MASSACHUSEnS

COMPREHENSIVE
ASSESSMENT
SYSTEM

Release of
Spring 2005
Test Items

June 2005
Massachusetts Department of Education
 '
Massachusetts Department of Education
AAASSACHUSmS
^*««ssm£nt'' ^^"^ d'^^cument was prepared by the Massachusetts Departi7ient of Education.
SYSnM
Dr. David P. Driscoll, Commissioner of Education

Copyright © 2005 Massachusetts Department of Education

Permission is hereby granted to copy any or all parts of this document for non-commercial educational

purposes. Please credit the "Massachusetts Department of Education."

This document is printed on recycled paper.

350 Main Street, Maiden, Massachusetts 02148-5023

781-338-3000
www.doe.mass.edu
 Commissioners Foreword

Dear Colleagues:

The Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) is the Commonwealth's statewide

testing program for public school students. Designed to meet the provisions of the Education

Reform Law of 1993, MCAS is based exclusively on the learning standards contained in the

Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. The MCAS program was developed with the active

involvement of educators from across the state and with the support of the Board of Education.

Together, the Frameworks and MCAS are continuing to help schools and districts raise the academic

achievement of all students in the Commonwealth.

One of the goals of the Department of Education is to help schools acquire the capacity to plan for

and meet the accountability requirements of both state and federal law. In keeping with this goal,

the Department regularly releases MCAS test items to provide information regarding the kinds of

knowledge and skills that students are expected to demonstrate. Local educators are encouraged to

use this document together with their school's Test Item Analysis Reports as a guide for planning

changes in curriculum and instruction that may be needed to ensure that schools and districts make
regular progress in improving student perfomance.

This document, which includes all of the test items on which the spring 2005 MCAS student results

are based, is available on the Internet at www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/testitems.html. Also available

from this site is the new MCAS Question Search tool, which allows interested parties to browse and

search through MCAS test items administered to students from 1998 to 2004. New 2005 items will

be added later this year.

Thank you for your support as we work together to strengthen education for our students in

Massachusetts.

Sincerely,

David P. Driscoll

Commissioner of Education
I. Document Purpose and Structure
 Document Purpose and Structure

Purpose

The purpose of this document is to share with educators and the public all of the test items on which

the spring 2005 MCAS student results are based. Local educators will be able to use this information

to identify strengths and weaknesses in their curriculum and instruction, and to guide the changes
necessary to more effectively meet their students' needs.

This document is also intended to be used by school and district personnel as a companion document
to the school- and district-level Test Item Analysis Reports. Each school receives a fall 2005 Test Item

Analysis Report for each content area at each grade level tested (e.g., grade 10 Mathematics). These
reports provide data generated from student responses. Each report lists, for the school receiving

the report, the names of all enrolled students in the grade covered by the report and shows how
each student answered each common item in that report's content area. The report labels each item

as multiple-choice, open-response, short-answer, or writing prompt and identifies the item's MCAS
reporting category. Item numbers in this document correlate directly to the "Item Numbers" in the

Test Item Analysis Reports.

Structure

Each subsequent chapter of this document contains information and materials for one MCAS test

(one grade level and one content area). For example, chapter II contains information for the Grade

3 Reading Test; chapter IX contains information for the Grade 10 Mathematics Test. Note that
chapters III through V contain information for both the ELA Composition (Part A) and the ELA
Language and Literature (Part B) tests for the relevant grade.

Beginning with chapter II, each chapter has three main sections. The first section introduces the

chapter by listing the Massachusetts Curriculum Framework content strands assessed by MCAS in

that chapter's content area. These content strands are identical to the MCAS reporting categories
under which test results are reported to schools and districts. The first section also provides the

Internet address for the relevant Framework and the page numbers on which the learning standards
assessed by the test items in the chapter can be found. In addition, there is a brief overview of the

test (number of test sessions, types of items, reference materials allowed, and cross-referencing

information).

The second section contains the common test items used to generate spring 2005 MCAS student

results for that chapter's grade level and content area. With the exception of the ELA Composition
writing prompt, the test questions in this document are shown in the same order and basic format

in which they were presented in the test booklets. The mathematics reference tools used by students

during MCAS Mathematics test sessions (Mathematics Tool Kit for grade 4; Mathematics Reference
Sheets for grades 6, 8, and 10) are inserted immediately following the last question in the second

section of each Mathematics chapter. Students in grades 4, 6, and 8 were also provided with plastic
rulers. Images of these rulers are not presented in this document.

2
Due to copyright restrictions, certain English Language Arts reading passages that appear in the

printed version of this document are not included in the version available on the Department's
Internet site. Copyright information for all common reading passages is provided in both versions of
the document.

The final section of each chapter is a table that cross-references each common item with its MCAS
reporting category and with the Framework standard it assesses. Correct answers to multiple-choice
questions and, for the Mathematics tests, short-answer questions are also listed in the table.

Responses to open-response items and compositions written in response to writing prompts are
scored individually. An overview of procedures for scoring these responses and compositions is

presented in the MCAS fact sheet, "Scoring Student Answers to Open-Response Questions and
Writing Prompts," which is available on the Department's Internet site at vmw.doe. mass.edu/mcas.
Scoring procedures will also be explained further in the MCAS document. Guide to Interpreting the

Spring 2005 MCAS Reports for Schools and Districts, due for release in fall 2005. Similar guides are
currently available on the Department's Internet site for previous years' MCAS School Reports and
District Reports. Sample student responses and compositions from previous MCAS administrations

may also be viewed on the Department's Internet site.

Materials presented in this document are not formatted exactly as they appeared in Student Test

Booklets. For example, in order to present items most efficiently in this document, the following

modifications have been made:

I Some fonts and/or font sizes may have been changed and/or reduced.

I Some graphics may have been reduced in size from their appearance in Student Test Booklets;
however, they maintain the same proportions in each case.

I The English Language Arts Composition writing prompt is presented on the same page of this
document as the make-up writing prompt, and the four lined pages provided for students'

initial drafts are omitted.

I All references to page numbers in answer booklets have been deleted from the directions that
accompany test items.

3
II. Reading, Grade 3
 Reading, Grade 3

The spring 2005 Grade 3 MCAS Reading Test was based on learning standards in the rvvo content
strands of the Massachusetts English Language Arts Curriculum Framework (2001) Usted below.
Page numbers for the learning standards appear in parentheses.

I Language (Framework, pages 19-26)

I Reading and Literature (Framework, pages 35-64)

The English Language Arts Curriculum Framework is available on the Department Web site at

www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/ela/060 1 .pdf.

In Test Item Analysis Reports and on the Subject Area Subscore pages of the MCAS School
Reports and District Reports, Grade 3 Reading test results are reported under two MCAS reporting
categories: Language and Reading and Literature, which are identical to the two Framework content
strands listed above.

Test Sessions and Content Overview

The MCAS Grade 3 Reading Test included three separate test sessions. Each session included
selected readings, followed by multiple-choice and open-response questions. Common reading
passages and test items are shown on the following pages as they appeared in Grade 3 Test &
Answer Booklets. Due to copyright restrictions, certain reading passages cannot be released to the

public on the Web site. All of these passages appear in the printed version of this document.

Reference IVIaterials and Tools

The use of bilingual word-to-word dictionaries was allowed for current and former limited English
proficient students only, during all three Grade 3 Reading test sessions. No other reference materials

were allowed during any Grade 3 Reading test session.

Cross-Reference Information

The table at the conclusion of this chapter indicates each item's reporting category and the
Framework general standard it assesses. The correct answers for multiple-choice questions are

also displayed in the table.

 Reading
Session 1
DIRECTIONS
This session contains one reading selection with eight multiple-choice questions. For multiple-choice
questions, mark your answers by filling in the circle next to the best answer.

Three animal friends, Harry Cat, Tucker Mouse, and Chester Cricket, are hiding in some tall grass when
Ellenand a group of children walk by. Harry Cat sticks his head out to get a better look. Ellen sees him
and decides she wants to meet him. What will Harry do? What will Tucker and Chester do? Read ''Ellen"
and answer the questions that follow.

Ellen
by George Selden Thompson

1 Ellen heard the rustling and saw Harry's whiskered face peeking out. "Shh!
No one move," she said to the children. "There's the Now I'm going to take
you all home
— kitty.

2 "We just got here!" exclaimed Jaspar.

3 know," said Ellen. "But it's almost lunchtime anyway. And I'll bring you
"I

—
back this afternoon I promise! I want to come back by myself and see if I can
make friends with the kitty. He'll never come out with Ruff and all of you here.
Come on now —please."
4 She led the children up the hill and over
edge of the road. "Everyone
to the
take hands." The children fell into formation —
two on each side of her and all —
took hands. Ellen took a long look up and down the road. "Quick now over!" —
5 "You, too!" shouted Jaspar at Ruff.
6 And the six of them, Ruff included, hurried across the road. From there,
since there were no more roads to cross, the children could find their way home
Reading Session 1

by themselves. But Ellen came back and sat down again in her Special Place.
Sometimes she liked being there alone even more than with the children.
7 "Here, kitty!" she called. "Come on. I won't hurt you."
8 'You made a big hit with her," said Tucker to Harry Cat.
9 "I'm going over and say hello," said Harry. "It'll make her happy."
10 "It'll make you happy!" said Tucker Mouse disgustedly. "You're just looking

for a little free admiration. Mister Kitty!"

11 Harry padded out over the grass and sat down beside Ellen. "Well, hellol" she
said, and began stroking Harry's head. 'You're a nicekiity, aren't you? Yes! You're a
beautiful kittyl"
12 Tucker Mouse grimaced at Chester. "I wonder what she'd say if she knew that
that 'beautiful kitty' lived in a drain pipe in the subway station!"
13 "I don't think it makes any difference where you live," said Chester. "If you're
nice, you're nice. And Harry is a nice kitty."

14 "Cat! He's a cat!" shouted Tucker Mouse, who was actually a little jealous
of all the attention his friend was getting. "Don't use that obnoxious baby talk!"
Chester tried not to laugh, and Tucker went on ranting. "Just look at the way he's
buttering up to her, arching his head up under her hand like that! And miaowing
like a mo\ie star! I never thought I'd see the day!"
15 Ellen had taken Harry into her lap and was stroking his back from his head
all the way down to his tail. And, in fact, Harry Cat was enjoying the whole thing

very much. With each new stroke he let out a loud purr of pleasure.
16 'You have no collar, do you, kitty?" said Ellen. Harry purred. "And I've never
seen you in this neighborhood before. Are you lost?" Harry purred. "Would you
like to come home with me? I'd fix you up a bed of blankets in my room. And I'd
give you all delicious things to eat. Would you like to be my kitty?" Harry purred
and rolled over to have his stomach rubbed.
17 "Come on then!" said Ellen. She picked Harry up and began to walk up
the hill.

18 "Hey! What's she doing?" shouted Tucker Mouse. "Chester look! Do —

something! Stop her! Quick!"
19 "WTiat can I do?" said Chester.
20 "But she's kidnapping Harry Cat!" said Tucker.
21 "He doesn't look too unhappy about it," said the cricket.
22 And that certainly was true. For Harry Cat was lying over one of Ellen's arms,
as limp and content as laundry on the line.

TUCKER'S COUNTRYSIDE by George Selden Thompson, pictures by Garth Williams. Copyright © 1969
Excerpt from "Ellen" from
by George Selden Thompson. Copyright renewed 1998 by Sarah Sawtelle Thompson. Reprinted by permission of Farrar, Straus and
Giroux, LLC.

8
Reading Session 1

Mark your choices for multiple-choice questions 1 through 8 by filling in the circle next to the
best answer.

Which of the following BEST shows According to the story, where is Harry's
that this story is fiction? real home?

® It teaches a lesson. ® a park

(D It tells events in order. © a farm

© It has animals that talk. © a pet store

© It is about a real person. © a subway station

O At the beginning of the

does Ellen want Ruff and the children
story, why
Reread paragraphs 15 and 16.

does the author repeat Harry purred

Why
to go home?
three times?

® She knows the children want to

have lunch. @ so the reader knows the sound
Harry makes
© She thinks Harry will come out if

they leave. ® so the reader knows how happy

Harry is

© She believes the children should go

home to rest.
© so the reader knows how often
Ellen hears Harry

® She thinks that it is too late for

them to walk home alone. © so the reader knows how much
Ellen likes Harry

9
Reading Session 1

In the story, what is the MOST LIKELY According to the story, how can Chester
reason Ellen thinks she might keep Harry? tell that Harry does not mind going
with Ellen?
® She can tell he needs food
and water. ® Harry waves at Chester as
he leaves.
d) She is sure Tucker will not
miss him. © Harry goes with her without
a struggle.
© She thinks he is lost and has
no owner. © Harry follows her without
looking back.
© She knows that the children will
like him. © Harry smiles at Ellen and licks
her hand.

Why is Tucker upset at the end of

Read the sentence from paragraph 4 in the
the story?
box below.
® Harry is getting a new collar.

The children fell into

© Ellen is carrying Harry away. —
formation two on each side
of her —and all took hands.
© Chester is making fun of him.

What does formation mean in the

© Jaspar and Ruff are coming back.
sentence?

® the way the children are lined up

© the speed the children are walking

© the height of the edge of the road

© the direction the road turns at

the comer

10
 Reading
Session 2
DIRECTIONS
This session contains three reading selections with sixteen multiple-choice questions and one open-
response question. For multiple-choice questions, marl^ your answers by filling in the circle next to the best
answer. For the open-response question, write your answer below the question in the space provided.

From EVERY TIME I CLIMB A TREE by David McCord. Copyright © 1952 by David McCord (Text); Copyright © 1967 by Marc Simont
(Illustration). By permission of Little, Brown and Company, Inc.

11
Reading Session 2

Is there something special about being up in the branches of a tree? What happens up there? Is a tree the
perfect place to be? The speaker in this poem has some answers. Read the poem and answer the questions
that follow.

Every time climb a tree i

Every time I climb a tree

Every time I climb a tree
Every time I climb a tree
Iscrape a leg
5 Or skin a knee
And every time I climb a tree
I some ants
find
Or dodge a bee
And get the ants
10 All over me
And every time
climb a tree I

Where have you been?

They say to me
But don't they know^ that I am free
15 Every time I climb a tree?
I like it best
To spot a nest
That has an egg
Or maybe three

20 And then I skin

The other leg
But every time I climb a tree
I see a lot of things to see
Sw^allow^s, rooftops and TV
25 And all the fields and farms there be
Every time climb a tree
I

Though climbing may be good for ants

It isn't aw^fully good for pants

But still it's pretty good for me

30 Every time I climb a tree
—David McCord

12
Reading Session 2

Mark your choices for multiple-choice questions 9 through 12 by filling in the circle next to the
best answer.

Why does the speaker like to climb What does the speaker MOST enjoy
a tree? finding while in a tree?

® to take honey from bees ® a trail of ants

(D to take eggs from a bird's nest © a beehive fiill of honey

© to get away from the ants' nest © a nest with eggs in it

® to get a look at the world around © a flock of birds sitting on

the branches

What do other people ask when

^^fc speaker has been out tree climbing?
the
What does the word spot mean as it is

used in line 17?

® Where have you been?
® move to a better place
(D Why do you climb trees?
© hold up as support
© How did you hurt yourself?
© mark with dots
© How long have you been gone?
© find by seeing

13
Reading Session 2

Imagine being in a bicycle race ifyou had never raced before! Marshall Taylor did just that about a

hundred years ago. He was not the only one surprised by what happened. Read the selection and answer
the questions that follow.

Bicycle Rider
by Mary Scioscia

1 About a hundred years ago, a boy named Marshall Taylor

got his first job in Mr. Hay's bicycle shop. There was a big
bicycle race in Indianapolis each year. On the day of the
big race, Mr. Hay asked Marshall to help him sell bicycles
at the bicycle track.
2 As this true story begins, Marshall is watching excitedly
while more than a hundred bicycle racers gather near the
starting line.
3 "Attention everyone! All those in the first one-mile race
line up at the starting line," a loud voice called.
4 "First one-mile race?" asked Marshall. "How many races
will there be?"
5 "There will be several one-mile races before the main ten-
mile race," said Mr. Hay. "Marshall, you just gave me an
idea. You should ride in one of the one-mile races. I'll ask
the judges you can," said Mr. Hay.
if

6 When Mr. Hay came back, he said, "You can ride in the
next one-mile race. Pick any of the bikes we brought."
7 At the starting line, Mr. Hay said, "Each time around the
track is one lap. Five laps make a mile. Don't worry if you
forget how many laps you've gone. When you hear the bell
ring, you will know it is the bell lap. That means one lap

left to go for the mile."

8 Marshall got on the bicycle and strapped his feet onto

the pedals. . . .

9 All the racers leaned over their handlebars. Their helpers

held the bicycles steady. The starter raised his starting gun.
"One! Two! Three!" the starter shouted. Bang!

14
Reading Session 2

'0 Around and around the racers went. Now there were
seven people ahead of Marshall. Ding, ding, ding, the bell

rang. Marshall knew that there was one more lap to go for
the mile.
" Marshall speeded up. One racer crossed the finish
line . . . two more . . . another. Next was the boy in the
red shirt. Right after him came the tall boy. Then Marshall
crossed the Hay hurried over to help him stop.
line. Mr.
'2 "You came in number seven. That's great!" said Mr. Hay.
13 "It wasn't very good," said Marshall. "Six people

beat me."
14 "You beat over forty people. You've never been in a
race before. You're good enough to try the ten-mile race."
'5 "Oh, no," said Marshall. "I could never win that."
16 "No," said Mr. Hay. "You couldn't win, but think you I

could finish. Try it, Marshall. If you get tired, just stop.
Many racers will drop out before the fifty laps are done."
17 During the last one-mile race, Mr. Hay spoke to the
judges again. . . .

•8 "Good news," said Mr. Hay, joining Marshall. "You can

try the ten-mile race."
When the ten-mile race was called, Marshall wheeled his
bicycle over to the starting line.
2« "Don't go too fast at first," said Mr. Hay.
try to "just keep
up with the others, if you can."

21 Marshall could feel his heart thumping hard. His hands

felt on the handlebars. His legs felt shaky. "One!"
slippery
shouted the starter. "Two! Three!" Bang!

22 The riders rode in a close pack. Two bicycles bumped,

and one fell. Marshall rode around the fallen bicycle
and rider.

15
23 Marshall pulled ahead of the pack. The boy in the
red shirt passed him. Three more riders passed him, then
two more.
24 Marshall could hear the crowd cheering. It was hard to
know who was ahead, because the riders kept going around
and around the track. . . .

25 Marshall's mouth tasted dusty. "I want to drop out/' he

thought. "I can't make the halfway mark."
2h Someone shouted, "Hooray for Marshall Taylor!" It
made Marshall feel stronger. "Maybe can finish a few I

more laps," he thought.

27 His bicycle went faster and faster around the track. His wet
shirt stuck to his back, and his back hurt from being bent
over. His legs hurt, too.
28 The people in the crowd stamped their feet and cheered.
Marshall heard Mr. Hay, standing at the edge of the track,
shout, "Last lap coming up next!"

16
Reading Session 2

29 Marshall pushed as hard as he could. The wheels seemed

to say,"Got to finish, got to finish,"
30 Marshall speeded over the finish line. His bicycle was
going so fast he couldn't stop. He went around another lap
to slow down.
31 Marshall heard the crowd shout something that sounded
like, "Marshall Taylor! Marshall Taylor!" Hats flew into
the air.

32 Mr. Hay hurried over to Marshall. He hugged him. "You

won, Marshall. You won the race!"
33 "Who, me?" asked Marshall.
34 The judges held up their hands to quiet the crowd. Then
one shouted, "Marshall Taylor is the winner!"
35 became the fastest bicycle rider in the
Marshall Taylor
world. ... He was the first black American to ride in
bicycle races that had both black and white racers. From
1896 to 1910, Marshall Taylor raced in the United States
and in many other countries. He held both American and
world racing titles.

36 Marshall Taylor was loved by his fans for his riding skills,

his fairness, and his good sportsmanship.

"Bicycle Rider" by Mary Scioscia. Text copyright CD 1983 by Mary Hershey Scioscia; Illustration
copyright © 1983 by Ed Young. Used by permission of HarperCollins Publishers.

17
Reading Session 2

Mark your choices for multiple-choice questions 13 through 19 by filling in the circle next to the
best answer.

^^fc Which of the following BEST shows ^^fc In paragraph 28, why did the people
that the selection is a biography? stamp their feet?

® It describes a well-known race. ® They wanted to show their alarm.

(D It explains how to ride a bicycle. © They thought that the riders were
going too fast.

© It is a true story about a famous

bicycle rider. © They were trying to confuse the
bicycle racers.
© It takes place about a hundred
years ago. © They wanted to show their
excitement and support.

According to the selection, what did

Marshall think he was going to do ^^fc According to the selection, Marshall
when he went to the bicycle race? was about to give up during the
ten-mile race. What helped him to
® look for a new bicycle keep on going?

® sell bicycles for Mr. Hay ® He heard a voice from the crowd
cheer for him.
© win as many races as he could
@ Mr. Hay signaled to him that it was
© ask Mr. Hay for a job in a
the last lap.
bicycle shop

© He suddenly pulled ahead of

several other riders.

© The pain in his legs and back

started going away.

18
Reading Session 2

According to the selection, why did a» In paragraph 35, what does the word
Marshall go around the track one more titles mean?
time after the ten-mile race was over?
® fans
® to help a fallen rider
© bicycles
© to wave to the crowd
© businesses
© to slow his bicycle down
© championships
© to show how fast he could go

According to the selection, why did

Marshall Taylor's fans like him?

® He was fast, fair, and a good sport.

® He held many world racing titles.

© He was tall, thin, and

good-looking.

© He traveled all around

the world.

19
Reading Session 2

Write your answer to open-response question 20 in the lined space provided below.

According to the selection, Mr. Hay helped Marshall become a bicycle racer. List FOUR things
that Mr. Hay did to help Marshall. Use important details from the selection in your answer.

1.

2.

3.

4.

20
Reading Session 2

How would it be to see an orangutan in the wild? Read "A Day with the Orangutans" to find out. Answer the
questions that follow.

