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 2.0 Comprehension of Informational Text

Indicator 4. Analyze important ideas and messages in informational texts

Objective a. Analyze the author's/text's purpose and intended audience

Selected Response Item
Read the passage 'The Lost People of Mesa Verde.' Then answer the following.

What is the purpose of paragraph 1 of this article?

  1. to describe the Mesa Verde
  2. to tell how the Anasazi lived
  3. to outline an historical mystery
  4. to explain an historical problem
/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_8_034.xml

Correct Answer:
C
Resources for Objective 2.A.4.a:
Lesson Seeds | SAMPLE ASSESSMENTS |