ITEM FORMATS Examples from Public Releases. Single Stimulus Read “Breakfast,” the first chapter from the novel Jim the Boy. Then answer the following:

ITEM FORMATS

Examples from Public Releases

Single Stimulus

Read “Breakfast,” the first chapter from the novel Jim the Boy. Then answer the following:

Which word best describes Jim’s attitude toward his mother?

a.angry b.grateful c.resentful d.understanding

Paired StimuliRead the screenplay Anna and the King. Then, read “A Historical Look at Anna” about the real Anna Leonowens. Then answer the following:

The details in these paragraphs mostly show that the screen and stage versions of Anna Leonowens' experiences

a. are representative of cultural differences b. have been altered from those of her real life c. are an interesting part of Thailand's history d. have motivated young women to become

teachers

Non-Print TextLook at the Bodinephotograph titled “Burnside Bridge.”

This photograph best supports the information in

a. Paragraph 1b. Paragraph 2c. Paragraph 3d. Paragraph 4

Language Items

• Sentence Correction

• Construction Shift

• Revision in Context

• Paragraph Completion

Sentence Correction

Read Sentence 7 from Miriam's essay.

On Saturday, September 12, 1857, the ship sank with its fantastic treasure of gold coins and gold bars still aboard.

Which of these is the correct way to edit the underlined part of this sentence?

a. Saturday, September 12 1857 the b. Saturday, September 12, 1857 the c. Saturday, September 12 1857, the d. Best as it is

Construction Shift

Which sentence would make the best transition between Sentences 2 and 3?

a. In the 1850s, both San Francisco and New York were bustling cities with busy seaports.

b. In Panama in the 1850s, money in the form of gold coins was usually in great demand.

c. Gold coins were used as money rather than saved as souvenirs in both San Francisco and New York.

d. The trip from Panama to New York City was often the most dangerous part of the journey.

Revision in Context

After reading literature from around the world, students researched their own family backgrounds. One student, Shelli, decided to research her Irish heritage and learned that some Irish sports are popular in the United States. The draft of Shelli's essay, “Irish Sports,” requires revisions and edits. Read the draft. Then answer the following.

Which sentence in Shelli's draft includes information that requires documentation of a source?

a. Sentence 1 b. Sentence 5 c. Sentence 8 d. Sentence 15

Paragraph CompletionThe student paragraph “African Termites” requires revisions and edits. Read the paragraph. Then answer the following.

Which sentence best fills the blank to provide supporting details in the paragraph?

a. Food is in abundant supply for the African termites.

b. African termites are also comfortable above ground.

c. Air flows easily through the long tunnels and chambers.

d. Construction engineers can learn much from these insects.

More of these items

• 4.3.1 (revise for a ______ audience)

• 2.2.1, 2.2.2, 2.2.3 (writing strategies & revision)

• 2.3.1, 2.3.3 (research)

• 3.1.6, 3.1.8 (sentence combining & expanding)

Construction Shift Items (4.3.1)People who have difficulty falling asleep may benefit from a regular sleep schedule.Revise to an informal style.

a. People who have trouble falling asleep should go to bed at the same time every night.

b. When people have trouble falling asleep, they should go to bed at an established time every night.

c. Establishing a regular sleep schedule will help those who have trouble falling asleep.

d. Those who have difficulty falling asleep may want to try going to bed at the same time every night.

Construction Shift Items (4.3.1)In Sentence 7, which of these is best to

use instead of “a whole bunch of” so that

the tone is consistent with the rest of the

paragraph?

a. countless

b. extensive

c. lots and lots of

d. a great quantity of

Writing Items (2.2.1)

Jennifer wanted to learn about other

famous photographers. All of these

strategies would be helpful except

a. talking to photographers

b. learning how cameras work

c. consulting an encyclopedia

d. conducting an Internet search

Writing Items (2.2.2)A Maryland newspaper is conducting a writing competition. Ricky decided to submit an article about the Maryland state dog, the Chesapeake Bay retriever. Answer the following item.Before he began his draft of the article, Ricky created the graphic organizer below.