A DAy WITH iHe

Op^NaorANs
by Jeannie W. Berger

You are alone in the rain forest of Borneo,

far from any road. The forest is thick, green, and
overgrown with vines. Bugs buzz in your ears as you
keep looking, looking. Then you hear a tree shake and
you stop in your tracks. When you look up, something
looks down at you. Is it what you think? Yes, you're in
luck! You've found what you were looking for.
It's a baby orangutan! Baby orangutans are

endangered. Some are smuggled out of the forest

for sale as pets. Some become orphans when people
catch and sell their moms. When trees are cut down,
all orangutans are in danger. At least this baby

orangutan is not one of the rain forest orphans.

You hear the trees shake again and see
the orangutan mom approach. She was hiding up in
the tree. Like human children, baby orangutans stay
close to their moms. For up to 8 years, they depend
on their moms for gentle care and teaching.
Do not coax the baby orangutan to come to you.
It is known that orangutans like to be left alone. The
baby you see seems content. When a baby orangutan
is jealous, it shows its displeasure using facial

expressions. When it is very upset, it may throw a

tantrum, just as a human baby does. Even orangutan
moms have to deal with bad behavior!
If you can, take a good look at the orangutan's
hands and feet. They are just right for gripping tree
branches. The baby orangutans must practice

21
Reading Session 2

swinging from branch to branch. This kind of play helps them develop good
coordination. They will depend on this to be safe in the treetops.
The orangutan mom teaches her baby behaviors it will need when it is grown. Each
evening, she shows it how to make a nest in a tree. She makes the nest just big enough
for them to sleep in. In time, her baby will practice making a nest of its own. For now,
this baby is glad to sleep with its mom.
The day is slipping away, and it's time to go back to your camp. You have a lot
to think about after watching the orangutans roaming free. You now understand why
some people want to save the rain forest of Borneo. It is an expression of caring for the
orangutans who make it their home.

"A Day with the Orangutans" by Jeannie W. Berger from TROPHIES, Intervention Readers (Pupil Edition), Moving Ahead (Grade 4)
(2003 Edition), copyright £ by Harcourt, Inc., reprinted by permission of the publisher. Photo
1 Gerry Ellis/Minden Pictures. Photo 2:
:

Daniel J. Cox/'Natural Exposures.com.

22
Reading Session 2

Mark your choices for multiple-choice questions 21 through 25 by filling in the circle next to the
best answer.

According to the selection, what is the ^^fc According to the selection, why do baby
first sign that an orangutan is nearby? orangutans stay close to their moms for
as long as eight years?
® the scent of an animal

® Baby orangutans must learn not to

d) the sound of a tree shaking be shy.

© an orangutan mom calling her baby © Baby orangutans love their moms
very much.
© an orangutan swinging in the trees

© Their moms need to teach the

babies how to live when they

are grown.

^^fc What does the author of the selection © Their moms do not send the
say to do if the reader sees a baby babies away until they are too big
orangutan in the wild? for the nest.

® have a camera ready

® leave some food nearby

© make friends with its mother

© just watch without getting too close

23
Reading Session 2

Which phrase from the selection tells According to the selection, how does
what orangutan and human babies do a baby orangutan learn to make its
when they lose their tempers? own nest?

® shake again ® It sees other baby orangutans

making nests.
d) throw a tantrum
© It watches its mother make a new
© take a good look nest every night.

© stay close to their moms © It makes play nests with other

baby orangutans.

© It sleeps in a nest with its mother

every night.

24
 Reading
Session 3
DIRECTIONS
This session contains three reading selections with sixteen multiple-choice questions and one open-
response question. For multiple-choice questions, mark your answers by filling in the circle next to the best
answer. For the open-response question, write your answer below the question in the space provided.

Henry and his friend agree that they both want to go to Fitchburg, but they do not agree on the best way
to get there. Read Henry Hikes to Fitchburg to find out what the journey is like for the two friends. After
you read the story answer the questions that follow.

by D. B. Johnson

1 One summer day, Henry and his friend decided to go to Fitchburg to see
the country.
2 "I'll walk," said Henry "It's the fastest way to travel."
3 "I'll work," Henry's friend said, "until I have the money to buy a ticket to ride

25
Reading Session 3

the train to Fitchburg. We'll see who gets there first!"

4 His friend waved. "Enjoy your walk," he said.
5 Henry walked down the road to Fitchburg. "Enjoy your work," he called back.
6 Henry's friend filled the woodbox in Mrs. Alcott's kitchen. 10 cents.
I Henry hopped from rock to rock across the Sudbury River.
8 His friend swept out the post office. 5 cents.
9 Henry carved a walking stick. 25 miles to Fitchburg.

10 Henry's friend pulled all the weeds in Mr. Hawthorne's garden. 15 cents.

I I Henry put ferns and flowers in a book and pressed them.

12 His friend painted the fence in front of the courthouse. 10 cents.

13 Henry walked on stone walls.

14 Henry's friend moved the bookcases in Mr. Emerson's study. 15 cents.
15 Henry climbed a tree. 18 miles to Fitchburg.

16 His friend carried water to the cows grazing on the grass in town. 5 cents.

17 Henry made a raft and paddled up the Nashua River.

18 Henry's friend cleaned out Mrs. Thoreau's chicken house. 10 cents.

26
Reading Session 3

19 Henry crossed a swamp and found a bird's nest in the grass. 12 miles to Fitchburg.
20 His friend carried flour from the mill to the village baker. 20 cents.

21 Henry found a honey tree.

22 Henry's friend ran to the train station to buy his ticket to Fitchburg. 90 cents.

23 Henry jumped into a pond. 7 miles to Fitchburg.

24 His friend sat on the train in a tangle of people.
25 Henry ate his way through a blackberry patch.
26 Henry's friend got off the train at Fitchburg Station just as the sun was setting.
27 Henry took a shortcut. 2 mile to Fitchburg.
28 His friend was sitting in the moonlight when Henry arrived. "The train was
faster," he said.
29 Henry took a small pail from his pack. "I know," he smiled. "I stopped for
blackberries."

From HENRY HIKES TO FITCHBURG by D. B. Johnson. Copyright © 2000 by D. B. Johnson. Reprinted by permission of Houghton
Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

27
Reading Session 3

Mark your choices for multiple-choice questions 26 through 33 by filling in the circle next to the
best answer.

Which of the following sentences BEST According to the story, Henry's friend
tells what this story is about? earns money doing all of these EXCEPT

® Henry decides to walk to Fitchburg ® planting a garden.

and has many adventures along
the way. © moving a bookcase.

(D Henry's friend wants to go to © sweeping the post office.

Fitchburg and decides to earn the

money for a train ticket. © cleaning a chicken house.

© Henry and his friend enjoy walking

to the railroad station, where they
take the train to Fitchburg.
According to the story, how much does
© Henry and his friend want to go to a train ticket to Fitchburg cost?
Fitchburg, and each decides to get
there differently. ® 10 cents

© 15 cents

© 20 cents

© 90 cents
place?

® in a village and on a train

© in a pond and in the post office

© in a town and in the countryside

© in front of a courthouse and on

a road

28
Reading Session 3

Read the sentence from the story in the Read the sentence from the story in the

box below. box below.

His friend sat on the train in a Henry walked on stone walls.

tangle of people.

^^fc Which word in the sentence is an

What does the sentence tell the reader ADJECTIVE?
about the train ride?
® Henry
® There were many passengers on
the train. © walked

(© There were not enough train tickets. © stone

© Henry's friend got on the © walls

wrong train.

© Henry's friend could not find his

seat on the train.

Read the sentence from the story in the

box below.

Henry made a raft and paddled

Throughout the story, how does the up the Nashua River.
reader know that BOTH Henry and his
fHend are getting closer to their goal?
Which word means ALMOST THE
® Henry and his friend are glad to
SAME as raft as it is used in the
sentence?
see each other at the train station.

(D Henry jumps into a pond while his

® boat

friend paddles up the river.

© cap

© Henry and his friend plan each step

© map
of the journey together.

© Henry has fewer miles to travel

© wagon

while his friend is earning money.

29
Reading Session 3

Write your answer to open-response question 34 in the lined space provided below.

In this story, the reader can tell what the characters are like through their actions. Read the
sentences in the chart below about Henry and his friend. Complete the chart with examples
from the story that support the sentences. Give TWO examples for each character.

For example:
He hops on rocks to get across a river.

1.

Henry enjoys the outdoors.

z.

For example:
Mr. Hawthorne hires him to pull weeds.

1.

Henry's friend is hard working.

2.

30
Reading Session 3

The games children play today have changed from the games children played long ago. This selection
explains how some games were played. It also explains how some have changed. Read the selection. Use
information from the selection to answer the questions that follow.

Schoolyard toys

Atduring school, children were allowed to play

recess and lunchtime. Many brought
toys to school so they could share them with their
friends. Hoops, marbles, jacks, and tops were all
favorite schoolyard toys.

Marbles
Marbles were made of stone, pottery, clay, or
china. Some had colorful swirls or strange
designs. Children who had no marbles used
musketballs, nuts, or hard berries to play instead.

Marble collections were always changing, as

children won, lost, and traded their marbles.
A big bag of marbles was considered a treasure.
Losing at marbles was very disappointing.
Perhaps the expression "lost their marbles"
began as a description of an angry loser!

Jacks
The game of jacks was played with small,
six-pronged objects called jackstones, or jacks.
The first player started the game by throwing
the jackstones on the ground. The other players
then took turns tossing one jack into the air,
picking up another jack from the ground, and
then catching the flying jack as it came back
—
down all with the same hand!
In the next rounds, players tried to grab two
jacks, then three, then four. If someone failed to
pick up enough jacks,
or allowed the flying jack jacks, played with or without
to hit the ground, that person was out of the a rubber ball, was a favorite
game. In the late 1800s, players bounced a rubber schoolyard game. It required
ball instead of throwing a jack in the air. skill and good reflexes.

31
Reading Session 3

Tops
Tops were favorite toys with both boys and girls. They came in many different
styles. Some were wound up with a string. Others had a long, round stem for
spinning. Peg tops were the most common kind of top. They were made of a single
carved piece of wood. A humming top was hollow and had a hole in one side.
When it spun, it made a whistling or humming noise.

Hoops
A wooden or metal hoop could provide hours of fun. Boys and girls raced their
hoops across the schoolyard. In order to keep the hoops upright, children guided
them with a stick. Contests were held to test hoop-rolling skills. Sometimes
participants had to guide their hoops through obstacle courses. In other contests,
children tried to keep several hoops rolling at once.

The village cooper made hoops to hold his barrels together.

When a barrel wore out, children used the hoops for their games.

Materials from 'Old-Time Toys' have been reprinted with the permission of Bobbie Kalman of Crabtree Publishing
Company, Ltd.

32
Reading Session 3

Mark your choices for multiple-choice questions 35 through 38 by filling in the circle next to the
pest answer.

What is the MAIN IDEA of What is paragraph 6 MOSTLY about?

this selection?
® different kinds of tops

® Marble collections were always

changing. (B) how tops were wound up with string

® Boys and girls had hoop-racing © the most common kind of top
contests at school.
© how tops make noise

© Hoops, marbles, jacks, and tops

used to be popular with children.

® Children brought tops and jacks to

school to share with their friends. Read the sentence in the box below.

In order to keep the hoops upright,

children guided them with a stick.

According to the selection, what would

According to the selection, the children
cause a player to lose in the game
kept the hoop upright so that it would
of jacks?

® using only one hand

® flip.

® not picking up enough jacks

® bounce.

© throwing the ball up too high

© keep rolling.

© not tossing up all of the jacks

© start humming.

33
Reading Session 3

This story is about a turtle who wants to go south for the winter Will he get there? Read the story to see
what happens. Use what you read to answer the questions that follow.

How Turtle Flew South for the Winter

by Joseph Bruchac

t was when the leaves start to fall from the aspens.

the time of year

2 Turtle was walking around when he saw many birds gathering together in the trees.

They were making a lot of noise and Turtle was curious. "Hey," Turtle said, "What is

happening?"
3 "Don't you know?" the birds said. "We're getting ready to fly to the south for the

winter."

4 "Why are you going to do that?" Turtle said.

5 "Don't you know anything?" the birds said. "Soon it's going to be very cold here and
the snow will fall. There won't be much food to eat. Down south it will be warm. Summer
lives there all of the time and there's plenty of food."
6 As soon as they mentioned the food. Turtle became even more interested. "Can I come
with you?" he said.

7 "You have to fly to go south," said the birds. "You are a turtle and you can't fly."

8 But Turtle would not give up. "Isn't there some way you could take me along?" He
begged and pleaded. Finally the birds agreed just to get him to stop asking.

9 "Look here," the birds said, "can you hold onto a stick hard with your mouth?"
10 "That's no problem at all," Turtle said. "Once I grab onto something no one can make
me let go until I am ready."

11 "Good," said the birds. "Then you hold on hard to this stick. These two birds here will
each grab one end of it in their claws. That way they can carry you along. But remember,
you have to keep your mouth shut!"
12 "That's easy," said Turtle. "Now let's go south where Summer keeps all that food."

Turtle grabbed onto the middle of the stick and two big birds came and grabbed each end.
They flapped their wings hard and lifted Turtle off the ground. Soon they were high in the
sky and headed toward the south.

34
 Reading Session 3

13 Turtle had never been so high off the

) ground before, but he Hked it. He could
look down and see how small everything
looked. But before they had gone too far,

he began to wonder where they were.

He wondered what the lake was down
below him and what those hills He were.
wondered how far they had come and how
far they would have to go to get to the

south where Summer lived. He wanted to

ask the two birds who were carrying him,
but he couldn't talk with his mouth closed.
14 Turtle rolled his eyes. But the two
birds just kept on flying. Then Turtle tried

waving his legs at them, but they acted

as if they didn't even notice. Now Turtle

was getting upset. If they were going to

take him south, then the least they could

do was tell him where they were now!

"Mmmph," Turtle said, trying to get their

attention. It didn't work. Finally Turtle lost

his temper.
15 "Why don't you listen to . .
."
but that was all he said, for as soon as he opened his
mouth to speak, he had to let go of the stick and he started to fall. Down and down he
fell, a long, long way. He was so frightened that he pulled his legs and his head in to
protect himself! When he hit the ground he hit so hard that his shell cracked. He was
lucky that he hadn't been killed, but he ached all over. He ached so much that he crawled
into a nearby pond, swam down to the bottom and dug into the mud to get as far away
from the sky as he possibly could. Then he fell asleep and he slept all through the winter
and didn't wake up until the spring.

16 So it is that today only the birds fly south to the land where Summer lives while

turtles, who all have cracked shells now, sleep through the winter.

From Native American Stories told by Joseph Bruchac. Fulcrum Publishing. Text copyright ©1991 by Joseph Bruchac. Art copyright
©1991 by John Kahionhes Fadden. Reprinted by permission of the publisher and artist.

35
Reading Session 3

Mark your choices for multiple-choice questions 39 through 42 by filling in the circle next to the
best answer.

According to the story, Turtle wants to According to the story, what does Turtle
go south MOSTLY because he wants to do AFTER he lands on the ground?

® be with the birds. ® He crawls all the way back to

his home.
(B) have food to eat.

© He pulls his legs and head into his

© see what it is like to fly. shell to hide.

© visit a new place. © He yells up at the birds to listen

to him.

© He goes to sleep in the muddy

bottom of a pond.
In the story, Turtle learns that bad
things can happen when he

® sleeps too long.

According to the story, because

© always stays home.
of Turtle's fall from the sky all

turtles now
© has mean friends.

© loses his temper.

® have cracked shells.

© know how to swim.

© hide inside their shells.

© have strong, hard backs.

36
 Grade 3 Reading
Spring 2005 Released Items:
Reporting Categories, Standards, and Correct Answers

Item No. Page No. Reporting Category Standard Correct Answer (MC)*

1 9 Reading and Literature / Genre 10 C

2 9 Reading and Literature / Fiction 12 B
3 9 Reading and Literature / Understanding a Text 8 D
4 9 Reading and Literature / Style and Language 15 B
5 10 Reading and Literature / Fiction 12 C
6 10 Reading and Literature / Understanding a Text 8 B
7 10 Reading and Literature / Understanding a Text 8 B
8 10 Language / Vocabularx' and Concept Development 4 A
9 13 Reading and Literature / Poetry 14 D
10 13 Reading and Literature / Poelty 14 A
11 13 Reading and Literature / Poetry 14 C
12 13 Language / Vocabulary and Concept Development 4 D
13 18 Reading and Literature / Genre 10 c
14 18 Reading and Literature / Understanding a Text 8 B
15 18 Reading and Literature / Nonfiction 13 D
16 18 Reading and Literature / Nonfiction 13 A
17 19 Reading and Literature / Understanding a Text 8 c
18 19 Reading and Literature / Understanding a Text 8 A
19 19 Language / Vocabulary and Concept Development 4 D
20 20 Reading and Literature / Nonfiction 13

21 23 Reading and Literature / Nonfiction 13 B

22 23 Reading and Literature / Nonfiction 13 D
23 23 Reading and Literature / Understanding a Text 8 C
24 24 Language / Vocabulary and Concept Development 4 B
25 24 Reading and Literature / Nonfiction 13 B
26 28 Reading and Literature / Understanding a Text 8 D
27 28 Reading and Literature /Fiction 12 C
28 28 Reading and Literature / Fiction 12 A
29 28 Reading and Literature / Understanding a Text 8 D
30 29 Reading and Literature / Stvle and Language 15 A
31 29 Reading and Literature / Fiction 12 D
32 29 Language / Structure and Origins of Modern English 5 C
33 29 Language / Vocabulary and Concept Development 4 A
34 30 Rp/inivio nyin I itt^yntin'f / F^i/^ti/in 12

35 33 Rpn/iiyi<f nyiH
I\C-LHAIH^ I ifpynfurp
HULl L^llCr frllLir C // I JyiHpvKfnvi/iino
W/iCIC/ -J IL4 fH.t I r 1^ n
L4 Tpxt
I C.Vl 8 c
36 33 Rpnniyio nvin J itpyntuvp / hJnviriptirni 13 B
37 33 Reading and Literature / Understanding a Text 8 A
38 33 LjLtfl^UU^C 1 r UH4Ul4li4r V tlflU \- UflL cL/l L^t: V ClUlJftlcfll 4 c
Reading and Literature / Myth, Traditional Narrative, and
39 36 16 B
Classical Literature

40 36 Reading and Literature / Theme 11 D

41 36 Reading and Literature / Understanding a Text 8 D
Reading and Literature / Myth, Traditional Narrative, and
42 36 16 A
Classical Literature

* Answers are provided here for multiple-choice items only. Sample responses and scoring guidelines for open-response items,
which are indicated by shaded cells, will be posted to the Department's Web site later this year.

37
# III. English Language Arts, Grade 4

A. Composition
B. Language and Literature
 Grade 4 English Language Arts Test

Test Structure

The Grade 4 MCAS English Language Arts Test was presented in the following two parts:

I the ELA Composition Test, which used a writing prompt to assess learning

standards from the Massachusetts English Language Arts Curriculum Framework's

Composition strand

I the ELA Language and Literature Test, which used multiple-choice and open-
response questions (items) to assess learning standards from the Curriculum
Framework's Language and Reading and Literature strands

A. Composition

The spring 2005 Grade 4 MCAS English Language Arts Composition Test and Make-Up
Test were based on learning standards in the Composition strand of the Massachusetts
English Language Arts Curriculum Framework (2001). The learning standards for the

Composition strand appear on pages 72-83 of the Framework, which is available on the
Department Web site at www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/ela/0601.pdf.

In Test Item Analysis Reports and on the Subject Area Subscore pages of the MCAS
School Reports and District Reports, ELA Composition test results are reported under the
Composition reporting category.

Test Sessions and Content Overview

The MCAS ELA Composition Test included two separate test sessions, administered on
the same day with a short break between sessions. During the first session, each student

wrote an initial draft of a composition in response to the appropriate writing prompt

on the next two pages. During the second session, each student revised his/her draft and
submitted a final composition, which was scored in the areas of Topic Development and
Standard English Conventions. The MCAS Writing Score Guide (Composition Grade 4) is

available at www.doe.mass.edu/MCAS/student/2004/scoring4.doc.

Reference Materials and Tools

At least one English-language dictionary per classroom was provided for student use
during ELA Composition test sessions. The use of bilingual word-to-word dictionaries

was allowed for limited English proficient students only. No other reference materials or

tools were allowed during either ELA Composition test session.

Cross-Reference Information

Framework general standards 19-22 are assessed by the ELA Composition.

40
 English Language Arts Composition, Grade 4

Grade 4 Writing Prompt

WRITING PROMPT

Think about a time you tried something new. Maybe it was your first day of school,
your first time on a bike or bus, the first time you tried a skill learned in class, or the
first time you tried a new sport.

Write a story about when you did something for the first time. Give enough details to
show the reader what happened.

You may use the space below to plan what you are going to write (notes, outlines, other
pre-writing activities).

41
 English Language Arts Composition, Grade 4

Grade 4 Make-Up Writing Prompt

WRITING PROMPT

Think about a special day you had at school. Perhaps you won an award, went on
a field trip, played a ftin game, or learned something really interesting.

Write a story about this special day at school. Give enough details to show the
reader what happened, and why it made the day special.

You may use the space below to plan what you are going to write (notes, outlines, other
pre- writing activities).

42
 B, Language and Literature

The spring 2005 Grade 4 MCAS English Language Arts Language and Literature Test

was based on learning standards in the two content strands of the Massachusetts English

Language Arts Curriculum Framework (2001) listed below. Page numbers for the

learning standards appear in parentheses.

I Language (Framework, pages 19-26)

I Reading and Literature (Framework, pages 35-64)

The English Language Arts Curriculum Framework is available on the Department

Web site at www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/ela/0601.pdf.

In Test Item Analysis Reports and on the Subject Area Subscore pages of the MCAS
School Reports and District Reports, ELA Language and Literature test results are

reported under two MCAS reporting categories: Language and Reading and Literature,

which are identical to the two Framework content strands listed above.

Test Sessions and Content Overview

The MCAS Grade 4 ELA Language and Literature Test included three separate test

sessions. Each session included selected readings, followed by multiple-choice and open-
response questions. Common reading passages and test items are shown on the following

pages as they appeared in test booklets. Due to copyright restrictions, certain reading

passages cannot be released to the public on the Web site. All of these passages appear in

the printed version of this document.

Reference Materials and Tools

The use of bilingual word-to-word dictionaries was allowed for limited English proficient

students only, during all three ELA Language and Literature test sessions. No other
reference materials were allowed during any ELA Language and Literature test session.

Cross-Reference Information

The table at the conclusion of this chapter indicates each item's reporting category and
the Framework general standard it assesses. The correct answers for multiple-choice

questions are also displayed in the table.

