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 1.0 General Reading Processes

Topic D. Vocabulary

Indicator 3. Understand, acquire, and use new vocabulary

Objective a. Use context to determine the meanings of words

Selected Response Item
Choose the word or group of words that means the same, or about the same, as the underlined word. Then mark the space for the answer you have chosen.

The department store was advertising the newest clothes for fall. Advertising means _____.

  1. showing
  2. playing
  3. sending
  4. telling
/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_4_007.xml

Correct Answer:
A

Selected Response Item
Choose the word or group of words that means the same, or about the same, as the underlined word. Then mark the space for the answer you have chosen.

Please hand the paper to the teacher.

In which sentence does the word hand mean the same thing as in the sentence above?

  1. Can you hand me that book?
  2. The big hand points to the hour.
  3. They gave the clown a big hand.
  4. Jason caught the ball with his hand.
/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_4_008.xml

Correct Answer:
A
Resources for Objective 1.D.3.a:
Lesson Seeds | SAMPLE ASSESSMENTS | Public Release Items |