Which of these ideas belongs with the topic “personality of the breed”? a. The breed includes traits of hounds, setters, and spaniels. b. The breed is recognizable by its color, broad chest, and strong legs. c. These dogs have also been trained to assist people with disabilities. d. These dogs make good companions and like to use their mental abilities.

Writing Items (2.2.2)This student paragraph requires revisions and edits. Read the paragraph. Then answer the following item.Which sentence best fills the blank and connects the ideas in Sentences 4 and 6?

a. The pulsing rhythm of last night’s rock concert replays in my mind.

b. I dream that my lost birthstone ring miraculously reappears on my finger.

c. I can hear my neighbor’s lawn mower roaring outside, just under my window.

d. The coffeemaker hasn’t yet gone into its automatic drip mode, but continues to sleep.

Writing Items (2.2.3)

Which of these is the best way to revise Sentence 8?

Containing a movie theater and a bomb shelter, Franklin Roosevelt added the East Wing.

a. Franklin Roosevelt added the East Wing, which includes a movie theater and a bomb shelter.

b. When adding the East Wing, a movie theater and a bomb shelter were built by Franklin Roosevelt.

c. Contained within the East Wing, Franklin Roosevelt added a movie theater and a bomb shelter.

d. Franklin Roosevelt, adding the East Wing, included a movie theater and bomb shelter there.

Writing Items (2.2.3)Read the sentence in bold print. Then choose the most clear and effective revision of the sentence.

Set in Baltimore, Laura Lippman’s mystery novels offer the reader interesting details about the city life as well as having suspenseful plots.

a. Laura Lippman’s mystery novels, offering a reader interesting details about city life, are set in Baltimore as well as having suspenseful plots.

b. Laura Lippman’s mystery novels, which are set in Baltimore, offer a reader interesting details about city life as well as suspenseful plots.

c. Laura Lippman’s mystery novels, having suspenseful plots, offer a reader interesting details about city life, and they are set in Baltimore.

d. Laura Lippman’s mystery novels, which offer a reader interesting details about city life, they have suspenseful plots, and they are set in Baltimore.

Research Items (2.3.1)After reading about Eubie Blake, Jessica wanted to learn more about jazz music. Which of these books would provide her with the best introduction to jazz?

a. Jazz 101: A Complete Guide to Jazz b. Modern Jazz Piano: A Study in Harmony c. Jazz Genius: Biographies of American-Jazz

Musicians d. Jump into Jazz: The Basics and Beyond for Jazz

Dance Students

Research Items (2.3.3)

Which sentence in Shelli's draft includes information that requires documentation of a source?

a. Sentence 1 b. Sentence 5 c. Sentence 8 d. Sentence 15

Research Items (2.3.3)Jessica used information from an Internet

site about famous Marylanders in her

essay. All of these would be included in the

bibliographic citation for the Internet site

EXCEPT

a. the title of the article

b. the Internet site address

c. the title of the Internet site

d. the number of related links

Sentence Combining Items (3.1.6)1. A father takes a walk through the countryside. 2. His daughter walks with him. 3. The winter evening is cold and crisp. 4. The stars overhead shine brilliantly.

Which pair of sentences most effectively combines the ideas of the four sentences?

a. Coldly and crisply on a winter evening, a father and daughter walk through the countryside. Overhead, stars shine brilliantly.

b. On a cold, crisp winter evening, a father and daughter take a walk through the countryside. The stars shine brilliantly overhead

c. The countryside on a winter evening is cold and crisp with the stars overhead shining brilliantly. A father and his daughter take a walk.

d. A father and daughter walk through the countryside. On a winter evening that is cold and crisp, the stars are overhead and shining brilliantly.

Sentence Combining (3.1.8)Read Sentence 8 from Ricky’s draft.

Sailor and Canton were bred with other dogs.

Which sentence clearly and effectively adds supporting details to Sentence 8?

a. Sailor and Canton were strong swimmers, and they were bred with other dogs that had hunting abilities which is what was wanted in their offspring.

b. Sailor and Canton were strong swimmers and were bred with other dogs to develop hunting abilities in their offspring.

c. Sailor and Canton, they were strong swimmers who were bred with other dogs with hunting abilities in order to develop those hunting abilities in their offspring.

d. Sailor and Canton, strong swimmers, were bred with other dogs because they wanted hunting abilities in their offspring.