43
 English Language Arts
Language and Literature: Session 1

DIRECTIONS
This session contains three reading selections with sixteen multiple-choice questions and
two open-response questions. Mark your answers to these questions in the spaces provided in
your Student Answer Booklet.

Earl Weber lived on a small farm during the Great Depression, a time when many people in the United
States did not have jobs ormuch money. Read how the Weber family lived through these hard times.
Answer the questions that follow.

Our family poses in front of the barn after returning from My younger brother (right)
church. My brother and sister stand on a barrel, which will and model nightgowns that
I

become the support for a seesaw later in the morning. Momma made from feed sacks.

Waste Not, Want Not

By Earl M. Weber

1 When I was growing up in the 1930s,

2 On Sunday mornings, Momma would
the period of the Great Depression, I
give each of us two pennies for our
didn't think of our family as poor, even Sunday School offerings. Carefully
though we never seemed to have money. knotting mytwo cents in the comer of a
I lived on a small farm in Pennsylvania handkerchief, she would hand it to me
with my two older sisters, and
parents, and caution me to "be careful not to lose
it." Today, two pennies won't buy much
younger brother. We had an old horse, a
cow, a few pigs, a flock of chickens, and of anything, but in the 1930s every

a big garden. Food was not a problem. penny was important.

We had our own supply of milk, meat, 3 As a boy of nine, I had only a vague
eggs, fresh vegetables, and Momma's idea of what it meant to live during hard

homemade bread. But money was scarce. times. The weekly newspaper would

44
English Language Arts Session 1

6 Momma used the market money to buy

clothing for the family. With four
children and two adults to clothe, she
seldom bought anything new. One day
when I walked to the mailbox at the end
of our lane, I was excited to see a
package from Sears, Roebuck and
Company. That usually meant new
clothing for one of us. As it turned out, I
was the lucky one this time, with a
brand-new pair of brown tweed knee-
length knickers. Although we always

The four of us dressed up for Sunday went to school looking neat and clean,
School on a spring morning. We had most of our clothing was patched,
to wear garters, which were a nuisance,
darned*, or mended. So to me, a new pair
to hold up our long stockings.
of knickers was very special.
carry pictures of people standing in line 7 Christmas was special, too, because
for bread, and the evening newscast on then we got new socks, and for a little
our tabletop Crosley radio would tell while we wouldn't have to wear socks
about the huge number of jobless people darned in the toes and heels.
and their But these reports
hardships. 8 Momma made some of our clothing,
referred to people in the cities, and we using a treadle (foot-powered) sewing
lived in the country. We never went to machine. To make nightgowns, she used
bed hungry, and we didn't stand in line the muslin sacks that our chicken feed

for bread. came in. I wore a nightgown with

4 Although my father was fortunate to "PRATT'S CHICKEN FEED" printed in
have a job at the feed mill, his salary of big black letters on the front. (It wasn't
eighteen dollars a week was barely until years later when my high-school
enough pay the farm mortgage and the
to class went on an overnight trip that I got
electric bill, and to buy necessities like my first store-bought pajamas.) Some
the flour and yeast Momma needed to companies actually put their feed in

bake her bread. sacks made of colorfully patterned

5 Momma earned a few dollars baking calico. Momma liked this material for

pies and bread, which she sold at the making aprons and dresses.

local market. Twenty cents for a pie and 9 When a piece of clothing was worn
ten cents for a loaf of bread! Sometimes out, it wasn't thrown away. First, all the

I helped at the market, and if we had a buttons were removed, sorted by size and
good day. Momma would give me a color, in cans or glass jars. Then
and put
nickel for an ice-cream cone. the clothing was examined, and the best
parts were cut into strips and saved for
making rugs.

* darned — repaired with thread or yam

45
English Language Arts Session 1

10 Almost nothing in our house was not, want not" was a familiar and
thrown away. Store parcels were often repeated phrase during those
generally tied with string. We saved this Depression years.
stringby winding it on a ball. One of my
jobs was to wash and used tin flatten
cans. We nailed these pieces of tin over
Yesterday and Today
holes in the bam roof to stop the leaks In the 1930s, a chocolate bar cost five
and over holes in the comcrib to stop the cents. A single-dip ice-cream cone was
mice and rats from eating the com. also five cents. If that sounds good,
11 A wooden crate was considered a real consider that children living in the
prize. We would take it apart for future country, if they were lucky enough to
projects, being careful not to split the have a job, earned only ten cents an
boards. We even straightened the bent hour for farm labor. Kids today pay
nails and stored them in a tin can. around a dollar for an ice-cream cone
12 Although we tend to think of recycling and about the same for a chocolate bar.
as something fairly new, in the 1930s But some can earn five dollars an hour
it was part of everyday life. "Waste baby-sitting or mowing lawns.

Copyright © 2001 by Highlights for Children, Inc., Columbus, Ohio.

According to the article, why did many According to the article, how did the
people who lived in the country have author's mother help the family?
enough food during the Great Depression?
A. She washed and flattened tins to
A. They waited in long bread lines for repair holes in the roof.
hours to get food.
B. She stood in line for bread for the
B. They could buy the food they needed family's food every day.
at the feed mill.
C. She baked pies and bread to sell and
C. They had plenty of money to buy food made the family's clothes.
at the market.
D. She had a job at the feed mill and
D. They could grow many kinds of food grew vegetables.
on their farms.

46
English Language Arts Session 1

Which word BEST describes the author According to the article, when
when he noticed a package in the mailbox? did the author get his first pair
of store-bought pajamas?
A. proud
A. in high school
B. bored
B. at the age of nine
C. thrilled
C. on Christmas morning
D. concerned
D. on the day the package came

According to the article, how did the

author's mother use feed sacks? In paragraph 10, what does the author
MOST LIKELY mean when he says,
A. She mended socks with them.
"Almost nothing in our house was
B. She repaired leaks in the roof thrown away"?
with them.
A. The family used very little.

C. She patched holes in the comcrib

B. The family sold things they made.
with them.
C. The family ate everything they grew.
D. She made nightgowns, dresses,
and aprons with them. D. The family reused almost everything.

47
English Language Arts Session 1

According to the article, how much did a Read the sentence from paragraph 3 in the
child earn working on a farm in the 1930s? box below.

A. five cents an hour

The weekly newspaper would
B. ten cents an hour carry pictures of people standing
in line for bread,and the evening
C. one dollar an hour
newscast on our tabletop Crosley
D. five dollars an hour radio would tell about the huge
number of jobless people and
their hardships.

Which of the following could replace the

word hardships!

A. farms

B. difficulties

C. families

D. savings

Write your answer to open-response question 9 in the space provided in your Student Answer
Booklet.

Based on the article, describe FOUR ways the author's family benefited from reusing items.
Use important and specific information from the article to support your answer.

48
 —
English Language Arts Session 1

Have you ever wondered why your shadow seems to come and go? Read to find out how one child feels
about his shadow. Answer the questions that follow.

Ihave a little shadow that goes in and out with me,

And what can be the use of him is more than I can see.
He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head;
And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed.
5 The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to grow
Not at all like proper children, which is always very slow;
For he sometimes shoots up taller like an india-rubber ball,
And sometimes gets so little that there's none of him at all.
He hasn't got a notion of how children ought to play,
10 And can only make a fool of me in every sort of way.
He stays so close beside me, he's a coward you can see;
I'd think shame to stick to nursie as that shadow sticks to me!

One morning very early, before the sun was up,

I and found the shining dew on every buttercup;
rose
15 But my lazy little shadow, like an arrant sleepy-head.
Had stayed at home behind me and was fast asleep in bed.
—Robert Louis Stevenson

In the public domain.

49
English Language Arts Session 1

Read line 2 from the poem in the box below. Why does the speaker call his shadow
a coward in line 1 1 of the poem?
And what can be the use of
A. His shadow stays asleep in bed.
him is more than I can see.

B. His shadow stays with him.

What does this line mean? C. His shadow imagines how he feels.

A. The speaker does not know how to talk D. His shadow shows him how to play.

to his shadow.

B. The shadow does not know how to

Which of the following lines from the
jump for the speaker.
poem is an example of a simile?
C. The shadow does not understand how
A. Ihave a little shadow that goes in
to behave like a child.
and out with me,
D. The speaker does not understand the
B. For he sometimes shoots up taller
purpose of his shadow.
like an india-rubber ball,

C. And can only make a fool of me in

Based on the poem, what about the every sort of way.
shadow is MOST unlike a child? D. Had stayed at home behind me and
A. the way he hides was fast asleep in bed.

B. the way he grows

C. the way he jumps
D. the way he sleeps

50
English Language Arts Session 1

The Buddha a wise teacher. In this story, he tries to help an old woman. As you read this classic story,
is

notice how the Buddha guides the old woman to discover for herself the answer she seeks. As it turns out,
she was simply looking for the wrong thing! Answer the questions that follow.

The
Mustard
Seed
Retold by Marilyn McFarlane

1 The Buddha was walking on country road one day when he

a dusty
stopped at the edge of a river to splash cooling water on his face. When
he finished washing, he looked up and saw an old woman kneeling beside
him. Her clothes were ragged and her face was worn. Her arms were
covered with sores.
2 "Oh, Master," she wailed. "I suffer so. Please help me."
3 "What troubles you?" the Buddha asked, looking at her with
compassion in his eyes.
4 "Look at me! See my sad lot!" She touched her rags, and she pointed
with skinny fmgers to her blistered arms. "I am poor, my clothes are torn, I
am ill. Once I was prosperous, with a farm, and now I am old and have only
a bowl of rice to eat. Won't you heal me and bring back my riches?"
5 "You have described life as it is," the Buddha answered. "We are all
born to suffering."
6 The old woman shook her head, weeping. "No, no, I won't listen. I

was not born to suffer."

7 The Buddha saw that she could not understand. "Very well, I will
help you," he said. "You must do as I say."

8 "Anything, anything!" she gasped.

9 "Bring me a mustard seed."
10 She stared in astonishment. "Only a mustard seed?"
11 "Yes. But the seed must come from a house that has never known
sorrow, trouble, or suffering. I will take the seed and use it to banish all
your misery."
12 "Thank you, Master, thank you!"
13 The old woman hobbled away, her bare feet shuffling in the dust.
She was on her way to find a house without sorrow. The Buddha continued
down the road.

51
English Language Arts Session 1

14 Weeks he returned along the same road and came to the

later,

same place by the river, and there he saw the old woman again. She was
scrubbing clothes in the river water and spreading them on rocks to dry
in the sun, and while she washed, she sang a tune.
15 "Greetings," the Buddha said. "Have you found the mustard seed?"
16 "No, Blessed One. Every house I visited had far more troubles
than I have."
17 "And are you still seeking?"
18 "I'll do that later. I have met so many people who are less
fortunate than have to stop and help them. Right now I'm washing
I, I

clothes for a poor family with sick children." Gently she placed a wet
piece of cloth on a rock.
19 The Buddha smiled. He "You no longer need the mustard
said,
seed. Helping others is a great virtue. You are on the road to becoming a
Buddha yourself."

from "The Mustard Seed" by Marilyn McFarlane from "Sacred Myths: Stories of World Religions" published by
Sibyl Publications, ISBN 0-9638327-78.

52
English Language Arts Session 1

What is troubling the old woman in Which of the following BEST describes
the story? the Buddha in the story?

A. She needs help for her children. A. a leader who has difficulty
answering questions
B. She needs rest and warmth.
B. a traveler who avoids talking to
C. She has too much work to do.
people along his way
D. She is sick and penniless.
C. a guide to help the old woman find
out what life is like

In the story, what does the Buddha D. a friend of the old woman from the
mean by the phrase "We are all bom time she was rich and healthy
to suffering"?

A. All people must face hard times

What does the Buddha teach the
in life.
old woman in the story?
B. All people should ask for help
A. how to plant seeds
with sorrow.
B. how to find happiness
C. All people should look for ways
to be happy. C. how to forgive others

D. All people must help others D. how to regain her farm

whenever possible.

53
English Language Arts Session 1

Write your answer to open-response question 18 in the space provided in your Student Answer
Booklet.

Explain what the old woman learns in this story. Use important and specific information from the
story to support your answer.

54
 —
English Language Arts
Language and Literature: Session 2
DIRECTIONS
This session contains one reading selection with eight multiple-choice questions and one
open-response question. Mark your answers to these questions in the spaces provided in
your Student Answer Booklet.

This story is told by Nicodemus, the leader of the rats of NIMH. Read as he describes how he and the
other rats were surprised one day at the marketplace. Pay attention as the seemingly calm events lead
to a thrilling end. Answer the questions that follow.

The Marketplace
from Mrs, Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
by Robert C. O'Brien

1 ... It was called the Farmers' Market, a great square of a place with a roof
over part ofit and no walls to speak of. There early every morning the farmers

arrived from all over the surrounding countryside, with trucks full of
tomatoes, com, cabbages, potatoes, eggs, chickens, hams, food for the city.
One part of it was reserved for the fishermen who brought crabs and oysters
and bass and flounders. It was a fine place, noisy and full of smells.
2 —
We lived near this market my father, my mother, my nine sisters and
brothers and I —
underground in a big pipe that had once been part of a storm
sewer, but was no longer used. There were hundreds of other rats in the
neighborhood. It was a rough life, but not so hard as you might think, because
of the market.
3 Every evening at five o'clock the farmers and the fishermen would close up
their stalls, pack their trucks, and go home. At night, hours later, the cleanup
men would arrive with between, the market was
brooms and hoses. But in
ours. The food the farmers left behind! Peas and beans that fell from the
trucks, tomatoes and squashes, pieces of meat and fish trimmed as waste
they lay on the sidewalks and in the gutters; they filled great cans that were
supposed to be covered but seldom were. There was always ten times more
than we could eat, and so there was never any need for fighting over it.
4 Fighting? Quite the contrary, the marketplace was a perfect place for
playing, and so we did, the young rats at least, as soon as we had finished
eating. There were empty boxes for hide-and-seek, there were walls to climb,
tin cans to roll, and pieces of twine to tie and swing on. There was even, in
the middle of the square, a fountain to swim in when the weather was hot.
Then, at the first clang of the cleanup men in the distance, one of the older
rats would sound a warning, and everyone would pick up as much food as he
could to carry home. All of us kept a reserve supply, because some days
—
Sundays and holidays the market would be closed, and we were never quite
sure when this would happen.

55
 —
English Language Arts Session 2

5 When I went to the market, it was usually with two companions, my older
brother Gerald and a friend of ours named Jenner. These were my two closest
friends; we liked the same games, the same jokes, the same topics of
conversation — even the same kinds of food. I particularly admired Jenner,
who was extremely quick and intelligent.
6 One evening in early fall Jenner and I set out for the marketplace. It must
have been September, for the leaves were just turning yellow and some
children were throwing a football in a vacant lot. Gerald had to stay home
that night; he had caught a cold, and since the air was chilly, my mother
thought he should not go out. So Jenner and I went without him. I remember
we promised to bring him back some of his favorite food, beef liver, if we
could find any.
7 We took our usual route to the market, not along the streets but through the
narrow walkways between the buildings, mostly commercial warehouses and
garages, that bordered the square. As we walked, we were joined by more
rats; at that time of day they converged on the marketplace from all
directions. When we reached the square, I noticed that there was a white
truck of an odd, square shape parked on the street bordering it, perhaps a
—
block away. I say I noticed it I did not pay any particular attention to it, for
trucks were common enough in that part of town; but if I had, I would have
noticed that printed on each side of it were four small letters: NIMH. I would
not have known what they were, of course, for at that time neither I nor any
of the other rats knew how to read.
8 It was growing dark when we reached the market, but through the dusk we

—
could see that there was an unusually large supply of food a great mound of
—
it near the center of the square, away from the roofed-over portion. I
suppose that should have served as a warning, but it didn't. I remember
Jenner's saying, "They must have had a really busy day," and we ran joyfully
toward the pile along with several dozen other rats.
9 Just as we reached the food it happened. All around us suddenly there was
shouting. Bright, blinding searchlights flashed on, aimed at us and at the
mound of food, so that when we tried to run away from it, we could not see
where we were going. Between and behind the lights there were shadows
moving swiftly, and as they came toward us I could see that they were men
men in white uniforms carrying nets, round nets with long handles.
10 "Look out!" cried Jenner. "They're trying to catch us." He darted in one
direction, I in another, and I lost sight of him.

56
English Language Arts Session 2

1 1 We all ran —
straight toward the men with the nets. There was no other way
to run; they had us encircled. The nets flailed down, scooped, flailed again. I
suppose some rats made it through, slipping between the men and past the
lights. I felt a swish —
a net just missed me. I turned and ran back toward the
mound, thinking I might hide myself in it. But then came another swish, and
that time I felt the enveloping fibers fall over me. They entangled my legs,
then my neck. I was lifted from the ground along with three other rats, and
the net closed around us.

Reprinted with the permission of Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's PubHshing
Division from MRS. FRISBY AND THE RATS OF NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien. Copyright © 1971 Robert C. O'Brien;
copyright renewed © 1 999 Christopher Conly, Jane Leslie Conly, Kate Conly and Sarah Conly.

57
English Language Arts Session 2

The details in paragraph 1 are MOSTLY Reread paragraph 7 in the story. Based on
used to this paragraph, what MOST LIKELY
happens to the narrator in the future?
A. describe a setting.
A. He learns how to read.
B. introduce a character.
B. He rescues his friends.
C. present the problem.
C. He escapes from danger.
D. create suspense.
D. He returns to the market.

Read the sentence from the story in the box below.

Reread paragraph 8 of the story. What
Then, at the first clang of the warning do the rats miss?
cleanup men in the distance, A. The weather is bad.
one of the older rats would
sound a warning, and everyone B. The market smells funny.
would pick up as much food as
C. The food pile is extra large.
he could to carry home.
D. The truck races down the street.

What does this show about the rats?

A. The rats are neat.

B. The rats are silent.

C. The rats are careful.

D. The rats are thankful.

58
English Language Arts Session 2

Reread paragraph 9. Which of the Read the phrase from the story in the box below.
following BEST describes how the
rats in the story feel when they see The food the farmers left behind!
the searchlights?

A. angered Why does the author end this phrase with

an exclamation point?
B. confused
A. to show that the food is scarce
C. prepared
B. to show that the food is spoiled
D. relieved
C. to show that the rats are excited about
the food

Which of the following BEST explains D. to show that the rats are angry about
what happens to the rats at the end of the wasted food
the story?

A. The rats scare away the men.

Read the sentence from paragraph 1 1 in the
B. Many of the rats are saved by
box below.
the farmers.

C. The rats hide in the mound of food. There was no other way to run;
they had us encircled.
D. Many of the rats are caught in the nets.

What does encircled mean'

A. crowded

B. fooled

C. protected

D. surrounded

59
English Language Arts Session 2

Write your answer to open-response question 27 in the space provided in your Student Answer
Booklet.

Read the sentence from the story in the box below.

It was a rough life, but not so hard as you might think, because of the market.

Explain how the Farmers' Market makes life easier for the rats that live in the neighborhood.
Provide important and specific details from the story to help support your explanation.

60
 English Language Arts
Language and Literature: Session 3
DIRECTIONS
This session contains two reading selections with twelve multiple-choice questions and one
open-response question. Mark your answers to these questions in the spaces provided in
your Student Answer Booklet.

Some insects are able to blend into their surroundings. Read to discover how walking sticks are able to
hide —even though they are in plain sight. Pay special attention to the changes that walking sticks
experience throughout life. Answer the questions that follow.

by Margo Myler

HAVE YOU EVER CLIMBED a tree at dusk and seen a twig that's
walking? Perhaps you gently touched its bumpy surface and watched it

drop to the ground. If so, then you've seen the walking stick, a twiglike
insect that can hide nearly unseen in trees and bushes.
2 The walking stick has tiny eyes and long feelers, or antennae, on its
head that alert it to its surroundings. The thin,bumpy body of this curious
insect resembles a knobby stick. Six long, skinny legs make it appear even
more twiglike. Although the walking stick can't run, it can creep very
slowly, allowing it to "disappear" more easily.
3 Walking sticks look different depending on where they live. In the
United States they're as long as your forefinger. Some in the rain forests
have spiky projections resembling thorns. Other tropical varieties have
wings and can fly. Walking sticks in Asia are among the longest in the
world. In fact, the giant stick insects in the East Indies can stretch from
your fingertips to your elbow! The smallest species of stick insects lives on
the ground. Their bodies are thin and green. When standing up, they look
like blades of grass.

61
English Language Arts Session 3

4 Many walking sticks change color, depending on the season and

temperature. In spring young walking sticks appear as green as new
leaves. In autumn they turn brownish gray to match the foliage of the
trees. This color change helps protect them from predators.
5 While stick insects may be hard to see, they still have many
enemies. Birds are their main predator. Lizards, frogs, and mice also
find them a chewy treat.
6 Besides remaining still and blending into its surroundings, the
walking stick can trick predators in other ways. Swaying from side to
side, it mimics a small branch stirring in a light breeze. If touched or
bumped, the "stick" pretends to be dead. With legs tucked up, it drops
to the ground until danger is gone, then slowly inches its way back up
to a favorite branch. An observer once timed a walking stick's faked
death and found that the clever insect remained frozen in place for
almost 6 hours!
7 Jabbing an attacker with the spikes on its legs is also an effective
way to discourage the enemy. And some varieties of stick insects spit
up a bad-smelling, milky liquid, while others squirt a stinging fluid.

8 In late summer female stick insects lay their eggs —from 90 to

several hundred, depending on the species. Shiny, black, seedlike eggs
pitter-patter through the leaves, dropping to the forest floor. Protected
by a hard shell, the tiny eggs survive the winter. Some may lie hidden
on the ground for up to three years before hatching. Many are carried
away by ants or eaten by birds, and only about two out of every
hundred eggs will survive. Some years, however, these strange insects
appear in large numbers, stripping leaves from the trees and causing
lots of damage.

62
English Language Arts Session 3

9 In the spring the tiny eggs pop open, revealing miniature Ught-green
walking sticks. The wobbly babies with threadlike legs climb slowly up
low-lying bushes to hide in the foliage before daybreak.
10 All spring and summer the babies grow, feasting on tender leaves.
When they become too large for their tough, shell-like skin, called an
exoskeleton, they molt, or shed, this outer layer. The new exoskeleton
underneath is always bigger. Birds and other animals and insects often
attack these slow-moving young. But if stick insects lose a body part
when they're young, the part will grow back when the bug molts again.
Stick insects molt 5 to 6 times before they become adults.
1 1 At night the stick insects come out to nibble on tasty leaves. They
love oak and cherry leaves and are found in most forests. If you climb
your favorite tree this evening, look closely at the branches. Perhaps
you'll find one of nature's camouflaged "sticks" ready to eat a tasty leaf.

