School Improvement in Maryland

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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 "Scrambled Eggs" and answer the following question.

Read paragraph 8.

"Yes, I certainly am," replied the lawyer as he tried to catch his breath.

In this paragraph the phrase to catch his breath shows that the lawyer wishes to

  1. slow down
  2. stop coughing
  3. breathe rapidly
  4. breathe normally
/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_7_020.xml

Correct Answer:
D

Selected Response Item
Read "Scrambled Eggs" and answer the following question.

Read this sentence from paragraph 10.

"I lost track of time while I was boiling two bushels of corn and planting them in my field this morning."

In this sentence the phrase lost track of time most likely means that the speaker

  1. misplaced his watch
  2. forgot how to tell time
  3. did not notice time passing
  4. did not pay attention to his task
/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_7_021.xml

Correct Answer:
C
Resources for Objective 3.A.7.a:
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