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Descriptive Statements:
- Demonstrate knowledge of reading fluency and how it affects reading comprehension.
- Apply knowledge of syntactic rules, word structure, and contextual analysis to determine the denotative and connotative meanings of words and phrases.
- Demonstrate knowledge of factors that influence vocabulary development.
- Demonstrate knowledge of effective, research-based reading strategies to use before, during, and after reading a text for a particular purpose.
- Demonstrate knowledge of effective oral and written language activities to enhance reading comprehension.
- Demonstrate knowledge of strategies for constructing meaning from multiple types of texts at varying comprehension levels (i.e., literal, inferential, evaluative, and synthesis).
- Demonstrate knowledge of general academic and content-specific vocabulary in context.
Sample Item:
Which of the following strategies would be most effective for a reader to use to identify the meanings of the words below?
- invisible
- irrelevant
- disapprove
- misleading
- unstable
- applying knowledge of base words and prefixes
- recognizing letter-sound correspondences in the words
- distinguishing onsets and rimes in the words
- applying knowledge of Latin and Greek word roots
Correct Response and Explanation (Show Correct ResponseHide Correct Response)
A. The words invisible, irrelevant, disapprove, and unstable are formed from prefixes that mean "not" (in-, ir-, un-) or "do the opposite of" (dis-) and base words (visible, relevant, approve, stable). The word misleading is formed with a prefix (mis-) that means "bad" or "wrong," a base word (lead), and a suffix (-ing) used to form an adjective.
Descriptive Statements:
- Analyze organizational structures and text features of informational and argumentative texts.
- Analyze the development of the central idea(s), positions, and claims in informational and argumentative texts.
- Determine authors' perspectives and purposes in informational and argumentative texts.
- Assess the credibility, objectivity, and reliability of sources referenced in informational and argumentative texts.
- Evaluate the relevance, importance, and sufficiency of evidence, examples, and reasons provided to support the central ideas, claims, or counterclaims in informational and argumentative texts.
- Recognize objective summaries of informational and argumentative texts.
- Interpret graphic features used in informational and argumentative texts, such as tables, graphs, and charts.
- Distinguish between facts and opinions presented in informational and argumentative texts.
- Analyze the use of rhetorical devices and techniques in argumentative texts, such as repetition; exaggeration; and logical, emotional, and ethical appeals.
Sample Item:
A middle school English language arts student is reading a magazine article about the ways in which the missions of uncrewed space vehicles have contributed to the body of scientific knowledge about the planet Mars. Which of the following excerpts from the article provides facts that are most relevant to the subject of the article?
- After being transported to Mars on uncrewed space vehicles, robots have taken photographs of the planet's surface, analyzed rock samples from Mars, and recorded data on the composition of the atmosphere of Mars.
- People have long been fascinated by the possibility of finding life forms on Mars. Unfortunately, early uncrewed space vehicles were ill-equipped for searching out life forms.
- As part of the U.S. Mariner and Viking space programs during the 1960s and 1970s, several uncrewed space vehicles were sent to Mars to conduct research. In 1976, Viking 1 and Viking 2 actually landed on the surface of Mars.
- Scientists hope that legislators will be so encouraged by the wealth of information gathered by uncrewed space vehicles that they will one day fund a crewed mission to Mars.
Correct Response and Explanation (Show Correct ResponseHide Correct Response)
A. This information about the specific tasks that robots have performed on Mars is most relevant to the subject of the article because photographs, rock sample analysis, and data recording contribute to the body of scientific knowledge about Mars.
Descriptive Statements:
- Demonstrate knowledge of the literary elements and structures of various genres.
- Analyze how literary devices and techniques contribute to meaning, point of view, tone, and mood in literary texts.
- Analyze the use and impact of structural elements in fiction, drama, and poetry.
- Determine the denotative, connotative, and figurative meanings of words and phrases and analyze how word choice affects meaning, tone, or mood in literary texts.
- Analyze the development and interaction of plot, setting, and character in literary texts.
- Determine the themes of literary texts.
- Analyze texts representative of various values, attitudes, and beliefs from various people groups.
- Analyze how authors from various backgrounds and various time periods have explored significant social, heritage-based, and political events and issues through their literary works.
Sample Item:
Read the excerpt below from "Famous," a poem by Naomi Shihab Nye; then answer the question that follows.
The river is famous to the fish.
The loud voice is famous to silence,
which knew it would inherit the earth
before anybody said so.
The cat sleeping on the fence is famous to the birds
watching him from the birdhouse.
The tear is famous, briefly, to the cheek.
The idea you carry close to your bosom
is famous to your bosom.
The boot is famous to the earth,
more famous than the dress shoe,
which is famous only to floors.
The bent photograph is famous to the one who carries it
and not at all famous to the one who is pictured.
Source: "Famous" from Hugging the Jukebox, published by E. P. Dutton, 1982. © 1982 by Naomi Shihab Nye. Reprinted with permission of the author.
Which of the following statements best describes a central idea that is developed in the poem?
- Individuals who seek fame are shallow and self-centered.
- Fame is merely a temporary condition without lasting significance.
- Individuals find true fame anywhere their innate qualities are valued.
- Fame is a deceptive measure of self-worth in a celebrity-obsessed culture.
Correct Response and Explanation (Show Correct ResponseHide Correct Response)
C. The poem develops the idea that being truly famous is not so much a function of general popularity and acclaim but of a unique sort of belonging and acceptance.
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