Reprinted by permission of SPIDER magazine, 2001, August, copyright © 2001 by Margo Myler. Photographs:
ANIMALS ANIMALS © Color-Pic; ANIMALS ANIMALS © John Pontier.

Reread paragraph 3 of the article. Based on the article, which of the

Which of the following is the topic following might cause a walking stick to
sentence of the paragraph? fall on the ground and pretend it is dead?

A. The smallest species of stick insects A. A bird tries to eat the walking stick.
lives on the ground.
B. A female needs to lay her eggs.
B. In the United States they're as long as
your forefinger.
C. A walking stick needs to molt.

C. Walking sticks look different

D. A young walking stick hatches early.

depending on where they live.

D. When standing up, they look like

blades of grass.

63
English Language Arts Session 3

According to the article, what is one How does the reader know that this article
way a walking stick defends itself? is nonfiction?

A. It sleeps through the winter. A. The article has factual information.

B. It has strong legs for fast movement. B. The article uses real animals to tell

a story.
C. It pokes attackers with its prickly legs.
C. The article is a story about nature.
D. It can grow new body parts.
D. The article tells about life long ago.

According to paragraph 8, what can

happen if more eggs than usual survive? Based on paragraph 10 of the article,
what is another way to say molt"!
A. The walking sticks can ruin
many trees. A. walk slowly

B. The walking sticks will scare B. hide out

away attackers.
C. disappear quickly
C. The walking sticks can destroy
D. takeoff
the nests in trees.

D. The walking sticks will lay fewer

eggs the next summer.

According to the article, why do young

walking sticks shed their outer layer?

A. They get too large for their own skin.

B. They need to protect their

unhatched eggs.

C. They are attempting to frighten

their attackers.

D. They are trying to blend into

their surroundings.

64
English Language Arts Session 3

Write your answer to open-response question 35 in the space provided in your Student Answer
Booklet.

Describe the different stages walking sticks go through from egg to adult. Use important and
specific information from the article to support your answer.

65
English Language Arts Session 3

Manuel the baker creates wonderful cakes and pies. However, he is very greedy. Manuel wants his
neighbor, Pablo, to pay him for enjoying the delicious smells that come from his bakery. When Pablo
refuses,Manuel goes to a judge to solve the problem. Read how the judge teaches a lesson in this
traditional play from Peru. Answer the questions that follow.

The Baker's
Neighbor by Adele Thane

CHARACTERS
Manuel Gonzales, a baker
Pablo Perez, his neighbor
Carlos, a boy
Ramona ^
Inez \ Carlos' sisters
Isabel J
Judge
Three women
Three villagers

(Three women enter right. They come downstage

and question the children.)

1stWoman: What's the matter with Manuel?

2nd Woman: Will he be back soon? I want to buy
a cake.
3rd Woman: So do I. What happened?
5 1st Woman: He looked so angry, Where's
he gone?
Girls {excitedly, ad lib): He's gone to get the judge!
He is angry! He is furious! {etc.)
1st Woman: The judge! What for?
10 Carlos: He says Pablo will have to pay for smelling
his cakes and pies.
2nd Woman {to Pablo): He wants you to pay him
for doing that}

66
 )

English Language Arts Session 3

3rd Woman: He can't be serious!

15 Pablo: Oh, yes, he is! But I think it's very funny. {He
laughs, and the women join in.

1st Woman: It's ridiculous! Everyone who goes by

the shop smells his pastry.
2nd Woman: Is he going to take everyone in tow^n
20 to court?

(They are of laughter when Manuel

all in gales
returns with the judge, followed by several villagers.)

Manuel (to the judge)-. There he is! [He points to

Pablo.) There's the thief!
25 Judge: Calm yourself, Manuel. has not yet been
It

proved that Pablo is a thief. First he must have a

fair trial.

(The judge sits down and motions for

at the table
two chairs to be placed facing him. Villagers and the
30 three women gather under the tree and on the patio
with the children. They whisper and talk together as
they seat themselves.)

1st Villager: In all my days, I've never heard of a

case like this before.
35 2nd Villager: Wow can a man steal the smell of
anything?
3rd Villager: I'm surprised the judge v^^ould even
listen to the baker's story. Money for smelling his
cakes! How absurd!
40 2nd Woman: He sells as much bread and pastry as
he can bake. What more does he want?
3rd Villager: Manuel loves money and he figures this
is a way to get more of it.

Judge [rapping table with his gavel): Quiet,

45 everyone! Court is in session. I am ready to hear
Manuel Gonzales, baker, against Pablo Perez,
neighbor. I will hear the baker first. Manuel, tell
your story.

67
 —
English Language Arts Session 3

Manuel This man,

{rising): Pablo: I can't help smelling them.
50 Pablo Perez, comes and stands Your Honor. Their spicy
outside my
bakery every day. fragrance fills the air.

Judge: Does he block the way? Judge: Would you say you
Manuel: Not exactly. 90 enjoy it?

Judge: Does he keep other Pablo: Oh, yes, sir. I am a man

55 people from going into your of simple pleasures. Just
bakery.^ the smell of a bakery makes
Manuel: No, but sir me happy.
Judge: Then what does he do? 95 Judge: But did you ever pay the
Manuel: He stands there, baker for this pleasure?
60 looking at my pies and cakes and Pablo: Well, no, sir. It never
smelling them. occurred to me that I had to
Judge: That pleases you, pay him.
doesn't it? 100 Judge: Pablo Perez, you will now
Manuel: Pleases me! Far from it! put ten gold pieces on this
65 Look here. Your Honor —every table —for Manuel Gonzales.
night, mix the flour and knead
I
(The villagers gasp. Manuel looks
the dough and slave over a hot
surprised and delighted.)
oven while that shiftless, good-
for-nothing Pablo sleeps. Then 105 Pablo (stunned): Ten gold pieces!
70 he gets up in the morning, fresh For smelling the air near my own
as a daisy, and comes out here to house?
smell the fine, sweet pastry I've Judge: Do you have that
baked. He takes full value of this amount?
free daily luxury. He acts as if it's 110 Pablo: I — I guess so, but it's my
75 his privilege. Now
ask you, I life's savings.
—
Judge is it right that I should Judge: Where is it?
work so hard to provide him Pablo: In my house.
with this luxury, without charge? Judge: Get it and bring it here.
No! He should pay for it! 115 (Slowly Pablo crosses patio and
80 Judge: You may sit down,
I see.
exits left. The villagers talk to
Manuel. Now, Pablo Perez, it is each other disapprovingly.)
your turn. [Pablo stands.) Is it
true that you stand in front of 1st Villager: The judge shouldn't
Manuel's bakery and smell his make Pablo pay.

85 cakes and pies?

68
English Language Arts Session 3

120 1st Woman: Pablo is an honest Judge: It gives you great pleasure
man. to touch that gold, doesn't it,
2nd Villager: I don't see how 155 Manuel.^ You enjoy it.
the judge could rule in the Manuel: Oh, I do, I do! . . .

baker's favor. Eight . . . nine . . . ten. It's all

125 3rd Villager: Why, he's richer here, your honor, and none of
than the judge himself. it false.

2nd Woman: And now he's 160 Judge: Please put it back in the

going to get poor Pablo's savings. purse.

3rd Woman: It's not fair! (Manuel does so.) Now return it

130 Judge (rapping with his gavel): to Pablo.

Silence in the court! Manuel (in disbelief): Return it!

(Pablo returns sadly with a purse

165 But — but you just told Pablo to
pay it to me.
and puts on the table before
it
Judge: No, I did not tell him to
the judge. Manuel, elated, rubs
pay it to you. I told him to put it
135 his hands together greedily.)
on this table. Then I instructed
Manuel {to the judge): I knew 170 you to count the money, which
Your Honor would do the right you did. In doing so, you enjoyed
thing by me. Thank you, Judge. Pablo's money — the way he has
(He picks up the purse and starts enjoyed your cakes and pies. In
140 to put it into his cash box.) other words, he has smelled your
Judge (rising): Not
so fast, 175 pastry and you have touched his
Manuel! Empty that purse on the gold. Therefore, I hereby declare
table and count the gold pieces, that the case is now settled. (He
one by one. raps twice with his gavel. Manuel
145 Manuel (grinning craftily): Ah, shamefacedly shoves the purse
yes, Your Honor. I must make 180 across the table to Pablo and
sure I haven't been cheated. How turns to leave. The judge stops
kind of you to remind me! him.) Just a moment, Manuel! I
hope been a lesson to
this has
(He empties the purse and begins
you. In the future, think less
150 to count, excitedly. The judge
185 about making money and more
watches Manuel as he lovingly
about making friends. Good
fingers each coin.)
friends and neighbors are better
than gold. And now, if you
please —my fee!

69
 )

English Language Arts Session 3

190 Manuel: Yes, Your Honor. {He (Manuel nods his head vigorously
opens his cash box willingly, but 200 in assent. The villagers and
the judge closes the lid. children cheer; then they rush to
Judge: Put away your money. the pastry counter and help
There's been enough fuss over themselves. Manuel goes into the
195 money already today. The fee bakery and reappears with more
I am asking is this pies and — 205 pastry piled high on a tray. Pablo
cakes for everyone here free — and the judge hold a whole pie
of charge! between them and start to eat
from opposite edges toward the
center of the pie. Fade out.)

Copyright © 1970 PLAYS Magazine, used with permission. Illustrations: from SCOPE ENGLISH ANTHOLOGY, Level 6. Copyright
© 1984 by Scholastic Inc. Reprinted by permission of Scholastic Inc.

Which of the following shows that Why is Manuel angry with Pablo
"The Baker's Neighbor" is a play? in the play?

A. It tells a true story. A. Pablo takes ten gold pieces

from Manuel.
B. It has talking animals.
B. Pablo steals some pastry from
C. It has stage directions.
Manuel's bakery.
D. It gives facts and information.
C. Pablo eats too many of Manuel's
pies and cakes.

D. Pablo refuses to pay for something

Manuel has worked hard to make.

70
English Language Arts Session 3

In the play, why does the judge have Read the sentence in the box below.
Manuel count the gold pieces?

A. to make sure Pablo gets punished First he must have a fair trial.

B. so that Manuel is sure they are all there

In the sentence, what part of speech is

C. so that Manuel can enjoy touching the the word fairl

money
A. adjective
D. to make sure that Pablo has counted
B. adverb
correctly
C. noun

D. verb
How does Manuel pay the judge's fee at
the end of the play?

A. by giving him ten gold pieces

B. by giving him free pastry for a year

C. by letting him smell his

pies and cakes

D. by giving free pies and cakes to

everyone

71
 Grade 4 English Language Arts
Language and Literature
Spring 2005 Released Items:
Reporting Categories, Standards, and Correct Answers

Item No. Page No. Reporting Category Standard Correct Answer (MC)*

1 46 Reading and Literature / Understanding a Text 8 D

2 46 Reading and Literature / Understanding a Text 8 C
3 47 Reading and Literature / Understanding a Text 8 C
4 47 Reading and Literature / Understanding a Text 8 D
5 47 Reading and Literature / Understanding a Text 8 A
6 47 Reading and Literature / Understanding a Text 8 D
7 48 Reading and Literature / Understanding a Text 8 B
8 48 Language / Vocabulary- and Concept Development 4 B
9 48 Reading and Literature / Understanding a Text 8

10 50 Reading and Literature / Poetry- 14 D

11 50 Reading and Literature / Understanding a Text 8 B
12 50 Reading and Literature / Understanding a Text 8 B
13 50 Reading and Literature / Poetry- 14 B
14 53 Reading and Literature / Understanding a Text 8 D
15 53 Reading and Literature / Style and Language 15 A
Reading and Literature / Myth, Traditional Narrative, and
Id 53 16 L
Classical Literature

17 53 Reading and Literature Understanding a Text 8 B

18 54 Reading and Literature / Theme 11

19 58 Reading and Literature / Sty le and Language 15 A

20 58 Reading and Literature / Fiction 12 C
21 58 Reading and Literature / Fiction 12 A
22 58 Reading and Literature / Fiction 12 C
23 59 Reading and Literature '
Fiction 12 B
24 59 Reading and Literature / Fiction 12 D
25 59 Language / Structure and Origins of Modern English 5 C
26 59 Language / Vocabulary- and Concept Development 4 D
27 60 Reading and Literature / Understanding a Text 8

28 63 Reading and Literature / Sonfiction 13 C

29 63 Reading and Literature / Nonfiction 13 A
30 64 Reading and Literature / Understanding a Text 8 C
31 64 Reading and Literature / Nonfiction 13 A
32 64 Reading and Literature / Understanding a Text 8 A
33 64 Reading and Literature / Genre 10 A
34 64 Language / Vocabulary- and Concept Development 4 D
35 65 Reading and Literature / Nonfiction 13

36 70 Reading and Literature / Genre 10 C

37 70 Reading and Literature / Understanding a Text 8 D
38 71 Reading and Literature / Dramatic Literature 17 C
39 71 Reading and Literature /Dramatic Literature 17 D
40 71 Language / Structure and Origins of Modern English 5 A

* Answers are provided here for multiple-choice items only. Sample responses and scoring guidelines for open-response items,
which are indicated by shaded cells, will be posted to the Department's Web site later this year.

72
IV. English Language Arts, Grade 7

A. Composition
B. Language and Literature
 Grade 7 English Language Arts Test
Test Structure

The Grade 7 MCAS English Language Arts Test was presented in the following two parts:

I the ELA Composition Test, which used a writing prompt to assess learning

standards from the Massachusetts English Language Arts Curriculum Framework's

Composition strand

I the ELA Language and Literature Test, which used multiple-choice and open-
response questions (items) to assess learning standards from the Curriculum
Framework's Language and Reading and Literature strands

A. Composition

The spring 2005 Grade 7 MCAS English Language Arts Composition Test and Make-Up
Test were based on learning standards in the Composition strand of the Massachusetts

English Language Arts Curriculum Framework (2001). The learning standards for the

Composition strand appear on pages 72-83 of the Framework, which is available on the
Department Web site at www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/ela/0601.pdf.

In Test Item Analysis Reports and on the Subject Area Subscore pages of the MCAS
School Reports and District Reports, ELA Composition test results are reported under the
Composition reporting category.

Test Sessions and Content Overview

The MCAS ELA Composition Test included two separate test sessions, administered on
the same day with a short break between sessions. During the first session, each student

wrote an initial draft of a composition in response to the appropriate writing prompt on

the next page. During the second session, each student revised his/her draft and submitted
a final composition, which was scored in the areas of Topic Development and Standard
English Conventions. The MCAS Writing Score Guide (Composition Grade 7) is available

at www.doe.mass.eduyMCAS/student/2004/scoring7.doc.

Reference Materials and Tools

At least one English-language dictionary per classroom was provided for student use
during ELA Composition test sessions. The use of bilingual word-to-word dictionaries
was allowed for limited English proficient students only. No other reference materials or

tools were allowed during either ELA Composition test session.

Cross-Reference Information

Framework general standards 19-22 are assessed by the ELA Composition.

74
 English Language Arts Composition, Grade 7

Grade 7 Writing Prompt

WRITING PROMPT

Seventh grade is an important year. Learning new things and having new
experiences may have changed you.

Your English teacher would like you to write about how you have changed since
the beginning of the year. In a well-developed composition, describe two ways in
which you have changed and explain what effect they have had on your life.

Grade 7 IVIal(e-Up Writing Prompt

WRITING PROMPT

Many people like to have a place where they can go to relax or unwind. It could be
indoors or outdoors. Some people prefer quiet surroundings, while others like a busier
atmosphere.

Think about a place you like to go to relax or unwind. In a well-developed

composition, describe the place and explain why it is relaxing.

75
 B. Language and Literature

The spring 2005 Grade 7 MCAS English Language Arts Language and Literature Test

was based on learning standards in the two content strands of the Massachusetts English

Language Arts Curriculum Framework (2001) listed below. Page numbers for the

learning standards appear in parentheses.

I Language (Framework, pages 19-26)

I Reading and Literature (Framework, pages 35-64)

The English Language Arts Curriculum Framework is available on the Department

Web site at www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/ela/0601.pdf.

In Test Item Analysis Reports and on the Subject Area Subscore pages of the MCAS
School Reports and District Reports, ELA Language and Literature test results are

reported under two MCAS reporting categories: Language and Reading and Literature,

which are identical to the two Framework content strands listed above.

Test Sessions and Content Overview

The MCAS Grade 7 ELA Language and Literature Test included three separate test

sessions. Each session included selected readings, followed by muhiple-choice and open-
response questions. Common reading passages and test items are shown on the following

pages as they appeared in test booklets. Due to copyright restrictions, certain reading

passages cannot be released to the public on the Web site. All of these passages appear in

the printed version of this document.

Reference iVIaterials and Toois

The use of bilingual word-to-word dictionaries was allowed for limited English proficient

students only, during all ELA Language and Literature test sessions. No other
three

reference materials were allowed during any ELA Language and Literature test session.

Cross-Reference Information

The table at the conclusion of this chapter indicates each item's reporting category and the
Framework general standard it assesses. The correct answers for multiple-choice questions

are also displayed in the table.

76
 English Language Arts
Language and Literature: Session 1

DIRECTIONS
This session contains three reading selections with sixteen multiple-choice questions and
two open-response questions. Mark your answers to these questions in the spaces provided in
your Student Answer Booklet.

Which animals are the smartest? Are horses smarter than dogs, and are dogs smarter than cats? Are
monkeys smarter than all three? Scientists have long wondered how to measure an animal's intelligence.
Read the article to see why determining animal intelligence is so difficult. Use information from the article
to answer the questions that follow.

Are Dogs Dumb?

by Karen Hopkin

1 Chimps can use sign language to talk to their trainers. Monkeys can learn
to count. A crow can figure out how to use a stick to get at that hard-to-reach
grub. Chickens can learn to play checkers. Even worms can be taught to run
mazes. So which animal is the smartest? You're probably thinking that chimps
are smarter than chickens. And that crows are smarter than worms. And that
you're smarter than all of them.
2 But where do those rankings come from? Okay, you probably are smarter
than the average worm. But why do we assume that bigger beasts are smarter
than smaller ones? Or that furry critters are brainier than slithering wrigglers
that are coated in slime?
3 And how come we think dogs are so smart? Sure, a dog might be clever
enough to fetch his leash when he wantsgo out. But the same mutt might
to
also bark at the vacuum cleaner and spend a whole hour chasing his own tail.
Is Rover really any brighter than a hamster, a chicken, or that kid who's

always eating Play-Doh? How can you measure an animal's brain power?
4 The hardest part is coming up with the right test. A dog can't sit down
with a No. 2 pencil and take a multiple choice exam. So the test has to be
something the dog can learn to do: select a block by nudging it with a nose or
a paw, for example. The test also has to be something the dog wants to do: a
—
dog might stare at that block all day without budging until she figures out
that there's a treat hidden underneath.
5 Norton Milgram and his co-workers at the University of Toronto at
Scarborough use treats to give dogs a Canine IQ test. The dog is presented
with a tray with a blue block on it; underneath the block is a treat. The animal
moves the block and gets the treat. So far, so good. Now the test gets tricky.
The dog is presented with the same tray, but this time it has both a blue block
and a yellow coffee can lid (or white bowl or black square of cloth) on it; the

77
English Language Arts Session 1

treat is now under the yellow lid (or white bowl, etc.). The test: how long does
it take for the dog to learn that the treat is always under the new item on the
tray? The smarter the dog, the quicker she'll find the treat.
6 That seems simple enough, but things become more complicated when
you try to compare different kinds of animals. Monkeys wipe the floor with
dogs on this test. Dogs may have to try hundreds of times before they select
the yellow lid nine out of ten times. Monkeys learn much more quickly to
find the hidden treat. Does that mean monkeys are smarter than dogs?
7 Not necessarily. The test was originally designed for monkeys, and it
gives them an unfair advantage: by nature monkeys are curious and like
to check out new things. Dogs, on the other hand, tend to be wary about
approaching new things. As Stephen Budiansky reports in his book The
Truth about Dogs, one pooch was so scared of the yellow lid that he had
to be excused from the study.
8 If the test is made more dog-friendly, on the other hand, canines do just

fine. Instead of introducing a yellow lid, the treat is put under another blue
block on the opposite side of the tray. Dogs learn as quickly as any monkey
that the treat is always on the side opposite the first block they saw.
9 Even if you could find a test that was perfectly fair to all animals, in a
way it's silly to ask whether one kind of animal is smarter than another. All
animals have the ability to learn things that are important to them. Otherwise
they wouldn't survive. A chicken doesn't need to be a chess champion to
figure out where to get food or how to run from a predator. So a chicken is
as smart as it needs to be to earn a living as a chicken.
10 If you still believe that dogs are much smarter than chickens, it's probably
because dogs are good at learning the things we want them to learn: fetching
the newspaper, for example. Try to convince a chicken to do that! The truth is,

most dog tricks take advantage of dogs' built-in behavior patterns things that —
dogs are bom knowing how to do or learn easily. Chasing and retrieving are
leftover hunting behaviors. For a dog, fetching the paper or a tennis ball is not a
reflection of intelligence. It's basically a demonstration that dogs will be dogs.
11 Canines may not be the deepest thinkers in the world. But perhaps that's
for the best. The life of a dog — sitting alone all day, waiting for everyone
to come home —can be pretty boring. Super-smart animals would probably
get totally stressed out, says Serpell. Look at it this way: if dogs were any
smarter, they probably wouldn't choose to hang around with us.

Reprinted by permission of MUSE magazine, November/December 2002, Vol. 6, No. 9, © 2002 by Karen Hopkin.

78
English Language Arts Session 1

What is the main idea of this article? According to paragraph 7, how are
monkeys and dogs different?
A. Scientists have proven that monkeys
are smarter than dogs because A. Monkeys learn quickly, but dogs
monkeys can count. learn slowly.

