School Improvement in Maryland

Using the State Curriculum: Reading/ELA, Grade 4

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

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 State Curriculum 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 3.0 Comprehension of Literary Text

Indicator 6. Determine important ideas and messages in literary texts

Objective a. Identify and explain main ideas and universal themes

Selected Response Item
Read the story 'The River'. Then answer the following.

An important idea in this story is about the importance of

  1. staying close to home
  2. knowing how to swim
  3. taking care of others
  4. wearing proper clothes
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_ela_4_077.xml

Correct Answer:
C

Assessment limit:
Main ideas of the text or a portion of the text

Selected Response Item
Read the poems titled 'Roller Coaster' and 'Carousel' and answer the following questions. Circle the letter of the correct answer.

An important idea in this poem is about—

  1. the loud noises caused by a roller coaster
  2. the fun of riding roller coasters with friends
  3. the building excitement of a roller coaster ride
  4. the different motions caused by roller coaster tracks
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_ela_4_083.xml

Correct Answer:
C

Assessment limit:
Main ideas of the text or a portion of the text
Resources for Objective 3.A.6.a:
Lesson Seeds | SAMPLE ASSESSMENTS | Public Release Items |