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 3.2 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 2003

This item should be answered upon reading the essay “Starving Pea Pickers” from Restless Spirit: The Life and Work of Dorothea Lange by Elizabeth Partridge. Then answer the following:

Read this sentence from paragraph 12.

She knew she had just recorded the essence of her month-long assignment.

The word essence best suggests that the photographs referred to in this paragraph are

  1. imaginative
  2. meaningful
  3. sharp
  4. simple
/share/clg/xml/sample_assessment/english/2003_322_eng04.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. For the following question, choose the best answer to questions about Pedro's essay. Read Pedro's essay: Communication Technology.

In Sentence 3, which of these phrases is best to use instead of "move technology forward" to suggest that the changes will be occurring rapidly?

  1. push technology ahead
  2. keep technology moving
  3. clear the way for technology
  4. make improvements in technology
/share/clg/xml/sample_assessment/english/2003_322_eng30.xml

Correct Answer:
A

Selected Response Item - Released in 2002

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

In Sentence 1, the word humble is used to describe Tenzing Norgay. In Sentence 12, humble is used to describe his beginnings.

Which pair of words best suggests the two meanings of humble

  1. shy . . . polite
  2. modest . . . plain
  3. timid . . . reserved
  4. unimportant . . . quiet
/share/clg/xml/sample_assessment/english/2002_322_eng23.xml

Correct Answer:
B
Resources for 3.2.2:
Public Release Items | SAMPLE ASSESSMENT ITEMS |