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 3. Analyze and evaluate elements of narrative texts to facilitate understanding and interpretation

Objective a. Distinguish among types of grade-appropriate narrative texts such as short stories, folklore, realistic fiction, science fiction, historical fiction, fantasy, essays, memoirs, biographies, autobiographies, personal narratives, plays, and lyric and narrative poetry

Assessment limit: Grade-appropriate narrative texts

Selected Response Item
Read this passage from 'Dear Mr. President Thomas Jefferson Letters from a Philadelphia Bookworm', a novel that takes place when President Jefferson was in office. Amelia Hornsby has grown up in Philadelphia but has recently followed her father, a doctor, to Pittsburgh. Then answer the following.

Amelia's letter can best be described as

  1. a personal reaction to events
  2. a narrative of an unusual situation
  3. an exploration of a plan for the future
  4. an explanation of a particular time period
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Correct Answer:
A
Resources for Objective 3.A.3.a:
Lesson Seeds | SAMPLE ASSESSMENTS |