B. A University of Toronto research B. Monkeys are willing to take tests, but

group discovered how to accurately dogs dislike taking them.
measure animal intelligence.
C. Monkeys investigate new things, but
C. Dogs are smarter than other dogs shy away from them.
animals because dogs think more
D. Monkeys do not like working with
like humans.
humans, but dogs do.
D. Animals have different levels of
intelligence that can be measured
only with the right tests.
Which of the following most nearly means
the same as the phrase "to earn a living as
a chicken" in paragraph 9?
According to paragraph 4, what is
A. to purchase
a requirement for a test of animal
intelligence? B. to survive

A. The test must be given while the C. to perform

animal is in obedience training.
D. to learn
B. The test must include a
block-like object.

C. The test must compare two

different animals.

D. The test must be something that

can be taught to an animal.

79
English Language Arts Session 1

According to the article, what makes What does the phrase "Monkeys wipe the
humans think that dogs are smart? floor with dogs . .
." inparagraph 6 mean?

A. Dogs do things that humans want A. Monkeys have learned to clean floors.
them to do.
B. Monkeys are neater than dogs.
B. Dogs perform well on tests designed
C. Monkeys perform better than dogs.
for humans.
D. Monkeys like to compete with dogs.
C. Dogs are able to communicate
with humans.

D. Dogs wait patiently for humans to

come home.

^ According to the article,

following statements is
which of the
true?

A. Bigger animals are smarter than

smaller animals.

B. Animals cannot learn to do anything

they are not bom knowing how to do.

C. The smartest animals make the

best pets.

D. Most animals are as smart as they

need to be.

80
English Language Arts Session 1

Write your answer to open-response question 8 in the space provided in your Student Answer
Booklet.

Describe some problems that scientists face when designing intelHgence tests for animals.
Use relevant and specific information from the article to support your answer.

81
English Language Arts Session 1

For centuries, different civilizations have created stories about the origin of the Earth. Read the following
myth from the tradition of Australian Aborigines to find out how they believe the Earth was created. Use
information from the myth to answer the questions that follow.

Baiame,
the Great Spirit
1 "Thousands and thousands of years ago in Australia there was a time known as
I Dreamtime. This was when the spirits livedon Earth with the people and
animals, and the landscape took its shape. The emu-men, bowerbird-women,
kangaroo-men, and fig-men roamed far and wide, and their actions formed the
hills and the water holes, the trees and the caves.

2 The Earth itself, say the Aborigines, was created by the great spirit, Baiame. He
made the land and the sky, the sun, the moon, and the stars. At first the Earth
was flat and the sky came down so close to the land that there was no room in
between for birds to fly or for people and animals to grow. Everything that lived
—
on the Earth was the size of an ant even Baiame. Another strange thing was
that there were no lakes or rivers. There was just one single water hole, and even
Baiame had forgotten exactly where it was, it was so well hidden.
3 One day, quite by chance, Baiame found the water hole. He bathed in its cool
water and took a long, welcome drink. Now, the water hole was filled with
magic water, and as Baiame drank, he became filled with magic, too. Then he
set about putting the world to rights. He lifted his arms and, with all his strength,

—
pushed the sky upward until it formed an arch above the land just as it does
today. There was plenty of room now for the birds to fly and for people and
animals to grow tall. Baiame himself grew bigger and bigger, leaving it to the
ants to be ant-sized, as they alone should be.
4 Now that the sky was in its proper place, clouds could form in it and rain
could fall from it to make rivers and lakes. The dry, brown earth bloomed with
grass, flowers, and trees. People were full of praise for the great thing Baiame
had done. Then Baiame made himself a camp high up in the sky, called Bullima.
From his camp, he could look down at all the things he had made, and he was
quite content with what he saw.
5 Down on Earth, however, all was not well. The flowers were not happy
because they wanted to be with Baiame. So one night, under cover of darkness,
they crept up to Bullima and made it the most beautiful, most colorful place in
the world. Imagine the consternation when people woke up the next morning to
find that all the flowers had gone. They searched for them high and low, but the
flowers were nowhere to be found. It was the saddest day there had ever been.
And it wasn't just the people who missed the flowers. The bees couldn't find any
flower pollen, so they couldn't make any honey. The butterflies couldn't find any
flower nectar, so they had nothing to eat.

82
English Language Arts Session 1

6 Then the old men of the tribes called a meeting to decide what to do.
7 "We have no choice," they said. "We must go to Bullima and ask the great
spirit for his help." Nobody had a better idea, so the next day, the old men set off

on the long journey to find Baiame. To reach his camp in the sky, they had to
climb the highest mountain in all of Australia. It was steep and jagged, and many
a time they nearly gave up. They climbed for five days and nights until at last
they saw Baiame's beautiful camp, decked in flowers. Baiame was surprised to
see the old men, but he invited them in and listened to their tale. There was just
one problem. He wanted to help them, but, at the same time, he couldn't bear
the thought of the flowers leaving. So he considered the problem for a long time,
and finally he hit upon an answer.
8 "Pick as many flowers as you can carry," he told the old men, "and take them
back to Earth. Scatter them on the ground and leave them to take root. They will
die in the hot, dry summer —
but every spring they will grow again."
9 The old men thanked Baiame and began to gather up bundles of flowers. Then
they started the long journey home. To their astonishment, the flowers stayed as
fresh as if they had just been picked. When they reached their camps, they
scattered the flowers on the ground as Baiame had instructed them to do, and
watched them take root and grow. Everyone was full of great joy. Children wove
flower garlands; women threaded flowers into their hair. The bees buzzed about
making honey, and the butterflies lapped up the sweet, syrupy nectar.
10 When the summer came, Baiame's words came true. The flowers wilted and
died. But, also true to his word, in spring the flowers bloomed again. Now
—
everyone was happy Baiame in his sky camp and the people and animals
on Earth.

"Baiame, the Great Spirit" from OUT OF THE ARK: STORIES FROM THE WORLD'S RELIGIONS, copyright
© 1996 by Anita Ganeri, reprinted by permission of Harcourt, Inc.

83
English Language Arts Session 1

Which of these quotes from the myth helps In the myth, what surprises the men
the reader identify the story as a myth? on their return from seeing Baiame?

A. "This was when the spirits lived on A. The village is deserted by the people.
Earth with the people and animals,
B. The people have changed their
and the landscape took its shape."
minds about the flowers.
B. "The dry, brown earth bloomed
C. The flowers they picked have
with grass, flowers, and trees."
not wilted.
C. "The bees couldn't find any
D. The journey takes longer than
flower pollen, so they couldn't
they expected.
make any honey."

D. "It was steep and jagged, and many

a time they nearly gave up." What is the meaning of the word
consternation as it is used in
paragraph 5?
^pl According to the myth, why were animals
A. confusion
and humans very small long ago?
B. happiness
A. They were frequently sick.
C. boredom
B. They had no room to grow.
D. peacefulness
C. They had to be smaller than Baiame.

D. They were cursed by a magic spell.

According to the myth, the people see

Baiame as

A. a conquering hero.

B. a fellow human.

C. a powerful being.

D. a selfish ruler.

84
 ——
English Language Arts Session 1

Sometimes pets and their owners have different views about the same things. Read the exchange between
an owner and her cat in the poem "On A Night of Snow." Answer the questions that follow.

On a Night of Snow

Cat, if you go outdoors you must walk in the snow.

You willcome back with little white shoes on your feet,
little white slippers of snow that have heels of sleet.
Stay by the fire, my cat. Lie do not go.
still,

5 See how the flames are leaping and hissing low;

I you a saucer of milk like a marguerite,^
will bring

so white and so smooth, so spherical and so sweet

stay with me, Cat. Outdoors the wild winds blow.

Outdoors the wild winds blow, Mistress, and dark is the

10 night,
strange voices cry in the trees, intoning^ strange lore;
and more than cats move, lit by our eyes' green light,
on silent feet where the meadow grasses hang hoar^
Mistress, there are portents^ abroad of magic and might
15 and things that are yet to be done. Open the door!

ELIZABETH COATSWORTH

'
marguerite — daisy
^ intoning — singing
^ hoar — covered with frost
^ portents — of
signs things to come

Paterson Marsh Ltd on behalf of the Estate of Elizabeth Coatsworth.

85
English Language Arts Session 1

What mood is conveyed by the phrase, What is the effect of line 5 in the poem?
"wild winds blow" in stanza 1?
A. The fire seems to be alive.
A. hope
B. The fire has gone out.
B. danger
C. The fire looks out of control.
C. comfort
D. The fire is unimportant.
D. adventure

Which of the following best explains why

Which of the following best describes the an exclamation mark is used at the end of
character of Mistress in the poem? the last sentence of the poem?
A. protective A. to emphasize that Mistress insists that
Cat stay inside
B. carefree
B. to emphasize that Mistress does not
C. forceful
care about Cat's needs
D. understanding
C. toemphasize that Cat does not want to
be around Mistress

D. to emphasize that Cat really wants

Mistress to let him outside

86
English Language Arts Session 1

Write your answer to open-response question 18 in the space provided in your Student Answer
Booklet.

Explain the two contrasting points of view presented by Mistress and Cat in the poem. Use relevant
and specific information from the poem to support your answer.

87
 English Language Arts
Language and Literature: Session 2
DIRECTIONS
This session contains one reading selection with seven multiple-choice questions and one
open-response question. Mark your answers to these questions in the spaces provided in
your Student Answer Booklet.

A teenage girl from the island of Antigua is being sent to live with relatives in England where she will
attend nursing school. As she walks with her parents along the jetty where a boat awaits her, she
remembers the walks to the jetty she used to take with her father in years past. This young girl has mixed
feelings about leaving. Read this excerpt from the novel Annie John to see what happens. Answer the
questions that follow.

^ by Jamaica Kincaid

1 My heart now beat fast, and no matter how hard I tried, I

couldn't keep my mouth from falling open and my nostrils

from spreading to the ends of my face. My old fear of slipping
between the boards of the jetty and falling into the dark-green
water where the dark-green eels lived came over me. When my
father's stomach started to go bad, the doctor had recom-
mended a walk every evening right after he ate his dinner.
Sometimes he would take me with him. When he took me with
him, we usually went to the jetty, and there he would sit and
talk to the night watchman about cricket' or some other thing
that didn't interest me, because it was not personal; they didn't
talk about their wives, or their children, or their parents, or
about any of their likes and dislikes. They talked about things
in such a strange way, and I didn't see what they found funny,
but sometimes they made each other laugh so much that their
guffaws^ would bound out to sea and send back an echo. I was
always sorry when we got to the jetty and saw that the night
watchman on duty was the one he enjoyed speaking to; it was
like being locked up in a book filled with numbers and dia-
grams and what-ifs. For the thing about not being able to
understand and enjoy what they were saying was I had noth-
ing to take my mind off my fear of slipping in between the
boards of the jetty.
2 Now, too, had nothing to take my mind off what was
I

happening to me. My mother and my father I was leaving —

them forever. —
My home on an island I was leaving it forever.

^cricket — an outdoor game played with bats, a ball, and wickets by two teams of eleven each
^guffaw — hearty
a burstof laughter

88
 —
English Language Arts Session 2

What to make of everything? I felt a familiar hollow space

inside. I felt I was being held down against my will. I felt I was

burning up from head to toe. I felt that someone was tearing

me up into little pieces and soon I would be able to see all the
little pieces as they floated out into nothing in the deep blue
sea. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I could see that it

would be better not to think too clearly about any one thing.
The launch was being made ready to take me, along with some
other passengers, out to the ship that was anchored in the sea.
My and we joined a line of people waiting
father paid our fares,
to board. My
mother checked my bag to make sure that I had
my passport, the money she had given me, and a sheet of paper
placed between some pages in my Bible on which were written
the names of the relatives —
people I had not known existed
with whom I would live in England. Across from the jetty was a
wharf, and some stevedores'* were loading and unloading
barges. I don't know why seeing that struck me so, but sudden-
ly a wave of strong feeling came over me, and my heart swelled
with a great gladness as the words "I shall never see this again"
me. But then, just as quickly, my heart shriv-
spilled out inside
eled up and the words "I shall never see this again" stabbed at
me. I don't know what stopped me from falling in a heap at my
parents' feet.
3 When we were all on board, the launch headed out to sea.
Away from the jetty, the water became the customary blue, and
the launch left a wide path in it that looked like a road. I passed
by sounds and smells were so familiar that I had long ago
that
stopped paying any attention to them. But now here they were,
and the ever-present "I shall never see this again" bobbed up
and down inside me. There was the sound of the seagull diving
down into the water and coming up with something silverish in
its mouth. There was the smell of the sea and the sight of small

pieces of rubbish floating around in it. There were boats filled

with fishermen coming in early. There was the sound of their
voices as they shouted greetings to each other. There was the
hot sun, there was the blue sea, there was the blue sky. Not
very far away, there was the white sand of the shore, with the
run-down houses all crowded in next to each other, for in some
places only poor people lived near the shore. I was seated in
the launch between my parents, and when I realized that I was
gripping their hands tightly I glanced quickly to see if they were
looking at me with scorn, for I felt sure that they must have

^stevedore — one who loads or unloads ships or barges

89
English Language Arts Session 2

known of my never-see-this-again feelings. But instead my

father kissed me on the forehead and my mother kissed me on
the mouth, and they both gave over their hands to me, so that I
could grip them as much as I wanted. I was on the verge of
feeling that it had all been a mistake, but I remembered that I

wasn't a child anymore, and that now when I made up my mind

about something I had to see it through. At that moment, we

came to the ship, and that was that.

Excerpt from "A Walk to the Jetty" from ANNIE JOHN by Jamaica Kincaid. Copyright © 1985 by Jamaica Kincaid. Reprinted by
permission of Farrar, Straus and Giroux, LLC.

Which sentence best expresses the main Read the sentence from paragraph 2 in the
idea of this excerpt? box below.

A. Long journeys require advanced

planning. I felt a familiar hollow space inside.

B. Success is the result of hard work.

C. Growing up involves overcoming Which word best describes the

one's fears. speaker's emotion?

D. One person's loss is another's gain. A. joy

B. guilt

C. appreciation
In paragraph 1 , what had originally
brought the speaker to the jetty? D. fear

A. The speaker was a young girl who

liked cricket.

B. The speaker's family was going

on a voyage.

C. The speaker's father had an illness.

D. The speaker was a fisherman's daughter.

90
English Language Arts Session 2

Read the sentence from paragraph 3 in the Read the phrasefrom the beginning of paragraph 3
box below. in the box below.

There was the hot sun, there was Away from the jetty, the water
the blue sea, there was the blue sky. became the customary blue . .

What is the effect of the repetition of the What does the word customary tell the
phrase "There was"? reader about the water?

A. Itconveys the speaker's eagerness to A. The water looks as it does before

go to England. a storm.

B. It captures how boring the speaker's B. The water looks as it usually does
life has become. away from the shoreline.
C. It shows that these things are unusual C. The water looks as it does during
to the speaker. high tide.

D. Itemphasizes the power of the D. The water looks as it does

speaker's connection to her home. during sunset.

Why does the speaker finally decide Read the excerpt from paragraph 3 in the
that leaving Antigua to live in box below.
England is not a mistake?

A. She dislikes living near the jetty ... I felt sure that they
and the overcrowded housing. must have known of my
never-see-this-again feelings.
B. She feels she has to grow up and
must stick to her decisions.

C. She dislikes the smell of the sea The phrase "never-see-this-again" is used
and the sight of floating rubbish. as which part of speech in this excerpt?

D. She is angry with her parents A. a noun

for making her leave home. B. a verb

C. an adjective

D. an adverb

91
English Language Arts Session 2

Write your answer to open-response question 26 in the space provided in your Student Answer
Booklet.

W^B Identify and explain the mixed feelings the speaker has about leaving her home.
Use relevant and specific information from the excerpt to support your answer.

92
 English Language Arts
Language and Literature: Session 3
DIRECTIONS
This session contains two reading selections with thirteen multiple-choice questions and one
open-response question. Mark your answers to these questions in the spaces provided in your
Student Answer Booklet.

What happens when exotic species of life are transported to a place where they have no natural predators?
These biological invaders can cause problems around the world. Read the excerpt from the article,
"Stopping the Alien Invaders," to find outhow the government in Hawaii takes steps to prevent alien
invaders from destroying native plants and animals. Use information from the excerpt to answer the
questions that follow.

Stopping the
Alien Invaders
by Sneed B. Collard III

1 What are these organisms? They can 3 Since the turn of the century, 79
be plants, animals, fungi, viruses, biological invaders alone have cost the
bacteria, or any other life form you can U.S. economy 97 biUion Every
dollars.
think of. The one thing they all have in state has been affected, but some have
common is that they are living in places been hit especially hard. These include
where they don't belong. California, Florida, and —
more than
2 A 1993 study by the U.S. Congress —
anywhere else Hawaii.
Office of Technology Assessment 4 Hawaii is an important trading
reported that at least 4,500 exotic center and home to over a dozen
species have established themselves in military bases. About six million tourists
the United States. Over 600 of these visit the Hawaiian islands every year.
cause serious problems. Exotic diseases With all that traffic in and out, exotic
such asAIDS and Lyme disease species have plenty of opportunities to
endanger human health. Exotic insects reach the islands. Some invaders, such
such as fire ants damage farm as pets and garden plants, are brought in
equipment, sting people, and kill native on purpose. Others, like the brown tree
animals. Exotic weeds of many kinds snake, sneak in with food, military
take over farmland. Some, such as the equipment, furniture, and even the
paperbark tree from Australia, threaten U.S. mail.
to take over Everglades National Park
and other natural areas.

93
English Language Arts Session 3

5 According to biologists who work in vegetables, or other goods that might be

Hawaii, exotic species are the number carrying harmful pests or diseases.
one threat to the state's economy, Specially trained dogs also sniff cargo
environment, and way of hfe. Exotic for exotic species, such as the brown
agricultural pests damage crops and tree snake.
prevent farmers from selling millions of 10 What if an exotic species slips by
dollars' worth of fruits and vegetables to inspectors? Then efforts are made to
the mainland. Exotic goats, pigs, and control the invader. In Hawaii,
other mammals rip up Hawaii's rain government agencies control invaders
forests. Exotic parasites* such as by setting livetraps around wildlife
mosquitoes spread deadly diseases to refuges and other places. The traps catch
native birds. exotic cats, rats, and mongooses that eat
6 The question Hawaii and other
in native birds and their eggs. At Haleakala
places is, can the invaders be stopped? National Park employees have built
7 many exotic
Despite our best efforts, miles of fences to keep out exotic pigs
species will continue to reach new and goats. For years these animals ate
places around the world. Some will be and trampled native rain forest plants,
imported intentionally. Others will be but the fences have helped reverse this
brought in by accident. However, there damage. Now native plants grow in
is a lot we can do to slow the rate of places that were bare rock only a short
biological invasions. time ago.
8 Quarantines are one way to do this. 1 1 In some cases biological control
Quarantine is the process of isolating helps to solve the exotic species
animals or products. In Hawaii, pet dogs problem. Biological control or
and cats coming into the state remain in "biocontrol" is the science of controlling
a special holding facility for four one invader with another. In the early
months to make sure they don't have 1900s, several exotic predators were
rabies. Many agricultural products are imported to Hawaii to eat a harmful
also quarantined to see if they are exotic pest called the sugarcane
carrying insect pests or plant diseases. leafhopper. The insect was destroying
9 Inspection is a second way to stop 70,000 tons of sugar a year, but the
biological invaders. At airports, borders, predators brought it under control. More
and shipping ports, inspectors examine recently, a parasite from Bolivia has
passengers and their baggage to see if been used to kill another sugarcane pest,
they are carrying exotic species. The the lesser cornstalk borer.
inspectors confiscate and destroy fruits.

'parasite — an organism that feeds on a living host but does not contribute to the host

94
English Language Arts Session 3

12 Biological control efforts have

sometimes backfired. The mongoose
was originally brought to Hawaii to eat
rats. Instead, it wound up dining on

endangered honeycreepers and other

native birds. Because of the mongoose
and other biocontrol disasters, scientists
all over the world now carefully test

biocontrol agents before releasing them

into the wild.
13 The efforts of these scientists and
other people are vitally important. In
Hawaii alone, 10,000 different species
of native plants and animals still need to
be protected. Many of these are found
nowhere else on earth. By stopping the
spread of the brown tree snake and other
biological invaders, we not only protect
ourselves, but we also protect the many
other native species that make our planet
such a special place to live.

Reprinted by permission of CRICKET magazine, 1997, January, copyright © 1997 by Sneed B. Collard.

95
English Language Arts Session 3

^0 What is this excerpt mainly about? Based on the excerpt, which of the
following best explains why Hawaii is at
A. the hazards of the brown tree snake
a great risk of invasion by exotic species?
B. the dangers of non-native species
A. Over 4500 exotic species exist in the
C. problems faced by the United States.
Hawaiian economy
B. Hawaii is made up of several islands.
D. the importance of biologists
C. Millions of people go to Hawaii
each year.

How do paragraphs 2 and 3 contribute to D. Biological control efforts have

the development of the excerpt? not worked.

A. They pose questions to be answered

later in the article.
How are paragraphs 6 and 7 organized to
B. They provide background for the main help the reader understand the information
idea of the article. presented in the excerpt?

C. They preview the major points of A. They ask a question and provide
the article. an answer.

D. They give definitions of terms that will B. They show a cause and a resulting
be used in the article. effect.

C. They list comparisons and contrasts.

D. They give descriptions and furnish

explanations.

96
 "

English Language Arts Session 3

Which of the following provides the best Based on the excerpt, if scientists in
evidence that future attempts to use Hawaii cannot control biological invaders,
biological controls will need to be more what will be the most likely result?
carefully planned?
A. Hawaii's farmers will lose millions of
A. The brown tree snake sneaked into dollars in livestock trade.
Hawaii aboard air cargo.
B. Quarantine times for incoming pets
B. Pets coming to Hawaii from may be extended.
the mainland are quarantined for
C. Many of Hawaii's native species may
four months.
no longer exist.
C. Hawaii had to introduce a Bolivian
D. Exotic species will no longer spread to
parasite to save sugar crops.
other countries.
D. The mongoose ate more native
Hawaiian birds than it did rats.
At the end of paragraph 3, what is the
purpose of setting apart the phrase
What argument does the author make in
"
—more than anywhere else
—
the final paragraph? with dashes?

A. Hawaii has the most unknown species A. to compare Florida and California
of plants on earth.
B. to indicate that Hawaii is typical
B. Humans have a responsibility to
C. toemphasize that Hawaii is
control "alien" species.
most affected
C. The brown tree snake is the most
D. to illustrate the problems of
dangerous of all species.
three states
D. Species should be allowed to exist
without human interference.

