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 d. Analyze characterization

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

Read Tyrone’s speech in Scene 1.

Fun—I wish we could have some fun, but we can’t do anything at all, hardly even breathe. Grandma Singleton said if we get one little spot on us, we’ll be washing dishes for 100 guests all by ourselves.

What do Tyrone’s words mostly help a reader understand?

  1. a reason for a conflict
  2. a character’s behavior
  3. the stage directions
  4. the setting
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_ela_6_056.xml

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