School Improvement in Maryland

Sample Assessments: Each sample assessment item gives an idea of how an assessment item on the MSA might be presented. The items appropriately measure the content of the VSC and may be formatted similarly to those appearing on the MSA; however, these are sample items only and have not appeared on any MSA form.

Standard 5.0 Knowledge of Probability

Topic B. Theoretical Probability

Indicator 1. Determine the probability of an event comprised of no more than 2 independent events

Objective a. Express the probability of an event as a fraction, a decimal, or a percent

Assessment limit: Use a sample space of no more than 35 outcomes and decimals with no more than 2 decimal places

Selected Response Item

To get dressed, Melanie randomly chooses a blouse from her dresser drawer. Then, she randomly chooses a blue skirt from her closet. Melanie has a probability of being dressed in a blue blouse and blue skirt.

Which blouses does Melanie have in her dresser drawer, and which skirts in her closet, to result in a probability of ?

  1. Drawer - 2 blue blouses and 1 black blouse
    Closet - 1 red skirt, 1 green skirt, and 1 black skirt
  2. Drawer - 2 blue blouses and 1 red blouse
    Closet - 2 blue skirts and 1 brown skirt
  3. Drawer - 1 blue blouse, 1 green blouse, and 1 red blouse
    Closet - 2 blue skirts and 1 red skirt
  4. Drawer - 1 blue blouse, 1 red blouse, and 1 green blouse
    Closet - 1 black skirt, 1 brown skirt, and 1 blue skirt
/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_math_7_010.xml

Correct Answer:
C

Selected Response Item

Jose needs to pick a golf ball and golf club. He has 3 white golf balls and 1 yellow golf ball. Jose has 3 black-handled golf clubs and 2 yellow-handled golf clubs. What is the probability that he randomly selects a yellow golf ball and a yellow-handled golf club?

  1. 10%
  2. 25%
  3. 40%
  4. 50%
/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_math_7_025.xml

Correct Answer:
A

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Selected Response Item

The local weather report states that the probability of snow today is 10% and snow tomorrow is 30%. What is the probability that it will snow today and snow tomorrow?

  1. .10
  2. .03
  3. 10
  4. 30
/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_math_7_026.xml

Correct Answer:
B

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Brief Constructed Response (BCR) Item

Juan has 5 pairs of socks in his drawer. The pairs of socks are: 3 white and 2 blue. He also has 4 T-shirts in the drawer: 2 white and 2 gray. He randomly picks one pair of socks and one T-shirt from the drawer.

Step A

What is the probability Juan picks a pair of white socks and a gray T-shirt?

Step B

Use what you know about probability to explain how you determined the probability of Juan picking a white pair of socks and a gray T-shirt. Use words, numbers, and/or symbols in your explanation.

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_math_7_027.xml

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Selected Response Item

Michael wins a prize if he spins and lands on blue. Each spinner is divided into 6 equal sections. Which spinner gives Michael the greatest chance of winning a prize?

  1. pie chart

  2. pie chart

  3. pie chart

  4. pie chart

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_math_7_028.xml

Correct Answer:
C
Resources for Objective 5.B.1.a:
Clarifications | SAMPLE ASSESSMENTS |