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 7. Analyze the author's purposeful use of language

Objective b. Analyze language choices that create tone

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

Brief Constructed Response (BCR) Item
Read the story 'Scrambled Eggs' and answer the following question.

Explain the tone created by the author's words and phrases in paragraphs 10-12. In your response, use details and examples from the story that support your explanation. Write your answer on your answer document.

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_7_018.xml

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Brief Constructed Response (BCR) Item
Read this passage about a family’s dinner table conversation from the novel Absolutely Normal Chaos.

How does the author create comedy in the passage? In your response, use details from the passage that create comedy.

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_7_036.xml

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Resources for Objective 3.A.7.b:
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