors have been added to American menus
  2. one will find new flavors have been added to American menus
  3. people will find new flavors have been added to American menus
  4. new flavors have been added to American menus for you and others
/share/clg/xml/sample_assessment/english/2003_223_eng36.xml

Correct Answer:
A

Selected Response Item - Released in 2003

For her social studies class, Bettina wrote a short report about women who have won the Nobel Peace Prize. Read the introductory paragraph of Bettina's report, “Women Nobel Prize Winners.”

Which of these sentences should be deleted from the paragraph to avoid repeating ideas?

  1. Sentence 3
  2. Sentence 5
  3. Sentence 7
  4. Sentence 8
/share/clg/xml/sample_assessment/english/2003_223_eng37.xml

Correct Answer:
C

Selected Response Item - Released in 2003

For her social studies class, Bettina wrote a short report about women who have won the Nobel Peace Prize. Read the introductory paragraph of Bettina's report, “Women Nobel Prize Winners.”

Which of these transitional expressions is best to use at the beginning of Sentence 9?

  1. Consequently,
  2. However,
  3. Likewise,
  4. Therefore,
/share/clg/xml/sample_assessment/english/2003_223_eng39.xml

Correct Answer:
B

Selected Response Item - Released in 2002

Read the sentence below. Then choose the most clear and effective revision of the sentence.

I like to dance, and, as a direct result of this, I joined a folk-dance group, and we perform frequently at community events.

  1. Since I like to dance, I joined a folk-dance group that performs frequently at community events.
  2. Since the folk-dance group and I like to dance, I joined to perform frequently at community events.
  3. Since joining a frequently-performing folk-dance group, a direct result is I like to dance at community events.
  4. Since they perform frequently, and I like to dance, I joined a folk-dance group that dances often at community events.
/share/clg/xml/sample_assessment/english/2002_223_eng29.xml

Correct Answer:
A

Selected Response Item - Released in 2002

Read the sentence below. Then choose the best way to revise the sentence without changing its meaning.

We went to a restaurant one evening that is on the outskirts of town and in the old hotel.

  1. One evening we went to a restaurant in the old hotel on the outskirts of town.
  2. One evening on the outskirts of town is a restaurant we went to in the old hotel.
  3. One evening a restaurant in the old hotel on the outskirts of town is where we went.
  4. One evening in the old hotel is a restaurant on the outskirts of town that we went to.
/share/clg/xml/sample_assessment/english/2002_223_eng30.xml

Correct Answer:
A

Selected Response Item - Released in 2002

Read the sentence below. Then choose the best way to revise the sentence without changing its meaning.

Eagles, which had been on the Endangered Species List, have been removed because their numbers have increased.

  1. Because eagles have been removed from the Endangered Species List, their numbers have increased.
  2. Because of their numbers, eagles have been removed from the Endangered Species List and increased.
  3. Because they have increased, a number of eagles have been removed from the Endangered Species List.
  4. Because their numbers have increased, eagles have been removed from the Endangered Species List.
/share/clg/xml/sample_assessment/english/2002_223_eng31.xml

Correct Answer:
D

Selected Response Item - Released in 2002

Sandra wrote a paragraph describing her favorite place, “Smithville Beach.” Read the paragraph. Then answer the following:

Which of these is the best way to revise Sentence 4 for clarity?

  1. Sounds of laughter and happy shouts will greet you floating through the air.
  2. Greeting you with sounds of laughter, happy shouts will be floating through the air.
  3. You will be greeted by sounds of laughter and happy shouts floating through the air.
  4. You will be greeted floating through the air by sounds of laughter and happy shouts.
/share/clg/xml/sample_assessment/english/2002_223_eng43.xml

Correct Answer:
C

Selected Response Item - Released in 2002

Sandra wrote a paragraph describing her favorite place, “Smithville Beach.” Read the paragraph. Then answer the following:

Which of these transitional phrases is best to add at the beginning of Sentence 7?

  1. At last,
  2. As a result,
  3. All around,
  4. After a while,
/share/clg/xml/sample_assessment/english/2002_223_eng44.xml

Correct Answer:
C

Selected Response Item - Released in 2002

Read the draft of Michael's report: “Tenzing Norgay, Mountain Climber.” Then answer the following:

Which of these is the best way to revise Sentence 8 to make it more effective?

  1. Although the two men had great confidence in each other, they made a strong team.
  2. While the two men had great confidence in each other, they made a strong team.
  3. The two men had great confidence in each other; nevertheless, they made a strong team.
  4. The two men had great confidence in each other, which made them a strong team.
/share/clg/xml/sample_assessment/english/2002_223_eng24.xml

Correct Answer:
D

Selected Response Item - Released in 2002

Read the sentence below. Then choose the best way to revise the sentence without changing its meaning.

The flashlight and the batteries that Marianna could use on her trip were found in the box.

  1. In the box, the flashlight and the batteries she could use on her trip were found by Marianna.
  2. In the box, were found by Marianna the flashlight and the batteries she could use on her trip.
  3. In the box, she could use on her trip Marianna found the flashlight and the batteries.
  4. In the box, Marianna found the flashlight and the batteries she could use on her trip.
/share/clg/xml/sample_assessment/english/2002_223_eng27.xml

Correct Answer:
D

Selected Response Item - Released in 2002

Read the sentence below. Then choose the best way to revise the sentence without changing its meaning.

E. B. White was the author of Charlotte's Web which is a book about a pig, and White also wrote essays.

  1. Charlotte's Web, which is a book that was written by E. B. White, about a pig, but he also wrote essays.
  2. Charlotte's Web, which was written by E. B. White, is a book about a pig, and he also wrote essays.
  3. Charlotte's Web, a book about a pig whose author is E. B. White, and he wrote essays also.
  4. Charlotte's Web, a book about a pig, was written by E. B. White, who also wrote essays.
/share/clg/xml/sample_assessment/english/2002_223_eng28.xml

Correct Answer:
D
Resources for 2.2.3:
Public Release Items | SAMPLE ASSESSMENT ITEMS |