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 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 3.1.4 The student will differentiate grammatically complete sentences from non-sentences.

Assessment Limits:

  • Identifying sentence fragments
  • Identifying run-on sentences, including fused sentences and comma splices
  • Completing inappropriate sentence fragments

Selected Response Item - Released in 2003

Read the paragraph. Then answer the following.

Which of these is the correct way to edit the underlined part of Sentence 3?

  1. invented, furthermore,
  2. invented: furthermore,
  3. invented; furthermore,
  4. Best as it is
/share/clg/xml/sample_assessment/english/2003_314_eng35.xml

Correct Answer:
C

Selected Response Item - Released in 2002

Choose the best way to revise the underlined words to create a clear and complete sentence. If no changes are needed, choose the response “Best as it is.”

The movie was over we went home.

  1. over, we
  2. over, so we
  3. over, so, we
  4. Best as it is
/share/clg/xml/sample_assessment/english/2002_314_eng52.xml

Correct Answer:
B

Selected Response Item - Released in 2003

After reading a novel set in the future, students wrote essays about significant changes that occurred in the last two centuries. Pedro decided to write about changes in communication technology. Read Pedro's essay: Communication Technology.

Which of these is not a complete sentence?

  1. Sentence 2
  2. Sentence 3
  3. Sentence 6
  4. Sentence 8
/share/clg/xml/sample_assessment/english/2003_314_eng33.xml

Correct Answer:
A

Selected Response Item - Released in 2002

Choose the best way to revise the underlined words to create a clear and complete sentence. If no changes are needed, choose the response “Best as it is.”

The sun's warming rays touching the damp earth breaking through the clouds.

  1. While the sun's warming rays touched the damp earth breaking through the clouds.
  2. Breaking through the clouds, the sun's warming rays touched the damp earth.
  3. Although the sun's warming rays breaking through the clouds touched the damp earth.
  4. Best as it is
/share/clg/xml/sample_assessment/english/2002_314_eng53.xml

Correct Answer:
B
Resources for 3.1.4:
Public Release Items | SAMPLE ASSESSMENT ITEMS |