School Improvement in Maryland

Using the State Curriculum: Reading/ELA, Grade 7

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

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Standard 3.0 Comprehension of Literary Text

Indicator 7. Analyze the author's purposeful use of language

Objective a. Analyze how specific language choices contribute to meaning

Selected Response Item
Read this story titled "Nathan's Choice." Then answer the question below.

In paragraphs 21 and 22, why does the author describe the making of nails in such great detail?

  1. to explain why many employers are strict
  2. to teach a reader how to use tools properly
  3. to help a reader understand a blacksmith's work
  4. to compare daily life of long ago with daily life today
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_ela_7_054.xml

Correct Answer:
C

Selected Response Item
Read this story titled "Nathan's Choice." Then answer the question below.

Read this sentence from paragraph 10 of the story.

Inside the shop, his uncle used long-handled tongs to heft a hunk of glowing iron from the red-hot coals of the hearth.

In this sentence, the word heft means —

  1. lift
  2. replace
  3. throw
  4. weigh
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_ela_7_058.xml

Correct Answer:
A
Resources for Objective 3.A.7.a:
Lesson Seeds | Sample Assessments | PUBLIC RELEASE ITEMS |