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 6. Read critically to evaluate informational text

Objective c. Analyze the text and its information for reliability

Brief Constructed Response (BCR) Item
Read these articles about a secret language, 'Codetalking' and 'The Navajo'. Then answer the following.

Explain how a reader could determine the reliability of the information in the passage from The Navajo? In your response, use information from the article that supports your explanation. Write your answer on your answer document.

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_8_024.xml

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

Which strategy would most help a reader check the accuracy of the information in this article?

  1. reviewing a history of Colorado
  2. finding the Mesa Verde on a map
  3. locating a photograph of the Anasazi cliffhouses
  4. reading about the Native Americans of the Southwest
/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_8_038.xml

Correct Answer:
D
Resources for Objective 2.A.6.c:
Lesson Seeds | SAMPLE ASSESSMENTS |