School Improvement in Maryland

Using the State Curriculum: Reading/ELA, Grade 4

Reading/ELA | Informational | Literary | Writing | Language | Listening | Speaking

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Standard 1.0 General Reading Processes

Topic D. Vocabulary

Indicator 3. Understand, acquire, and use new vocabulary

Objective a. Use context to determine the meanings of words

Selected Response Item
Read the sentence in the box. Then choose the answer in which the underlined word is used in the same way. Mark the space for the answer you have chosen.

We ran out of gas on the way to the theater, so we were late for the start of the show.

In which sentence does the word show mean the same as in the sentence above?

  1. Our coach did not show up for practice.
  2. I always like to have something for show and tell.
  3. Would you like me to buy tickets for the new show?
  4. He wanted to show my grandparents where he goes to school.
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_ela_4_045.xml

Correct Answer:
C

Selected Response Item
Read the sentence in the box. Then choose the answer in which the underlined word is used in the same way. Mark the space for the answer you have chosen.

Kim was excited to hit a home run with her brand new baseball bat.

In which sentence does the word bat mean the same as in the sentence above?

  1. Mike tried to bat the insect away from his face.
  2. The dark cave was a great place for a bat to live.
  3. Shelly went to bat for me when my sister said I had told a lie.
  4. Would you rather have a bat made of plastic or of wood?
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_ela_4_046.xml

Correct Answer:
D

Selected Response Item
Read the sentence in the box. Then choose the answer in which the underlined word is used in the same way. Mark the space for the answer you have chosen.

She went upstairs to pack her bags for a trip to the beach.

In which sentence does the word pack mean the same as in the sentence above?

  1. The hunter saw the pack of wolves in the woods.
  2. Before Timmy could pack, he had to find his suitcase.
  3. Mom opened a pack of cards to teach me a new game.
  4. After his walk, my brother took his water bottle out of his pack.
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_ela_4_047.xml

Correct Answer:
B

Selected Response Item
Read the sentence in the box. Then choose the answer in which the underlined word is used in the same way. Mark the space for the answer you have chosen.

Kara's mother told her to check under the bed for her lost shoes.

In which sentence does the word check mean the same as in the sentence above?

  1. The city built a dam to check the flow of water on the river.
  2. After eating at the restaurant, Sam offered to pay the check.
  3. I always check my work before I turn in my math tests.
  4. I will check to see if you left your jacket at my house.
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_ela_4_048.xml

Correct Answer:
D

Selected Response Item
As you read each sentence, use the other words in the sentence to help you figure out what the underlined word means. Then mark the space for the answer you have chosen.

After struggling for days to reach the summit of the mountain, the climbers planted an American flag to prove that they had been there.

What does summit mean?

  1. peak
  2. scale
  3. side
  4. slope
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_ela_4_049.xml

Correct Answer:
A

Selected Response Item
As you read each sentence, use the other words in the sentence to help you figure out what the underlined word means. Then mark the space for the answer you have chosen.

The garden was a complete mess after two large dogs ran through the fence and trampled the flowers.

Trampled means —

  1. bothered
  2. crushed
  3. picked
  4. watched
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_ela_4_050.xml

Correct Answer:
B

Selected Response Item
As you read each sentence, use the other words in the sentence to help you figure out what the underlined word means. Then mark the space for the answer you have chosen.

The old house had a barren yard with no trees or shrubs growing anywhere.

What does barren mean?

  1. large
  2. empty
  3. colorful
  4. dangerous
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_ela_4_051.xml

Correct Answer:
B

Selected Response Item
As you read each sentence, use the other words in the sentence to help you figure out what the underlined word means. Then mark the space for the answer you have chosen.

People often confuse a frog with a toad because the two animals resemble each other.

What does resemble mean?

  1. avoid
  2. attack
  3. wait for
  4. look like
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_ela_4_052.xml

Correct Answer:
D
Resources for Objective 1.D.3.a:
Lesson Seeds | Sample Assessments | PUBLIC RELEASE ITEMS |