97
English Language Arts Session 3

Write your answer to open-response question 35 in the space provided in your Student Answer
Booklet.

Based on information from the excerpt, choose two methods of dealing with the threat of "alien"
species. Explain why these methods are effective. Use relevant and specific information from the
excerpt to support your answer.

98
English Language Arts Session 3

This excerpt from a play based on Mark Twain's classic novel, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Tom
is

lives with his Aunt Polly and his cousin Sid. One morning, Tom attempts his mischief on his aunt and
cousin. Read the excerpt below. Use information from the excerpt to answer the questions that follow.

Tom Sawyer
by Sara Spencer

ACT ONE

Scene 1. Tom's bedroom. A double bed, a wash stand, a motto

on the wall.

{Tom and Sid are asleep, Tom snoring vociferously* Sid snoring
like a steam whistle.)

AUNT POLLY: (Offstagc.) Tom! Oh, Tom! Monday!

TOM: {Opens his eyes dazedly, yawns, then comes alert.)
Monday! {He sighs drearily, then begins to plan. Feels around
over his body for ailments, coughing experimentally, rejecting a
5 loose tooth, etc. Finally he unties the rag around his sore toe, and
falls to groaning.).Oh-h-h! {But Sid snores on.) Ohh-h-h-h!
Oooh-h-h! {No response from Sid. Tom reaches over and shakes
him.) Sid! Sid! Ohhhhh-h-h-h! Ooooh-h-h-h!

sid: {Waking up.) Tom! Say, Tom!

10 TOM: Ohhhhhh-h-h-h-h! Ooooooh-h-h-h!
sid: {Shaking him.) Here, Tom. Tom! What's the matter, Tom?
TOM: Oh, don't, Sid. Don't joggle me.
sid: Why, what's the matter, Tom? I must call Auntie.
TOM: No, never mind. It'll be over by and by, maybe. Don't
15 call any-body. Ohhhhhhhhh-h-h-h-h-h!

sid: But I must. Don't groan so, Tom. It's awful! How long
you been this way?
TOM: Hours. Ouch! Don't stir so, Sid. You'll kill me.
Ohhhhhh-h-h-h!
20 sid: Tom, why didn't you wake me sooner? Oh, Tom,
don't! It makes my flesh crawl to hear you.

^vociferously — loudly

99
 —

English Language Arts Session 3

TOM: I forgive you everything, Sid. Ohhh-h-h-h-h! Everything

you ever done to me.
SID: Oh, Tom, you ain't dying, are you? Don't, Tom. Oh,
25 don't! Maybe
TOM: I forgive everybody, Sid. Tell 'em so, Sid. And Sid, you
givemy brass knob and my cat with one eye to Joe Harper.
And tell him— Ohhh-h-h-h!
SID: {Making for the door.) Oh, Aunt Polly! Come quick!
30 Tom's dying!
AUNT POLLY: (Ojfstage.) Dying?
sid: Yes'm. Don't wait. Come quick!

AUNT POLLY: {SHU offstuge.) Rubbage! I don't believe it. {But

she rushes in, just the same, and finds Tom on the bed, writhing.)
35 You, Tom! Tom, what's the matter with you?
TOM: Oh, Auntie, I'm —Oh-h-h-h!
AUNT POLLY: What's the matter? What is the matter with
you, child?

TOM: Oh, Auntie —my sore toe's mortified!

40 AUNT POLLY: {Sinking on the bed with relief, and chuckling.)

Tom, what a turn you did give me! Now you shut up that
nonsense and climb out of this.
TOM: {Quite subdued.) Aunt Polly, it seemed mortified.
—
And and it hurt so, I never minded my tooth at all.
45 AUNT POLLY: Your tooth, indeed. What's the matter with
your tooth?
TOM: One of 'em's loose, and it aches perfectly awful.
Oh-h-h-h-h!

AUNT now, don't begin that groaning again.

POLLY: There,
50 Open your mouth. Well, your tooth is loose, but you're not
going to die about that. Sid, get me a hot iron off the
kitchen stove. {Sid gleefully rushes off, as Aunt Polly pulls a
spool of thread from her apron pocket, and attaches one end of it to
the bedpost. The other end she attached to Tom's tooth.)

55 TOM: {Shrinking away.) Oh, please. Auntie, don't pull it out.

It don't hurt anymore. I wish I may never stir if it does.

Please don't. Auntie. I don't want to stay home from school.

AUNT POLLY: Oh, you don't, don't you? So all this was

100
English Language Arts Session 3

because you thought you'd get to stay home from school

60 and go a-fishing. Oh, Tom, you'll be the death of me yet.
Here, Sid. {Sid has reentered with the iron, and gives it to her,
gloating at Tom's misery. Aunt Polly thrusts the iron close to
Tom's face. Tom jerks hack, and the tooth is dangling by the
bedpost.)

65 SID: Goody, that's what you get.

AUNT POLLY: Now you boys get your clothes on, and come
on here to breakfast. I have an errand for you, Tom, before
you go to school. {Aunt Polly goes out.)

Permission granted for limited use by Anchorage Press Plays, Inc. of Louisville Ky
USA for MCAS only.

What does Tom begin to "plan" in Why is Tom making so much noise
line 3 of the excerpt? at the opening of the excerpt?

A. to get Sid into trouble A. He has a toothache.

B. to get permission to go fishing B. He is unable to sleep.

C. to get rid of his loose tooth C. He is dressing in the dark.

D. to get out of going to school D. He wants to wake up Sid.

101
English Language Arts Session 3

5^ According to the play, why is Sid The word gloating as used in line 62
happy when Aunt Polly is about to shows that Sid is expressing
remove Tom's tooth?
A. anger.
A. Sid thinks he will also get a
B. surprise.
day off.
C. pleasure.
B. Sid thinks Tom has fooled Aunt Polly.
D. frustration.
C. Sid thinks Tom is getting what
he deserves.

D. Sid thinks Tom will get well.

What is the best characterization of

Tom in this excerpt?

A. He is a comical prankster.

B. He is a hardworking student.

C. He is an obedient nephew.

D. He is an absent-minded dreamer.

102
 Grade 7 English Language Arts
Language and Literature
Spring 2005 Released Items:
Reporting Categories, Standards, and Correct Answers

Correct Answer
Item No. Page No. Reporting Category Standard
(MC)*

1 79 Reading and Literature / Understanding a Text 8 D

2 79 Reading and Literature / Understanding a Text 8 D
3 79 Reading and Literature / Nonfiction 13 C
4 79 Reading and Literature / Nonfiction 13 B
5 80 Reading and Literature / Understanding a Text 8 A
6 80 Reading and Literature / Nonfiction 13 D
7 80 Language / Vocabulary and Concept Development 4 C
8 81 Reading and Literature / Understanding a Text 8

Reading and Literature / Myth, Traditional Narrative, and Classical

9 84 16 A
Literature

10 84 Reading and Literature / Understanding a Text 8 B

1
Reading and Literature / Myth, Traditional Narrative, and Classical
1
1 1
1
I D
f,

Literature

12 84 Reading and Literature / Understanding a Text 8 C

13 84 Language / Vocabulaiy and Concept Development 4 A
14 86 Reading and Literature / Style and Language 15 B
15 86 Reading and Literature / Poetry 14 A
16 86 Reading and Literature / Poetry 14 A
17 86 Language / Structure and Origins of Modern English 5 D
18 87 Reading and Literature / Poetry 14

19 90 Reading and Literature / Understanding a Text 8 C

20 90 Reading and Literature / Understanding a Text 8 c
21 90 Reading and Literature / Style and Language 15 D
22 91 Reading and Literature / Style and Language 15 D
23 91 Reading and Literature / Understanding a Text 8 B
24 91 Language / Vocabulary and Concept Development 4 B
25 91 Language / Structure and Origins of Modern English 5 C
26 92 Reading and Literature / Fiction 12

27 96 Reading and Literature / Understanding a Text 8 B

28 96 Reading and Literature / Nonfiction 13 B
29 96 Reading and Literature / Nonfiction 13 C
30 96 Reading and Literature / Nonfiction 13 A
31 97 Reading and Literature / Nonfiction 13 D
32 97 Reading and Literature / Nonfiction 13 B
33 97 Reading and Literature / Nonfiction 13 C
34 97 Language / Structure and Origins of Modern English 5 C
35 98 Reading and Literature / Nonfiction 13

36 101 Reading and Literature / Dramatic Literature 17 D

37 101 Reading and Literature / Dramatic Literature 17 D
38 102 Reading and Literature / Dramatic Literature 17 C
39 102 Reading and Literature / Dramatic Literature 17 A
40 102 Language / Vocabulary and Concept Development 4 C

* Answers are provided here for multiple-choice items only. Sample responses and scoring guidehnes for open-response items,
which are indicated by shaded cells, will be posted to the Department's Web site later this year.

103
V. English Language Arts^ Grade 10

A. Composition
B. Language and Literature
 .

Grade 1 0 English Language Arts Test

Test Structure

The Grade 10 MCAS English Language Arts Test was presented in the following two parts:

I the ELA Composition Test, which used a writing prompt to assess learning

standards from the Massachusetts English Language Arts Curriculum Framework's

Composition strand

I the ELA Language and Literature Test, which used multiple-choice and open-
response questions (items) to assess learning standards from the Curriculum
Framework s Language and Reading and Literature strands

A. Composition

The spring 2005 Grade 10 MCAS English Language Arts Composition Test and Make-Up
Test were based on learning standards in the Composition strand of the Massachusetts
English Language Arts Curriculum Framework (2001). The learning standards appear on
pages 72-83 of the Framework, which is available on the Department Web site at www.
doe.mass.edu/frameworks/ela/060 1 .pdf

In Test Item Analysis Reports and on the Subject Area Subscore pages of the MCAS
School Reports and District Reports, ELA Composition test results are reported under the
Composition reporting category.

Test Sessions and Content Overview

The MCAS ELA Composition Test included two separate test sessions, administered on
the same day with a short break between sessions. During the first session, each student

wrote an initial draft of a composition in response to the appropriate writing prompt on

the next page. During the second session, each student revised his/her draft and submitted
a final composition, which was scored in the areas of Topic Development and Standard

English Conventions. The MCAS Writing Score Guide (Composition Grade 10) is

available at www.doe.mass.edu/MCAS/student/2004/scoringlO.doc.

Reference Materials and Tools

At least one English-language dictionary per classroom was provided for student use
during ELA Composition test sessions. The use of bilingual word-to-word dictionaries

was allowed for limited English proficient students only. No other reference materials or
tools were allowed during either ELA Composition test session.

Cross-Reference Information

Framework general standards 19-22 are assessed by the ELA Composition.

106
 English Language Arts Composition, Grade 10

Grade 10 Writing Prompt

WRITING PROMPT

Often, works of literature include characters that change as a result of a particular

event.

From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a character that
has been changed by a particular event. In a well-developed composition, identify the
character, describe the event, and explain why the character's change is important to
the work of literature.

Grade 10 IVIal(e-Up Writing Prompt

WRITING PROMPT

Honor can have different meanings for different people. Literature is full of
characters that can be considered honorable.

From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a character that
is honorable. In a well-developed composition, identify the character, describe what
makes the character honorable, and explain why the character's honor is important to
the work of literature.

107
 B. Language and Literature

The spring 2005 Grade 10 MCAS English Language Arts Language and Literature Test

was based on learning standards in the two content strands of the Massachusetts English

Language Arts Curriculum Framework (2001) listed below. Page numbers for the learning

standards appear in parentheses.

I Language [Framework, pages 19-26)

I Reading and Literature [Framework, pages 35-64)

The English Language Arts Curriculum Framework is available on the Department Web
site at www.doe.mass.eduyframeworks/ela/0601.pdf.

In Test Item Analysis Reports and on the Subject Area Subscore pages of the MCAS
School Reports and District Reports, ELA Language and Literature test results are

reported under two MCAS reporting categories: Language and Reading and Literature,

which are identical to the two Framework content strands listed above.

Test Sessions and Content Overview

The MCAS grade 10 ELA Language and Literature Test included three separate test

sessions. Sessions 1 and 2 were both administered on the same day, and Session 3 was
administered on the following day. Each session included selected readings, followed by
multiple-choice and open-response questions. Common reading passages and test items

are shown on the following pages as they appeared in test booklets. Due to copyright

restrictions, certain reading passages cannot be released to the public on the Web site. All

of these passages appear in the printed version of this document.

Reference IVIaterials and Tools

The use of bilingual word-to-word dictionaries was allowed for limited English proficient
students only, during all three ELA Language and Literature sessions. No other reference

materials were allowed during any ELA Language and Literature test session.

Cross-Reference Information

The table at the conclusion of this chapter indicates each item's reporting category and the
Framework general standard it assesses. The correct answers for multiple-choice questions

are also displayed in the table.

108
 English Language Arts
Language and Literature: Session 1

DIRECTIONS
This session contains three reading selections with sixteen multiple-choice questions and two
open-response questions. Mark your answers to these questions in the spaces provided in
your Student Answer Booklet.

Many people never come face-to-face with a skunk because skunks and people tend to avoid one
will
another. However, for one scientist who studies skunks, their spray is not a factor Jerry Dragoo is a
skunk's best friend, doing whatever he can to help the species. Read more about this remarkable scientist
in "Skunk Man," and answer the questions that follow.

Skunk Man
JERRY DRAGOO IS UNIQUELY
QUALIFIED FOR HIS STINKY JOB

BY STEVE KEMPER

1 HE FIRST TIME I MEET Jerry Dragoo, he docsn't That will change, but at the
Stink.
moment, sitting in his office at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, he
seems like just another assistant professor of biology dressed in jeans and cowboy boots.
Except that his Western belt buckle, instead of displaying the usual turquoise or
embossed-silver design, depicts a spotted skunk standing on its forelegs.
2 The buckle signifies Dragoo's passion. He studies skunks; his research has changed
science's view of them. He rescues, rehabilitates and relocates skunks. He responds to half
a dozen e-mails every day from all over the country asking about skunks. (Question: "My
pet skunk tears up the carpet. What should I do?" Answer: "Put down tile. Skunks are
diggers.") When Dragoo goes home at night, he lives with skunks —
four in his backyard,
three in his house. All of them are fully loaded, and they occasionally discharge their
weapons in the living room. "My wife has a problem with that," Dragoo admits.
3 Though skunks are one of the most recognizable animals in America, the field of skunk
studies is not crowded. Notwithstanding such beloved cartoon and film characters as Pepe
Le Pew and Flower (Bambi's friend), real skunks do not show up on any favorite-critter
lists. Yet in the 1800s and early 1900s, skunk fur was prized by clothiers and was often

marketed as "Alaskan sable."

4 Jerry Dragoo is genetically outfitted for intimacy with skunks. Now 40, he remembers
the day he discovered his fated field of study. As an undergraduate, he was drawn to the
mustelids, the carnivorous weasel family that includes badgers, otters, minks and
wolverines. "Small ferocious animals," he says. "I liked that, being kind of small myself."
The mustelids also included a mild-mannered oddball (a description that also fits

Dragoo), the skunk.

5 When a professor asked Dragoo to research spotted skunks, he was a little

disappointed. After capturing his first one in a wire live trap, he sat there making field
notes. When he rose abruptly, he felt a drizzle. He looked up. No clouds. He looked down

109
English Language Arts Session 1

and saw oily yellow spots on He sniffed tentatively, but didn't

his notes. Olfactory data.
smell anything. "And 1 thought, 'Why do skunks have such a bad name?' But three days
later, when 1 came back to school, they kicked me out of the building." Dragoo, it turns
out, has almost no sense of smell. He foundand has pursued it ever since.
his calling
6 Soon after arriving at Fort Hays State University in Kansas, where he got his master's
degree in biology, he skinned a road-killed skunk. The department chairman quickly got
wind of it and phoned in his reaction: "You will not skin skunks in this building." Dragoo
got the same indignant order shortly after starting work on his doctorate at Texas A & M,
where he studied, among other things, hog-nosed skunks. By then he was fearless. Instead
of collecting his research animals with traps, he was running them down and grabbing
their tails, with predictable consequences.
7 "People ask how many times I've them six or seven." He pauses.
been sprayed, and I tell

"Per animal." Not long ago a hooded skunk nailed him nine times in less than ten
seconds, a feat that filled him with admiration. Do his colleagues find him hard to work
with? "I've heard that," he deadpans.^ He has been kicked out of meetings, shunned in
public places and evicted from apartments. "If people smell a skunk and I'm around,"
he says, "I get blamed. Most of the time I'm guilty. But not every time," he adds, his tail
up a little.
A NEW BRANCH ON THE TREE

8 Dragoo's major contribution to skunk studies stems from his work as an evolutionary
biologist. He's interested in the genetic differences and similarities among related species,
which helps explain how they are related. In the early 1990s, he began sequencing
particular genes in skunks and other mustelids to see how the subfamilies overlapped.
9 "But I couldn't get the skunks to group with the mustelids," he says. Assuming that he
had done something wrong, Dragoo started over but got the same results. That's when he
realized that at some point millions of years ago, North American skunks (striped,
hooded, spotted and hog-nosed) and the Asian stink badger had branched off from the
tree of life to form their own distinct family.
10 A new family classification is rare, so Dragoo's 1997 paper, coauthored by Rodney
Honeycutt of Texas A & M, created a stir. Says Don Wilson, senior scientist and curator of
mammals at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History: "The molecular
evidence is pretty convincing."
1 1 Now Dragoo is applying for funding to study the ecology of rabies in skunks. Skunks
are major carrier of the disease, but Dragoo says animal-control officers and
a
homeowners are more frightened of them than they need to be, since not all skunks are
rabid and rabies is treatable. This spells big trouble for many innocent animals. Dragoo
cites a baby skunk that some children found in their yard and spent time petting before he
was called. The local animal-control officer then insisted that Dragoo turn it over to be
killed and tested for rabies. The results were negative.

deadpans — says something without expression or emotion

110
English Language Arts Session 1

BE PATIENT, THEY'LL LEAVE

12 Each year between May and September, when aduk female skunks and their htters
forage widely,Dragoo gets calls from homeowners who want to know how to get rid of
them. He has heard of people trying mothballs, loud music, or rags soaked in ammonia to
encourage skunks to leave. But he tries to convince callers to be patient, because skunks
are fun to watch, they won't spray unless they feel threatened (and even then they usually
try to escape first), they eat lots of mice and bugs, and they usually move on.
13 When nuisance skunks are trapped, injured or orphaned, Dragoo is often asked to get
them. He drives the captured animals to his house in Tijeras — his station wagon carries an
unmistakable tang —and puts them in one of the large holding cages in his backyard. He
and his profoundly tolerant wife, Gwen, who is the head veterinary technician at the
Albuquerque Biological Park, fatten young animals for a month or two on fruit,
vegetables, eggs, tuna, a little dog and cat food, yogurt, cheese, an occasional frozen
mouse, cereal, tomato hornworms, moths and June bugs that stray into the house, and
anything else that comes to hand. Skunks, to state the obvious, are omnivores, though
they do draw the line at lima beans.
14 When independence day rolls around, Dragoo lets the animals go in the nearby Cibola
National Forest. But first they must be caught. "Hi, kids!" Dragoo says. "Who wants to be
first?" He grabs one by the tail and puts it in a pet carrier. The cage's other resident runs

from Dragoo, sometimes hissing or charging forward, then stamping its front feet. As
Dragoo closes in, this striper whirls and squirts. Bull's-eye! But Dragoo, unfazed, grabs it
by the tail and stuffs it into the carrier. "I'm happy when they spray me," he says, "because
that means they have some fear of humans."
15 He captures the last two without incident. En route to the forest, the skunks are silent
and, more important, odorless. Dragoo is neither. "You stink," Gwen says amiably. The
smell coming off him, acrid^ and almost palpable,^ contains a hint of horseradish. Gwen
says it reminds her of gasoline. Dragoo grins and says, "Rose petals."

^ acrid — having a sharp pungent taste or smell

^ palpable — discernible by touch; tangible

"Skunk Man" copyright © Steve Kemper, published in Smithsonian magazine, December 2001. Reprinted by permission of
the author.

Ill
English Language Arts Session 1

What is this article mainly about? Read the sentences from paragraph 7 in the
box below.
A. the consequences of getting too close
to a skunk
"If people smell a skunk and I'm
B. the unpleasant smell of a skunk's spray around," he says, "I get blamed.
Most of the time I'm guilty. But
C. the rehabilitationand release of
not every time," he adds, his tail
sick or injured skunks
up a little.

D. the dedication of a researcher

to skunks What is the author implying?

A. Dragoo likes skunks because he shares

similar behaviors with them.
Which of the following best summarizes
paragraph 1? B. Skunks in the wild become irritated
very easily.
A. Jerry Dragoo appears to be an
ordinary person. C. Dragoo feels a bit annoyed when he is

unjustly blamed for unpleasant odors.

B. Jerry Dragoo collects turquoise and
silver belt buckles. D. People react like skunks when they
are threatened.
C. Assistant professors usually wear
western clothing in New Mexico.

D. Biology professors often display According to the article, in what way is

unusual behavior. Jerry Dragoo uniquely suited for his job?

A. He studied mustelids as an
undergraduate.

B. He enjoys having skunks as pets.

C. He has a very limited sense of smell.

D. He is an evolutionary biologist.

112
English Language Arts Session 1

According to the article, what is Professor Which of the following best describes
Dragoo's most important accompUshment? the mood of the article?

A. He has persuaded people to be more A. sad

tolerant of skunks.
B. dull
B. He has reclassified skunks into their
C. lighthearted
own genetic family.
D. peaceful
C. He has rescued many skunks in urban
environments.

D. He has begun to study the ecology of what is the purpose of the

In the article,
rabies in skunks. words and sentences that the author puts
in parentheses?

^ In the article, why is Gwen Dragoo

described as "profoundly tolerant"?
A. to define terms and words

B. to emphasize certain ideas

A. She ishead veterinary technician at C. to explain a difficult concept

the Albuquerque Biological Park.
D. to provide more information
B. She helps feed many injured and
orphaned animals.

C. She helps Dragoo release the skunks

in the Cibola National Forest.

D. She endures the odor of the skunks

in her house and on her husband.

113
English Language Arts Session 1

Write your answer to open-response question 9 in the space provided in your Student Answer
Booklet.

Describe how Professor Dragoo shows his affection for skunks. Use relevant and specific
information from the article to support your answer.

