School Improvement in Maryland

Public Release Items: Reading Grade 4

Public release items have appeared on MSA forms and then are released for public viewing and use. Releasing items is one step to ensuring that schools, districts, and other stakeholders understand how the content standards are assessed on the MSA.

 (1) Selected Response Public Release
Read these sentences from "One Little Can" and answer the following question.

Rachel scowled in disgust as she walked to the school bus stop. Her neighborhood looked like a junkyard.


In these sentences, the word scowled means

  1. argued
  2. grumbled
  3. cried
  4. frowned

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_4_013.xml

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 (2) Selected Response Public Release
Read "One Little Can" and answer the following question.

The setting plays an important role in this story because it —

  1. contributes to the mood of the story
  2. leads to a problem that can be solved
  3. provides a hint of what is to come
  4. allows the reader to picture the characters

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_4_014.xml

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 (3) Selected Response Public Release
Read "One Little Can" and answer the following question.

Which pair of words best describes Rachel's actions?

  1. Tricky and clever
  2. Honest and trusting
  3. Challenging and daring
  4. Responsible and respectful

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_4_015.xml

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 (4) Selected Response Public Release
Read "One Little Can" and answer the following question.

Which action has the greatest effect on the outcome of the story?

  1. Rachel gets ready to kick a can off the curb.
  2. Rachel tosses a can into a litter basket.
  3. Rachel slam-dunks a candy wrapper.
  4. Rachel smiles as she walks by the grocery store.

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_4_017.xml

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 (5) Selected Response Public Release
Read "One Little Can" and answer the following question.

Which sentence best communicates the author's message?

  1. You'll never know what you can do unless you try.
  2. Neighbors should put their trash in the trashcan.
  3. Important changes can begin with one small deed.
  4. People who make messes should clean up after themselves.

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_4_018.xml

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 (6) Selected Response Public Release
Read "One Little Can" and answer the following question.

Which phrase best describes how the neighbors change from the beginning to the end of the story?

  1. From hopeless to confused
  2. From sad to contented
  3. From gloomy to excited
  4. From angry to proud

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_4_021.xml

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 (7) Selected Response Public Release
Read "Chinese Almond Cookies" and answer the following question.

The information in italics mainly tells

  1. how to measure the ingredients for the cookies
  2. what you'll need to make the cookies
  3. what you'll do to make the cookies
  4. how to store the cookies after they are done

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_4_022.xml

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 (8) Selected Response Public Release
Read "Chinese Almond Cookies" and answer the following question.

What does the reader learn from the heading "YIELDS" in the recipe?

  1. How to make the cookies
  2. How long the cookies take to make
  3. What to make to go with the cookies
  4. How many cookies the recipe makes

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_4_023.xml

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 (9) Selected Response Public Release
Read "Chinese Almond Cookies" and answer the following question.

Which step tells about mixing the wet ingredients?

  1. Step 2
  2. Step 3
  3. Step 4
  4. Step 5

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_4_025.xml

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 (10) Selected Response Public Release
Read "Chinese Almond Cookies" and answer the following question.

How does the author help the reader understand the terms dash of salt, almond extract, and paring knife?

  1. He puts each term in bold print.
  2. He lists each term in the correct category.
  3. He repeats each term throughout the recipe.
  4. He provides additional information about each term.

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_4_026.xml

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 (11) Selected Response Public Release
Read "Chinese Almond Cookies" and answer the following question.

The author includes the introduction in order to tell

  1. about the regions of China
  2. where the cookies came from
  3. about Chinese immigrants
  4. how to serve afternoon tea

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_4_028.xml

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 (12) Selected Response Public Release
Read "Chinese Almond Cookies" and answer the following question.

Which word could be used instead of the word creamy in Step 2?

  1. lighter
  2. smooth
  3. solid
  4. tasty

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_4_029.xml

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 (13) Selected Response Public Release
Read "Chinese Almond Cookies" and answer the following question.

In what order are the numbered steps arranged?

  1. In the order in which the author remembered them
  2. From the simplest to the most difficult
  3. From the most to the least time-consuming
  4. In the order in which they should be followed

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_4_030.xml

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 (14) Brief Constructed Response Public Release
Read "One Little Can" and answer the following question.

Something that is contagious spreads from one person to another.

Explain how something in this story becomes contagious. Use details from the story in your explanation. Write your answer in your answer book.

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_4_016.xml

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 (15) Brief Constructed Response Public Release
Read "One Little Can" and answer the following question.

Explain whether or not "One Little Can" is a good title for this story. Use details from the story in your explanation. Write your answer in your answer book.

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_4_019.xml

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 (16) Brief Constructed Response Public Release
Read "One Little Can" and answer the following question.

Choose one of Rachel's character traits. Explain how you or someone you know has that same trait. Use details from the story in your explanation. Write your answer in your answer book.

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_4_020.xml

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 (17) Brief Constructed Response Public Release
Read "Chinese Almond Cookies" and answer the following question.

Would making these cookies be easy or difficult for a fourth grader? Use information from the recipe to support your answer. Write your answer in your answer book.

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_4_024.xml

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 (18) Brief Constructed Response Public Release
Read "Chinese Almond Cookies" and answer the following question.

Think about another illustration the author could add to help the reader better understand this recipe. Explain how the illustration would help the reader better understand the recipe. Use information from the recipe in your explanation. Write your answer in your answer book.

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_4_027.xml

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