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 1.0 General Reading Processes

Topic E. General Reading Comprehension

Indicator 4. Use strategies to demonstrate understanding of the text (after reading)

Objective c. Draw inferences and/or conclusions and make generalizations

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

Selected Response Item
Read the story 'School Photographer' and answer the following question.

Why does the speaker feel hidden?

  1. No one can see her.
  2. She is looking through the camera.
  3. There is no one around.
  4. Other people are standing in front of her.
/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_8_009.xml

Correct Answer:
B

Selected Response Item
Read the story 'School Photographer' and answer the following question.

In line 6, when the speaker says, "I see things others don't," she most likely means _____.

  1. people often overlook what's around them
  2. people don't pay attention when their picture is taken
  3. cameras are the most accurate form of record keeping
  4. the camera lens is like a microscope
/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_8_010.xml

Correct Answer:
A

Selected Response Item
Read the story 'School Photographer' and answer the following question.

In the first four lines, the speaker likes being a photographer because she _____.

  1. likes to take pictures of her friends
  2. gets to make other people do things
  3. enjoys the feel of the camera in her hands
  4. wants to become a better school photographer
/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_8_011.xml

Correct Answer:
B