School Improvement in Maryland

Using the State Curriculum: Reading/ELA, Grade 6

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 3. Analyze elements of narrative texts to facilitate understanding and interpretation

Objective b. Analyze the events of the plot

Assessment limit: Exposition, rising action, climax, and resolution

Selected Response Item
Read the play 'The Weeping Willow Wedding Day'. Then answer the following.

In the stage directions for Scene 2, which of these details is most important to the plot?

  1. The one hundred guests
  2. The outlined grass stains
  3. The wedding music playing loudly and clearly
  4. The wedding rings on a willow-covered pillow
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_ela_6_057.xml

Correct Answer:
B

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

The appearance of the mother alligator and her babies mostly—

  1. establishes changes in the mood
  2. introduces a major personal conflict
  3. presents an important set of characters
  4. emphasizes the potential danger of the setting
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_ela_6_071.xml

Correct Answer:
D

Assessment limit:
Exposition, rising action, climax, and resolution
Resources for Objective 3.A.3.b:
Lesson Seeds | SAMPLE ASSESSMENTS |