114
English Language Arts Session 1

William Shakespeare 's The Tragedy of Macbeth a story of greed and dangerous ambition. In this
is

soliloquy— one of the most famous passages in English literature —

Macbeth, the king of Scotland,
has just learned of the death of his wife Lady Macbeth, who had encouraged him in his deadly
quest for power Read the soliloquy and use the information to answer the questions that follow.

from Macbeth
by William Shakespeare

To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,

Creeps in this petty pace from day to day.
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
5 The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
10 Signifying nothing.

In the public domain.

115
English Language Arts Session 1

What is the effect of the repetition in Read the lines from the soliloquy in the box below.
line 1?

... it is a tale
A. It shows that the speaker looks forward
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
to the future.
Signifying nothing.
B. It emphasizes that each day is the
same as the next.
What does Macbeth mean in these lines?
C. Itreminds the audience that time
passes without notice.
A. He believes people should be humble.

D. It expresses curiosity about what the

B. He is retelling stories of others.

next day will bring. C. He believes life has no meaning.

D. He is surprised that he is still alive.

In line 5, what does the metaphor

"brief candle" suggest?
Which of the following is closest in
A. The speaker is on his deathbed. meaning to the word syllable as it is

B. The speaker fears being alone.

used in line 3?

C. The speaker believes life is short.

A. song

B. speech
D. The speaker prefers darkness to light.

C. motion

D. moment

116
English Language Arts Session 1

Poet Theodore Roethke describes a night spent on a train traveling through a remote section of the United
States. Read the poem "Night Journey" to learn what emotional effect the sights and sounds have on him.
Answer the questions that follow.

Night Journey

Now as the train bears west,

Its rhythm rocks the earth,
And from my Pullman berth*
I stare into the night
5 While others take their rest.
Bridges of iron lace,
A suddenness of trees,
A lap of mountain mist
All cross my line of sight,
10 Then wasted place,
a bleak
And a lake below my knees.
Full on my neck I feel
The straining at a curve;
My muscles move with steel,
15 I wake in every nerve.
I watch a beacon swing
From dark to blazing bright;
We thunder through ravines
And gullies washed with light.
20 Beyond mountain pass
the
Mist deepens on the pane;
We rush into a rain
That rattles double glass.
Wheels shake the roadbed stone,
25 The pistons jerk and shove,
I stay up half the night

To see the land I love.

— Theodore Roethke

*
Pullman berth — a sleeping compartment on a train

"Night Journey", copyright © 1940 by Theodore Roethke, from THE COLLECTED POEMS OF THEODORE ROETHKE by
Theodore Roethke. Used by permission of Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc.

117
English Language Arts Session 1

How does the poet help the reader What does the speaker mean when he says
understand that the view from the in line 14, "My muscles move with steel"?
train is changing rapidly?
A. His body feels powerful.
A. by using technical railroad terms
B. He exercises his body.
B. by using short lines
C. His body responds to the motion.
C. by using a nighttime setting
D. He stretches in his Pullman berth.
D. by using passive voice

What idea is conveyed by the shift to the

What does the poet most likely mean pronoun "we" in Hnes 18 and 22?
when he writes "Bridges of iron lace"
A. The other passengers are waking up.
in line 6?
B. The man and machine are briefly one.
A. bridges that are cold and fragile
C. The train is increasing its speed.
B. bridges that are light and dark
D. The man is dependent on trains.
C. bridges that have history and value

D. bridges that have strength and elegance

1 18
English Language Arts Session 1

Write your answer to open-response question 18 in the space provided in your Student Answer
Booklet.

Explain how the poem builds to its concluding line. Use relevant and specific information from
the poem to support your answer.

119
 English Language Arts
Language and Literature: Session 2
DIRECTIONS
This session contains one reading selection with eight multiple-choice questions and one
open-response question. Mark your answers to these questions in the spaces provided in
your Student Answer Booklet.

a family were expected to marry according to their age,

In nineteenth century society, the girls in
the oldest first, and so Jane Austen's novel. Pride and Prejudice, describes a
on. This excerpt from
party attended by Jane Bennet, her younger sister Elizabeth, and their potential suitors, Mr Bingley
and Mr Darcy. Read the excerpt and me the information to answer the questions that follow.

Pride and Prejudice

by Jane Austen

1 Mr. Bingley was good looking and gentlemanlike; he had a pleasant countenance/ and easy, unaffected
manners. His sisters were fme women, with an air of decided fashion. His brother-in-law, Mr. Hurst,

merely looked the gentleman; but his friend Mr. Darcy soon drew the attention of the room by his fme,
tall person, handsome features, noble mien;^ and the report which was in general circulation within five

minutes after his entrance, of his having ten thousand^ a year. The gentlemen pronounced him to be a
fme figure of a man, the ladies declared he was much handsomer than Mr. Bingley, and he was looked at
with great admiration for about half the evening, till his manners gave a disgust which turned the tide of
his popularity; for he was discovered to be proud, to be above his company, and above being pleased; and
not all his large estate in Derbyshire could then save him from having a most forbidding, disagreeable
countenance, and being unworthy to be compared with his friend.
2 Mr. Bingley had soon made himself acquainted with all the principal people in the room; he was lively
and unreserved, danced every dance, was angry that the ball closed so early, and talked of giving one
himself at Netherfield."^ Such amiable qualities must speak for themselves. What a contrast between him
and his friend! Mr. Darcy danced only once with Mrs. Hurst and once with Miss Bingley, declined being
introduced to any other lady, and spent the rest of the evening in walking about the room, speaking
occasionally to one of his own party. His character was decided. He was the proudest, most disagreeable
man in the world, and every body hoped that he would never come there again. Amongst the most
violent against him was Mrs. Bennet, whose dislike of his general behaviour, was sharpened into
particular resentment, by his having slighted one of her daughters.
3 Elizabeth Bennet had been obliged, by the scarcity of gentlemen, to sit down for two dances; and
during part of that time, Mr. Darcy had been standing near enough for her to overhear a conversation
between him and Mr. Bingley, who came from the dance for a few minutes, to press his friend to join it.
4 "Come, Darcy," said he, "I must have you dance. I hate to see you standing about by yourself in this
stupid manner. You had much better dance."
5 "I certainly shall not. You know how I detest it, unless I am particularly acquainted with my partner.
At such an assembly as this, it would be insupportable. Your sisters are engaged, and there is not another
woman in the room, whom it would not be a punishment to me to stand up with."
6 "I would not be so fastidious as you are," cried Bingley, "for a kingdom! Upon my honour, I never
met with so many pleasant girls in my life, as I have this evening; and there are several of them you see
uncommonly pretty."

'
countenance —facial expression
^ mien — way of behaving expresses one's personality
that
^ ten thousand — an income thatwould make him wealthy in that era

Netherfteld — Mr. Bingley home

's

120
 "

English Language Arts Session 2

7 "You are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room," said Mr. Darcy, looking at the eldest
Miss Bennet.
8 "Oh! she is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld! But there is one of her sisters sitting down
just behind you, who is very pretty, and I dare say, very agreeable. Do let me ask my partner to
introduce you."
9 "Which do you mean?" and turning round, he looked for a moment at Elizabeth, till catching her eye,
he withdrew his own and coldly said, "She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I am
in no humour at young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had
present to give consequence to
better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me."
10 Mr. Bingley followed his advice. Mr. Darcy walked off; and Elizabeth remained with no very cordial
feeHngs towards him. She told the story however with great spirit among her friends; for she had a lively,
playful disposition, which delighted in any thing ridiculous.
11 The evening altogether passed off pleasantly to the whole family. Mrs. Bennet had seen her eldest
daughter much admired by the Netherfield party. Mr. Bingley had danced with her twice, and she had
been distinguished by his sisters. Jane was as much gratified by this, as her mother could be, though in a
quieter way. Elizabeth felt Jane's pleasure. Mary had heard herself mentioned to Miss Bingley as the most
accomplished girl in the neighbourhood; and Catherine and Lydia had been fortunate enough to be
never without partners, which was all that they had yet learnt to care for at a ball. They returned
therefore in good spirits to Longbourn, the village where they lived, and of which they were the
principal inhabitants. They found Mr. Bennet still up. With a book he was regardless of time; and on the
present occasion he had a good deal of curiosity as to the event of an evening which had raised such
splendid expectations. He had rather hoped that all his wife's views on the stranger would be
disappointed; but he soon found that he had a very different story to hear.
12 "Oh! my dear Mr. Bennet," as she entered the room, "we have had a most delightful evening, a most
excellent ball. I wish you had been there. Jane was so admired, nothing could be like it. Every body said
how well she looked; and Mr. Bingley thought her quite beautiful, and danced with her twice. Only
think of that my dear; he actually danced with her twice; and she was the only creature in the room that
he asked a second time. First of all, he asked Miss Lucas. I was so vexed to see him stand up with her; but,
however, he did not admire her at all: indeed, nobody can, you know; and he seemed quite struck with
Jane as she was going down the dance. So, he enquired who she was, and got introduced, and asked her
for the two next. Then, the two third he danced with Miss King, and the two fourth with Maria Lucas,
and the two fifth with Jane again, and the two sixth with Lizzy, and the Boulanger —
13 "If he had had any compassion for me'' cried her husband impatiently, "he would not have danced
half so much! For God's sake, say no more of his partners. Oh! that he had sprained his ancle in the
first dance!"
14 "Oh! my dear," continued Mrs. Bennet, "I am quite delighted with him. He is so excessively
handsome! and his sisters are charming women. never in my saw any thing more elegant than their
dresses. I dare say the lace upon Mrs. Hurst's gown
I
— life

15 Here she was interrupted again. Mr. Bennet protested against any description of finery. She was
therefore obUged to seek another branch of the subject, and related, with much bitterness of spirit and
some exaggeration, the shocking rudeness of Mr. Darcy.
16 "But I can assure you," she added, "that Lizzy does not lose much by not suiting his fancy; for he is a
most disagreeable, horrid man, not at all worth pleasing. So high and so conceited that there was no
enduring him! He walked here, and he walked there, fancying himself so very great! Not handsome
enough to dance with! I wish you had been there, my dear, to have given him one of your set downs.
I quite detest the man."

^ Boulanger — a dance

In the public domain.

121
English Language Arts Session 2

According to the excerpt, what was most In paragraph 1 , what does the word
important to Mrs. Bennet during the party? report mean?
A. her friends A. a printed document

B. her appearance B. a detailed statement

C. her daughters C. the result of research

D. her weahh D. the prevailing gossip

According to the excerpt,which of The narrator notes that Mr. Darcy seems
the following would best describe better looking to other guests once they
Mr. Bingley? learn he has "ten thousand a year." What
is the narrator poking fun at?
A. ill-tempered
A. Darcy 's appearance
B. lazy
B. Darcy 's friends
C. good-natured
C. the guests' shallowness
D. shy
D. the guests' manners

122
English Language Arts Session 2

In the excerpt, Mr. Darcy spends most of In paragraph 9, why is the word
his time doing which of the following? me italicized?

A. sitting in a corner A. to emphasize Mr. Darcy's anger

B. moving about restlessly B. to emphasize Mr. Darcy's wealth

C. getting to know people C. to emphasize Mr. Darcy's discomfort

D. dancing with suitable women D. to emphasize Mr. Darcy's superiority

What does Mr. Bingley mean by calling Which word best describes Mrs. Bennet's
his friend Darcy fastidious in paragraph 6? tone in paragraph 12?

A. difficult to please A. bored

B. concerned with honor B. excited

C. obsessed with wealth C. annoyed

D. ready to argue D. surprised

123
English Language Arts Session 2

Write your answer to open-response question 27 in the space provided in your Student Answer
Booklet.

In this excerpt, how do Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy differ from one another, both in the way they
view others and in the way others view them? Use relevant and specific information from the
excerpt to support your answer.

124
 English Language Arts
Language and Literature: Session 3
DIRECTIONS
This session contains two reading selections with twelve multiple-choice questions and one
open-response question. Mark your answers to these questions in the spaces provided in your
Student Answer Booklet.

Using the proper tools can make any home improvement project easier However, when painting, many
people do not give a second thought to choosing a paintbrush. Quality does make a difference in
paintbrushes. To learn more, read this excerpt from a chapter in The Complete Guide to Home Repair
and Maintenance and answer the questions that follow.

from CHOOSING AND CARING FOR PAINTBRUSHES

by Bernard Gladstone

Brushes are still probably the most versatile these days most brushes are made of
and useful applicators for home painting. synthetic' or man-made brisdes, and
Rollers, pads, and spray cans are faster and manufacturers have developed techniques to
easier in many cases, but a brush is still the imitate the flagged and split ends
only painting tool for every surface and characteristic of natural bristle.
almost every kind of house paint (there are Although top-quality Chinese hog brisde
some fast-drying commercial and industrial works well with most oil-base and synthetic
finishes that cannot be applied by brush; they coadngs, it is not as suited to water-thinned
must be sprayed). (latex) paints and finishes. The bristles are
As with most other tools, a poor-quality porous and absorb water readily, so latex
brush will make a good job almost finishes make them swell. This distorts the
impossible — regardless of the quality of the shape of the brush and ruins its sharp
paint or finish applied. On the other hand, a "cutdng" edge, and the brush becomes so soft
good-quality brush not only will do a much and floppy smooth application becomes
that
better job, it and enable you to
will last longer almost impossible. Also, hog bristles tend to
finish the jobSo it is really foolish
faster. wear rapidly on rough surfaces.
economy to buy cheap "throwaway" brushes Nylon bristles, first introduced after World
simply to save you the job of cleaning the War II when Chinese bristle disappeared from
—
brush afterward you won't have to clean the the market, do not lose their springiness in
brush, but you may very well have to do the water-thinned paints, and they stand up well
whole job over. on rough surfaces. The better-quality nylon
All good-quality paintbrushes contain a bristles are tapered and flagged for smooth
high percentage of bristles with "flagged" or coverage, but nylon tends to soften after a
split ends — the more the better. Good-quality while in hot weather or direct sun.
Chinese hog bristle is naturally tapered and Also, nylon loses much of its springiness in
split at the —
ends which is why these bristles shellac, lacquer, and other quick-drying
were for years considered the best for top- "synthetic" finishes.
quality paint and varnish brushes. However,

synthetic — artificial

125
English Language Arts Session 3

6 The newest type of synthetic bristle is 8 Here are some other points to check when
polyester filament^ —an extremely versatile shopping for a good-quality paintbrush:
material that does not lose its resiliency-^ with 1 . Hold the brush up to a bright light to see
the water-thinned (latex) or solvent-thinned how much of the bristle is flagged or split, and if

(oil, shellac, or lacquer) coatings normally the bristles are tapered and varied in length.
used around the house —including the 2. All brushes need some sort of block in
quick-drying synthetic finishes. In addition, the center to provide a "pocket" for holding paint,
it retains its springiness even in the butsome manufacturers use the block as a way of
hottest weather. padding out the brush to make it look thicker.
7 Like nylon, polyester is made with flagged Separate the bristles and look down the center to
or split ends to ensure even application of any make certain that the block in the middle is not so
paint or finish, but it does not quite have thick as to deceive you into thinking you are
nylon's durability on rough, coarse surfaces. getting a lot more bristles than you actually are.

To compensate for this, some manufacturers 3. Holding the brush by the handle, press
make brushes with a blend of nylon and the tips of the bristles against your hand to see if
polyester bristles —nylon around the outside this creates a clean, sharp edge for easy trimming
to take the hard wear, and polyester on the or "cutting." Also, test the bristles for a springy
inside to provide smooth application and the feel and a natural tendency to fan out to a
best working qualities. straight edge.

^filament — a very thin strand

^ resiliency — flexibility; suppleness

126
English Language Arts Session 3

4. enough to minimize
Select a brush wide brush is about right for doors, cabinets, shelves,
the back-and-forth brushing you will have to do, and most furniture.
but not so wide and heavy that you can't handle it 5. Handle sizes and shapes vary, but don't
easily. A l'/2-inch or 2-inch brush is generally right let anyone tell you that one is definitely better
for windows and similar narrow trim; a 2-inch or than another. When you have a choice, select the
2 '/2-inch brush is better for baseboards, handle that feels most comfortable when held in a

doorframes, and similar woodwork; a 3-inch normal working position.

Reprinted with the permission of Simon & Schuster from THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO HOME REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE by Bernard
Gladstone. Copyright © 1984 by Bernard Gladstone.

What is the author's purpose in writing According to the excerpt, why are
this excerpt? high-quality paintbrushes better than
cheap ones?
A. to persuade readers to buy only
expensive paintbrushes A. They do not have to be cleaned
as often.
B. to entertain readers with stories
about painting B. They may be discarded after each use.

C. to show readers how to use a C. They can be used with both oil- and
paintbrush correctly water-based paints.

D. to inform readers about different D. They are more likely to produce a

kinds of paintbrushes good paint job.

127
English Language Arts Session 3

According to the excerpt, what is the Based on the excerpt, which of the
advantage of paintbrushes with flagged following best describes latex paints?
or spHt ends?
A. top-quality
A. They do not take as long to clean as
B. commercial
other brushes.
C. porous
B. They enable a smoother paint
application. D. water-based

C. They do not absorb water and lose

their shape.
According to the excerpt, why do
D. They contain more bristles than other good-quality paintbrushes need to
paintbrushes. have a center pocket?

A. to hold paint

According to the excerpt, for which of the B. to pad the brush

following jobs would a Chinese hog bristle
C. to separate the bristles
brush work best?

A. oil paint on a smooth surface

D. to make the brush longer

B. oil paint on a rough surface

C. latex paint on a smooth surface

D. latex paint on a rough surface

128
English Language Arts Session 3

According to the excerpt, what is the best In the excerpt, why does the author put
criterion for selecting a paintbrush handle? several words in quotation marks?

A. flexibility A. to indicate spoken words

B. comfort B. to emphasize painting techniques

C. durability C. to emphasize common mistakes

D. length D. to indicate painting terminology

Write your answer to open-response question 36 in the space provided in your Student Answer
Booklet.

Explain why and width of brush should be considered when

the surface to be painted, paint type,
choosing the best paintbrush for a particular paint project. Use relevant and specific information
from the excerpt to support your answer.

129
English Language Arts Session 3

May Day, the first day of May, is a traditional celebration of springtime that marks the passing of winter
Many cultures mark this occasion with elaborately organized festivities. To learn how the Norsemen of a
thousand years ago celebrated May Day, read the Norse myth "The Many Deaths of Winter." Answer the
questions that follow.

The Many Deaths of Winter

From Norse myth
the
Retold by James Baldwin

1 when he came to Gunther's casde, thought of staying there but a few days only. But the
Siegfried,

king and his brothers made everything so pleasant for their honored guest that weeks slipped by
unnoticed, and still the hero remained in Burgundy.
2 Spring had fairly come, and the weeping April clouds had given place to the balmy skies of
May. The young men and maidens, as was their custom, made ready for the May-day games; and
Siegfried and his knights were asked to take part in the sport.
3 On smooth greensward, which they called Nanna's carpet, beneath the shade of ash trees
the
and elms, he who played Old Winter's part lingered with his few attendants. These were clad in
the dull gray garb which becomes the sober season of the year, and were decked with yellow
straw, and dead, brown leaves. Out of the wood came the May king and his followers, clad in the

gayest raiment, and decked with evergreens and flowers. With staves^ and willow withes^ they fell
upon Old Winter's champions and tried to drive them from the sward. In friendly fray they
fought, and many mishaps fell to both parties. But at length the May king won; and grave
Winter, battered and bruised, was made prisoner, and his followers were driven from the field.
Then, in merry sport, sentence was passed on the luckless fellow, for he was found guilty of
killing the flowers and of covering the earth with hoar frost;^ and he was doomed to a long

banishment from music and the sunlight. The laughing party then set up a wooden likeness of
the worsted^ winter king, and pelted it with stones and turf; and when they were tired they threw
it down and put out its eyes and cast it into the river. And then a pole, decked with wild flowers

and fresh green leaves, was planted in the midst of the sward, and all joined in merry dance
around it. And they chose the most beautiful of all the maidens to be the Queen of May, and
they crowned her with a wreath of violets and yellow buttercups; and for a whole day all yielded
fealty^ to her and did her bidding.*^

4 It was thus that May Day came in Burgundy.

'
staves— narrow of wood
strips form
that of a
the side barrel or tub
^ withes— tough, supple twigs used binding
for together
things
^ hoarfrost — frozen dew forms white coating on
that a a surface
^ worsted — defeated
^fealty — allegiance
^ bidding — a demand something be done
that

In the public domain.

130
English Language Arts Session 3

Which of the following phrases from the Which of the following best explains
myth tells the reader that the games have why the battle in the myth is called a
taken place each year for many years? "friendly fray"?

A. "weeks slipped by unnoticed" A. Gunther invites Siegfried to take part.

(paragraph 1)
B. The fighting is not meant to
B. "weeping April clouds" (paragraph 2) hurt anyone.

C. "as was their custom" (paragraph 2) C. People who know one another have
gone to war.
D. "the sober season of the year"
(paragraph 3) D. Old Winter and the May king know
each other well.

