School Improvement in Maryland

Using the State Curriculum: Reading/ELA, Grade 5

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 8. Read critically to evaluate literary texts

Objective b. Identify and explain questions left unanswered by the text

Assessment limit: Questions and predictions about events, situations, and conflicts that might occur if the text were extended

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.

Which of these questions is NOT answered by the details and events in these passages?

  1. Where is Seth's father?
  2. How does Seth rescue Kate?
  3. Who is the new captain of The Mary Ann?
  4. What is Zeke's job on board The Mary Ann?
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_ela_5_025.xml

Correct Answer:
B

Selected Response Item
Read the article titled 'Captain Kate' and answer the following questions. Circle the letter of the correct answer.

After reading this passage, a reader might still want to know—

  1. the time of year
  2. what happened to Kate's father
  3. the place the cargo was delivered
  4. what cargo was on The Mary Ann
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_ela_5_083.xml

Correct Answer:
B

Assessment limit:
Questions and predictions about events, situations, and conflicts that might occur if the text were extended
Resources for Objective 3.A.8.b:
Lesson Seeds | SAMPLE ASSESSMENTS |