School Improvement in Maryland

Using the State Curriculum: Reading/ELA, Grade 8

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

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 2.0 Comprehension of Informational Text

Indicator 4. Analyze important ideas and messages in informational texts

Objective e. Identify and explain information or ideas peripheral to the main idea or message

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

Selected Response Item
Read this article titled "This Tongue Gets a Grip." Then answer the question below.

Which of these details is NOT directly related to the main idea of paragraphs 10 and 11?

  1. the speed of the chameleon's tongue
  2. the stickiness of a chameleon's tongue
  3. the location of the University of Antwerp
  4. the activities of Dr. Herrel and Dr. Meyers
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_ela_8_055.xml

Correct Answer:
C
Resources for Objective 2.A.4.e:
Lesson Seeds | PUBLIC RELEASE ITEMS |