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 3.0 Comprehension of Literary Text

Indicator 2. Analyze text features to facilitate understanding of literary texts

Objective a. Identify and explain how organizational aids such as the title of the book, story, poem, or play, titles of chapters, subtitles, subheadings contribute to meaning

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

Selected Response Item
Read this passage from 'Captain Kate', a novel that takes place during the Civil War. Kate and Seth must take the family canal boat to Washington City to sell a load of coal. Then answer the following.

Read these lines from paragraph 15.

"Stepbrother, Kate corrected silently, reaching for the plate."

The italicized word mostly shows Kate's

  1. desire to be in charge of the boat
  2. refusal to accept new family members
  3. concern that Seth shares family information
  4. anger that Seth receives more attention than she does
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Correct Answer:
B
Resources for Objective 3.A.2.a:
Lesson Seeds | SAMPLE ASSESSMENTS |