School Improvement in Maryland

Public Release Items: Public release items have appeared on MSA 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 content standards are assessed on the MSA.

Standard 3.0 Comprehension of Literary Text

Indicator 3. Analyze elements of narrative texts to facilitate understanding and interpretation

Objective g. Analyze internal and/or external conflicts that motivate characters and those that advance the plot

Assessment limit: In the text or a portion of the text

Selected Response Item
Read "Sierra Oscar Sierra" and answer the following question.

In Paragraph 13, Eric tells himself, "Calm down..." because he is

  1. excited about recognizing Mac
  2. worried that the rescue team is too slow
  3. having trouble understanding the Morse code
  4. upset that the blizzard knocked out the phone line
/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_6_006.xml

Correct Answer:
C

Selected Response Item
Read "Sierra Oscar Sierra" and answer the following question.

In Paragraph 28, why does Eric say both "SOS" and "Sierra Oscar Sierra"?

  1. It is Eric's radio name.
  2. His phone line is dead.
  3. He wants to be sure he is understood.
  4. The radio is making a crackling sound.
/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_6_012.xml

Correct Answer:
C
Resources for Objective 3.A.3.g:
Lesson Seeds | PUBLIC RELEASE ITEMS |