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Descriptive Statements:
- Use word structure (e.g., prefixes, suffixes, root words, compound words) to determine the meaning of words.
- Demonstrate knowledge of how to use word order and arrangement to determine the meaning of words and phrases in the context of a paragraph or passage.
- Determine the meaning of figurative language (e.g., similes, metaphors, idioms) in the context of a paragraph or passage.
- Identify and use words and phrases with multiple meanings in the context of a paragraph or passage.
- Identify and use synonyms, antonyms, and homonyms in the context of a sentence or paragraph.
Sample Item:
Which of the following combinations correctly identifies the word structure of the compound word honeysuckle?
- prefix + root word
- suffix + prefix
- suffix + suffix
- root word + root word
Correct Response and Explanation (Show Correct ResponseHide Correct Response)
Correct Response: D. Honeysuckle is a compound word that is made up of two root words, honey and suckle. The word honey means "a sweet, sticky substance produced by bees." The word suckle means "to nurse." When the two words are put together, they make up the name of a flower that has sweet nectar that attracts bees, other insects, and hummingbirds.
Descriptive Statements:
- Identify the writer's stated or implied purpose for an intended audience.
- Determine the main idea of a paragraph or passage.
- Demonstrate knowledge of content and phrasing of a passage to determine a writer's point of view and/or perspective.
- Demonstrate knowledge of methods to identify the main idea and relevant supporting details of a paragraph or passage (e.g., summarizing texts, examining the first and last sentences, sequencing vocabulary words).
- Identify key details that support, illustrate, or elaborate the main idea of a paragraph or passage.
- Identify details that are unrelated to the main idea of a text.
Sample Item:
Read the poem below, "At the Aquarium" by Max Eastman; then answer the question that follows.
Serene the silver fishes glide,
Stern-lipped, and pale, and wonder-eyed!
As through the aged deeps of ocean,
They glide with wan and wavy motion.
They have no pathway where they go,
They flow like water to and fro,
They watch with never-winking eyes,
They watch with staring, cold surprise,
The level people in the air,
The people peering, peering there:
Who wander also to and fro,
And know not why or where they go,
Yet have a wonder in their eyes,
Sometimes a pale and cold surprise.
Which of the following statements would the author be most likely to agree with, based on their point of view expressed in the poem?
- The people in the air possess a greater understanding of the world than the silver fishes do, as they watch and wander with wonder in their eyes.
- Both the silver fishes and the people in the air possess equal levels of knowledge and wonder that can be seen through the cold surprise in their eyes.
- The silver fishes are resentful of the people in the air because of their ability to move freely.
- Life is a journey with no clear direction, similar to silver fishes that swim aimlessly through the ocean.
Correct Response and Explanation (Show Correct ResponseHide Correct Response)
Correct Response: D. The author would most likely agree that life is a journey with no clear direction, much like the aimless swimming of silver fishes in the ocean. The poem talks about the silver fishes flowing aimlessly and having no path to follow, just as the people in the air wander to and fro without any idea of why or where they're going. The poem focuses on aimlessness and lack of direction, which suggests life might be the same way.
Descriptive Statements:
- Distinguish between statements of fact and expressions of opinion presented in a paragraph or passage.
- Draw reasonable conclusions from information stated or implied in a paragraph or passage.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the structure or organizational elements of expository and other nonfiction texts.
- Interpret and evaluate information presented in charts, tables, diagrams, maps, and other graphic forms.
- Make relevant inferences from information presented in a paragraph or passage.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the elements of fiction and/or narrative texts.
Sample Item:
Read the passage below; then answer the question that follows.
Bees are amazing pollinators for many plants! They play a critical role in helping flowers reproduce. When bees buzz around collecting nectar, they also transfer pollen from one flower to another. The transfer of pollen is important because it leads to fertilization and the growth of flowers and fruits. Bees have special body parts like bristly hairs and pollen baskets on their legs that help them gather and move pollen around. Our world would be less beautiful and our fruit and vegetable choices less appealing without the work of bees.
Which of the following organizational approaches does the author use to present information about the process of pollination to the reader?
- question and answer
- cause and effect
- problem and solution
- compare and contrast
Correct Response and Explanation (Show Correct ResponseHide Correct Response)
Correct Response: B. The author uses a cause-and-effect organizational structure to present information about the process of pollination to the reader. The cause is the action of bees collecting nectar from flowers, and the effect is the transfer of pollen from one flower to another flower. The transfer of pollen leads to fertilization and the creation of seeds and fruits.
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