0^ In the myth, what do the

flowers symbolize? In the myth, what does the destruction
of the wooden likeness of the king
A. items of clothing
symbolize?
B. the return of spring
A. the death of winter
C. items for decoration
B. the killing of the flowers
D. the return of Siegfried
C. the unluckiness of winter

D. the battle between Siegfried

and Gunther

131
 1 1 5

Grade 10 English Language Arts

Language and Literature
Spring 2005 Released Items:
Reporting Categories, Standards, and Correct Answers

D Ann ft*! n n Correct Answer

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(MC)*

1 1 12 RpntJin(y ntitl J itprnturp / I JfiHpv'itnviHiyiif n Tpxt 8

2 1 12 Redding ond Litcvcitwc / Nonjiction 13 A

3 1 12 Reading and Litcvaturc / Understanding a Text 8 c
4 1 12 Reading and L-itefaturc / Undefstanding a Text 8 c
5 1 13 Reading and Literature / Understanding a Text 8 B
6 1 13 Reading and Literature / Sti'le and Language 15 D
7 113 Reading and Literature / Sti'le and Language 15 c
8 113 Language / Structure and Origins of Modern English 5

9 1 14 RpndifiQ nyid J itpi'ntuvp / hJntrfirtinvi 13

10 1 16 RpndiviQ^ fifid J itpynturp / St\?lp and J nnQunQp 15

1 116 Reading and Literature / Sti le and Language 15 c

12 1 16 Reading and Literature / Stvle and Language 15 c
13 1 16 Language / Vocabular\' and (Concept Development 4

14 118 Reading and Literature / Poetr\' 14 B

15 118 Reading and Literature / Poetr\' 14 D
16 118 Reading and Literature Poetr\' 14 c
17 118 Reading and Literature / Poetry 14 B
18 119 Reading and Literature / Poetrx' 14

19 122 Rpndino^ nud J itpynturp / I JndpystfDidinQ n Tpxt 8 c

20 122 R pnni}T<y
J\CLit4tfl^ nvin
lAflld J itpyntiiyp
i^llCi lAlUt // IF'lPtinn
IL. llJH
I 12 Q
21 122 I nyi<Tiincrp // ]/npnnuin}'\'
X-iU/I^HUcc r KJl^UUlAlLlf V nun nnt^pnt
UflxA \^L/ftL,CL/l Dp\^pinnryjpyjt
yClL/L/i/tCftl 4 D
22 122 R pnnivicr
i\CL4l4 nvin i^tlCr
irl^ 14/114 J itpvntijyp
l4lUf C // IT^ilL.lt\Jil
i^tinvi 12 c
23 123 Rpn/ii yicr
iVCUUlfl^ nnn
14 HU 1 itpyntiiyp '/ IP'iptirtvi
l^lltZtl4lt*ftZ yJt I 12 B
24 123 J nyi(yiin<jp // \/nr'nhulny^'
X-L*flKM(-igC r L/L^LtlyLilLlf y LdrUA ntirpnt i^t^
nyin y^L/fli^CL/l Hip^^pifinmptjf
vC IL/L/I f tC r 1 4

25 123 R pnniyicf
I\%.L4L4 1 1
1^ l4tlL4 J itpvntuvp
ntin L^tlCf LdlHf C // IF'iptirtti
I iKJll 12

26 R t^nnincy
I\Cl4l4lff^ nun
LdfllA J it^yvntiit'/y
LjtlCr nun
J nncriincyty
14114/ C 1/ iJ(t/C \4H\A L^l4ri^l4l4^C 1 B
27 124 R (^nniiTCJ nun
I\CL4\4ltl^ L4/I14 J ittyt'ntuvty
l^llt^f I4l Itf C // Iri/^ti/'iti
lL,llwri 12
77 f% £?n n i yi CT nn/i 1 i ti^t'n ti it'^y // \!/~iyiri/^ti/^n
o 1 PtcUUlft^ til 11* i>/f c / LilUf K. i yUflJlClUJfl [)

29 127 Reading and Literature / Understanding a Text 8 D

30 128 Reading and Literature / Understanding a lext 8 B
31 128 Reading and Literature Nonjiction 13 A
32 128
I
Language
.I'll }
ocahulaiy and Concept Development
\
y' . r~\ 7
4 D
33 128 Reading and Literature / Understanding a Text 8 A
34 129 Reading and Literature / Understanding a Text 8 B
35 129 Language / Formal and Informal English 6 D
36 129 Reading and Literature / Nonjiction 13

Reading and Literature / Myth, Traditional Narrative, and Classical

37 131 16 C
Literature

38 131 Reading and Literature / Style and Language 15 B

39 131 Reading and Literature / Understanding a Text 8 B
Reading and Literature / Myth, Traditional Narrative, and Classical
40 131 16 A
Literature

* Answers are provided here for multiple-choice items only. Sample responses and scoring guidelines for open-response items,

which are indicated by shaded cells, will be posted to the Department's Web site later this year.

132
VI. Mathematics, Grade 4
 Grade 4 Mathematics Test
The spring 2005 Grade 4 MCAS Mathematics Test was based on learning standards
in the Massachusetts Mathematics Curriculum Framework (2000). The Framework
identifies five major content strands, listed below. Page numbers for the grade 3-4
learning standards appear in parentheses.

I Number Sense and Operations (Framework, pages 22-23)

I Patterns, Relations, and Algebra (Framework, page 32)

I Geometry (Framework, page 40)

I Measurement (Framework, page 48)

I Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability (Framework, page 56)

The Mathematics Curriculum Framework is available on the Department Web site at

www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/math/2000/final.pdf.

In Test Item Analysis Reports and on the Subject Area Subscore pages of the MCAS
School Reports and District Reports, Mathematics test results are reported under five

MCAS reporting categories, which are identical to the five Framework content strands

hsted above.

Test Sessions and Content Overview

The MCAS Grade 4 Mathematics Test included two separate test sessions. Each session
included multiple-choice, short-answer, and open-response questions.

Reference Materials and Tools

Each student taking the Grade 4 Mathematics Test was provided with a plastic ruler and
a Grade 4 Mathematics Tool Kit. A copy of the tool kit follows the final question in this
chapter. No calculators, other reference tools, or materials were allowed.

The use of bilingual word-to-word dictionaries was allowed for limited English proficient

students only, during both Mathematics test sessions.

Cross-Reference Information

The table at the conclusion of this chapter indicates each item's reporting category

and the Framework learning standard it assesses. The correct answers for multiple-choice

and short-answer questions are also displayed in the table.

134
 Mathematics
Session 1

You may use your tool kit and MCAS ruler during this session.
You may not use a calculator during this session.
vhU
DIRECTIONS
This session contains twelve multiple-choice questions, two short-answer questions, and three
open-response questions. Mark your answers to these questions in the spaces provided in
your Student Answer Booklet.

O Diego made a spinner to use in a game. He

marked each section of the spinner with an
Eric bought 2 pairs of mittens and
3 winter scarves.
even number. Which of the following
• Each pair of mittens costs $10.00.
spinners has an even number marked in
each section? • Each winter scarf costs $5.00.

Which of the following could be used

A.
to find the total cost of the mittens
and scarves that Eric bought?

A. (2 + 3) X ($10.00 + $5.00)

B. (2 X $10.00) + (3 X $5.00)

B.
C. 2 + 3 + $10.00 + $5.00

D. 2 X 3 X $10.00 X $5.00

/30 6 \
>
\ 18 9
2
J

D.
9
/ 13 3 \
J
7
11

135
Mathematics Session 1

o Ms. Roland measured the length of a

board she was using to make a shelf.
Which of the following
three-dimensional shape?
is a

Which of the following could be the

A. quadrilateral
length of the board?
B. pyramid
A. 6 square feet
C. triangle
B. 6 pounds
D. rectangle
C. 6 gallons

D. 6 feet

136
Mathematics Session 1

Use your MCAS ruler to answer question 5.

Lysella made the bookmark shown below.

Which of the following is 1 inch longer than the bookmark Lysella made?

A.

B.

c.

D.

137
Mathematics Session 1

The chart below shows the number of Which of the following is a true statement?
college athletes who participated in four
different sports in the academic year A. y= 0.12
1998-1999.

Sports Participation 1998-1999 B. ^ = 1.2

Sport Women Men C. ^= 0.05

Indoor Track 15,460 16,943

Outdoor Track 18,220 20,401

D. 0.5

Soccer 17,520 18,238

Basketball 14,365 15,710

O Each person at Yi Kun's party will choose
one of the balloons pictured below. There
is a concert ticket hidden inside one of
According to the chart, how many men
the balloons.
and women participated in soccer in
1998-1999?

A. 25,758

B. 33,230

C. 35,758

D. 37,921

Karl was the first one to choose a balloon.

Which of the following best describes the
chances that he will choose the balloon
with the ticket inside?

A. impossible

B. unlikely

C. likely

D. certain

138
Mathematics Session 1

The picture below shows four different cards and the price of each.

$2.75 each $4.50 each

$2.50 each $3.25 each

Ms. Erickson bought all 4 cards. What was the total price of all 4 cards?

A. $11.75

B. $12.00

C. $13.00

D. $14.50

139
Mathematics Session 1

Question 10 is an open-response question.

• BE SURE TO ANSWER AND LABEL ALL PARTS OF THE QUESTION.
• Show all your work (diagrams, tables, or computations) in your Student Answer Booklet.
• If you do the work in your head, explain in writing how you did the work.

Write your answer to question 10 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

Thyra has a rectangular piece of colored paper. The shaded shape on the grid below represents
Thyra's piece of paper.

1 in.

a. What is the area, in square inches, of the piece of paper? Show your work or explain how you
got your answer.

b. What is the perimeter, in inches, of the piece of paper? Show your work or explain how you
got your answer.

c. Thyra cut the paper into 2 smaller rectangles that were each the same size. What is the
perimeter, in inches, of each of the smaller rectangles? Show your work or explain how
you got your answer.

140
Mathematics Session 1

Questions 11 and 12 are short-answer questions. Write your answers to these questions in the
boxes provided in your Student Answer Booklet. Do not write your answers in this test
booklet. You may do your figuring in the test booklet.

Both of the scales shown below are balanced.

5 cans balance 2 blocks. 4 blocks balance 1 star.

How many cans are needed to balance 1 star?

Use your MCAS ruler to answer question 12.

Draw a triangle with 1 obtuse angle.

141
Mathematics Session 1

Question 13 is an open-response question.

• BE SURE TO ANSWER AND LABEL ALL PARTS OF THE QUESTION.
• Show all your work (diagrams, tables, or computations) in your Student Answer Booklet.
• If you do the work in your head, explain in writing how you did the work.

Write your answer to question 13 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

a. If Lark spins the arrow 1 time, what is the probabihty that the arrow will land on a section
labeled with the number 2? Show or explain how you got your answer.

b. If Elroy spins the arrow 1 time, what is the probability that the arrow will land on a section
labeled with a number greater than 2? Show or explain how you got your answer.

c. Elroy earns a point if on a section labeled with an odd number. Lark earns
the arrow lands
a point if on a section labeled with an even number. Do Elroy and Lark each
the arrow lands
have an equal chance of winning, or does one of the players have a better chance of winning
than the other? Explain the reason for your answer.

142
Mathematics Session 1

Mark your answers to multiple-choice questions 14 through 16 in the spaces provided in your
Student Answer Boolclet. Do not write your answers in this test booklet. You may do your figuring
in the test booklet.

All the sections of the models below are Which of the following is read
the same size. "fifty-three hundredths"?

The model below is shaded to represent A. 5300

1 whole.
B. 53.00

C. 0.53

D. 0.053

VB9
^^^^ What value for smmj^
JKL makes the
A fractional part of each model below has number sentence shown below true?
been shaded. Which fraction should you
get if you add the fractions represented by
the shaded parts of the models? /% + 4,123 - 32,085

A. 27,962

B. 28,962

C. 32,162

D. 36,208

_5
A.
6

5_
B.
7

5_
C.
12

6^
D.
36

143
Mathematics Session 1

Question 17 is an open-response question.

• BE SURE TO ANSWER AND LABEL ALL PARTS OF THE QUESTION.
• Show your work (diagrams, tables, or computations) in your Student Answer Booklet.
all
• If you do the work in your head, explain in writing how you did the work.

Write your answer to question 17 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

The picture below shows the playing board for the new game show Guess What. In each game,
players win points by answering questions about five different categories. Each category has
5 questions to be answered. The number of points that a question is worth is shown on the
playing board. (For example, the first question in each category is worth 25 points.)

GUESS WHAT
States People Dates Rivers Books

25 25 25 25 25
50 50 50 50 50
100 100 100 100 100
200 200 200 200 200
400 400 400 400 400

a. How many points will a player earn if he or she answers all the questions in the "States"
category correctly? Show your work or explain how you got your answer.

b. What is the fewest number of questions a player could answer correctly and earn exactly

375 points? Show your work or explain how you got your answer.

c. Mr. Anderson earned exactly 1250 points. He answered more than 5 questions correctly. Show
one way that Mr. Anderson could have answered more than 5 questions correctly to earn exactly
1250 points. Explain how you got your answer.

144
 Mathematics
Session 2
You may use your tool kit and MCAS ruler during this session.
You may not use a calculator during this session.

DIRECTIONS
This session contains seventeen multiple-choice questions, three short-answer questions, and two
open-response questions. Mark your answers to these questions in the spaces provided in your
Student Answer Booklet.

Max and Sam wrote a number sentence A factory made 13,424 ice cream
to show that Max is older than Sam. In sandwiches in an 8-hour period. What is
their number sentence, 13,424 rounded to the nearest hundred?

• M represents Max's age in years, and A. 10,000

• S represents Sam's age in years. B. 13,000

Which number sentence shows that Max C. 13,400

is older than Sam?
D. 13,500
A. M<S
What is the remainder for the division
B. M>S problem shown below?

C. M=S 496 - 6 = ?

A. 0
D. M+S= 10
B. 1

C. 3

D. 4

145
Mathematics Session 2

Abner's Market has lemons on sale. The Mr. Bingham wrote the correct answer
table below shows the number of lemons to one of the homework problems on
that can be bought for different amounts the board, as shown below.
of money.

Lemon Prices
Number of Lemons Total Price

10 $1.00

20 $2.00

30 $3.00

40 $4.00

50 $5.00

Based on the information in the table,

what happens to the number of lemons
each time the total price goes up by $ 1 .00? Which of the following could have been
the homework problem?
A. The number of lemons doubles.
A. 6 X 800
B. The number of lemons is multiplied
by 10. B. 60 X 80

C. The number of lemons increases C. 60 X 800

by 60. D. 600 X 8

D. The number of lemons increases

by 10.

146
 .

Mathematics Session 2

On the day of school, Ms. Forsythe always asks her students, "How many of you read at
first

least 2 books over the summer?" The graph below shows the data she has collected over the
last four years.

Yearly Summer Reading Results

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4

Year

Based on the data in the graph, which of the following is a reasonable conclusion?

A. The number of girls reading at least 2 books increased each year.

B. The number of boys reading at least 2 books increased each year.

C. The number of boys reading at least 2 books in Year 1 is half the

number of girls reading at least 2 books in Year 1
D. The number of students in the class increased each year.

147
Mathematics Session 2

The chart below shows the height, in feet, Which of the shaded shapes shown
of four different mountains in Colorado. below appears to have exactly 1 line
of symmetry?

Mountain Heights
Mountain Height (in feet)

Mt. Shavano 14,229

Mt. Antero 14,269

Mt. Cameron 14,238

Mt. Wilson 14,246

The height of Mt. Evans is between the B.

two greatest heights shown on the chart
above. Which of the following could be
the height of Mt. Evans?

A. 14,208 feet

B. 14,241 feet

C. 14,275 feet

D. 14,264 feet

M
L

148
Mathematics Session 2

One large box of cookies contains the

same number of cookies as 6 small boxes.
Each small box contains an equal number
of cookies. The boxes of cookies are
shown below.

A large box of cookies contains

84 cookies. What is the total number
of cookies that a small box contains?

A. 9

B. 11

C. 14

D. 20

149
Mathematics Session 2

Question 27 is an open-response question.

• BE SURE TO ANSWER AND LABEL ALL PARTS OF THE QUESTION.
• Show all your work (diagrams, tables, or computations) in your Student Answer Booklet.
• If you do the work in your head, explain in writing how you did the work.

Write your answer to question 27 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

Lillian used a rule to make the number pattern shown below.

3 7 12 16 21 25 30 9•

a. If the pattern continues in the same way, what will be the next number in the pattern? Show or
explain how you got your answer.

b. Jenna used the same rule as Lillian to make a number pattern. She began her pattern with the
number 10. Should the number 25 be one of the numbers in Jenna's pattern? Show or explain
how you got your answer.

150
Mathematics Session 2

Questions 28 and 29 are short-answer questions. Write your answers to these questions in the
boxes provided in your Student Answer Booklet. Do not write your answers in this test
booklet. You may do your figuring in the test booklet.

ff^b Tyler has the group of plates shown below. He used exactly j of the plates to set the table for
a family dinner. How many plates did he use?

Use your MCAS ruler to answer question 29.

What is the perimeter, in inches, of the rectangle shown below?

151
Mathematics Session 2

Question 30 is a short-answer question. Write your answer to this question in the box provided in
your Student Answer Booklet. Do not write your answer in this test bool^Iet. You may do your
figuring in the test booklet.

g^l The tally chart below shows the number of red, gold, and orange leaves that Ann collected
one weekend.

Leaves Collected
Color Number Collected

Red mmm /

Gold m //

Orange ////

How many leaves did Ann collect altogether?

152
Mathematics Session 2

Question 31 is an open-response question.

• BE SURE TO ANSWER AND LABEL ALL PARTS OF THE QUESTION.
• Show all your worii (diagrams, tables, or computations) in your Student Answer Booklet.
• If you do the work in your head, explain in writing how you did the work.

Write your answer to question 31 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

Ursula is map of the area near her school. The first part of her map
drawing a is shown
below. Copy Ursula's map into your Student Answer Booklet. Use your copy of the map to
complete the following tasks.

a
a

a. Rose Street is perpendicular to Oak Lane. On your map, draw Rose Street so that it is

perpendicular to Oak Lane.

b. Shady Glen is parallel to Rose Street. On your map, draw Shady Glen so that it is parallel
toRose Street.

c. Broadway intersects Shady Glen to form an acute angle. Draw Broadway on your map.
Mark the acute angle on your map.

153
Mathematics Session 2

Mark your answers to multiple-choice questions 32 through 39 in the spaces provided in your Student
Answer Booklet. Do not write your answers in this test booklet. You may do your figuring in the test
booklet.

The chart below shows the votes for class president.

Votes for Class President

Candidate Number of Votes
Marcia 10
Fred 20
Nick 30
Sally 60

Which graph below most accurately reflects this information?

Votes for Class President Votes for Class President

B. ^"
Votes for Class President Votes for Class President

Fred

Nick
/ Nick Fred \

Marcia

\ Sally Marcia / Sally

154
Mathematics Session 2

Which of the following is a model of 4 X 3'

A.

03

B.
r^i r^i p-^i
L(-P Lqp LC^p LC^ LC^ LC^p

c.

D.
(1^ ^1

155
Mathematics Session 2

Mr. Mitchell is ordering special The beads on the counting frame shown
sweatshirts for his students. The chart below represent the number 1,312.
below shows his choices for size, color,
and pattern.

Choices for Sweatshirts

Size Color Pattern

Small
White Flowers
Medium
Yellow Animals
Large

What is the total number of different

combinations of 1 size, 1 color, and
1 pattern that Mr. Mitchell can order?
1 i
A. 3
Which number is represented by the beads
B. 7 on the counting frame below?

C. 12

D. 15

A. 61,097

B. 60,197

C 6,197

D. 6,097

156
Mathematics Session 2

1^1 Which of the following is shaded to Each new number in the pattern shown
below was determined by adding the same
value to the number just before it.

2, 9, 16, 23,...

If the pattern continues in the same way,

what will be the 8th number?

A. 30

B. 46

C. 51

D. 56

Hong wanted to take the 5: 10 p.m. bus. She

arrived at the bus stop 25 minutes before
5:10 P.M. What time did Hong arrive at the
bus stop?

A. 5:35 P.M.

B. 4:45 P.M.

C. C. 4:40 p.m.

D. 4:25 p.m.

157
Mathematics Session 2

#^1 Libby planted seeds in each of the

identical pots shown below. She planted
seeds for pink flowers in 2 of the pots
and seeds for yellow flowers in the rest
of the pots.

7""»»~^

mmmm^mmmm
<^^^ '^^^
c

Libby let Amy pick 1 pot. Amy picked her

pot without knowing which seeds were
it. What is
planted in the probability that
Amy's pot had seeds for pink flowers in it?

_2_
B.
11

c ^

D.
f

158
159
 Grade 4 Mathematics
Spring 2005 Released Items:
Reporting Categories, Standards, and Correct Answers

Correct Answer
Item No. Page No. Reporting Categon' Standard
(MC/SA)*

1 135 Number Sense and Operations 4.N.7 B

2 135 Patterns. Relations, and Algebra 4.P.4 B
3 136 Measurement 4.M.1 D
4 136 Geometiy 4.G.2 B
5 137 Measurement 4.M.5 C
6 138 Number Sense and Operations 4.N.12 C
7 138 Number Sense and Operations 4.N.5 D
8 138 Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probabilit}- 4.D.6 B
9 139 Number Sense and Operations 4.N.10 C
10 140 Measurement 4.M.4
11 141 Patterns, Relations, and Algebra 4.P.5 10

drawing of any triangle

12 141 Geometry 4.G.2
with 1 obtuse anale

13 142 Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability- 4.D.4

14 143 Number Sense and Operations 4.N.18 A

15 143 Number Sense and Operations 4.N.6 C
16 143 Patterns. Relations, and Algebra 4.P.3 A
17 144 Number Sense and Operations 4.N.9

18 145 Patterns. Relations, and .-ilgebra 4. P.: B

19 145 Number Sense and Operations 4.N.16 C
20 145 Number Sense and Operations 4.N.13 D
21 146 Patterns. Relations, and Algebra 4.P.6 D
22 146 Number Sense and Operations 4.N.11 C
23 147 Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability 4.D.3 B
24 148 Number Sense and Operations 4.N.1 D
25 148 Geometiy 4.G.8 A
26 149 Patterns. Relations, and Algebra 4.P.5 C
27 150 Patterns, Relations, and Algebra 4,P.l

28 151 Number Sense and Operations 4.N.3 6

29 151 Measurement 4.M.4 14 inches

~ii
30 152 Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability 4.D.3

31 153 Geometiy 4.G.5

32 154 Data Analysis. Statistics, and Probabilit}' 4.D.2 A

33 155 Number Sense and Operations 4.N.8 D
34 156 Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability 4.D.5 C
35 156 Number Sense and Operations 4.N.1 B
36 157 Number Sense and Operations 4.N.3 A
37 157 Patterns, Relations, and .Algebra 4.P.1 C
38 157 Measurement 4.M.3 B
39 158 Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability 4.D.4 B

Answers are provided here for multiple-choice and short-answer items only. Sample responses and scoring guidelines for
open-response items, which are indicated by shaded cells, will be posted to the Department's Web site later this year.

160
VII. Mathematics, Grade 6
 Grade 6 Mathematics Test

The spring 2005 Grade 6 MCAS Mathematics Test was based on learning standards
in the Massachusetts Mathematics Curriculum Framework (2000). The Framework
identifies five major content strands, Hsted below. Page numbers for the grade 5-6 learning
standards appear in parentheses.

I Number Sense and Operations (Framework, pages 25-26)

I Patterns, Relations, and Algebra (Framework, page 34)

I Geometry (Framework, page 42)

I Measurement (Framework, page 50)

I Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability (Framework, page 58)

The Mathematics Curriculum Framework is available on the Department Web site at

www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/math/2000/final.pdf.

In Test Item Analysis Reports and on the Subject Area Subscore pages of the MCAS
School Reports and District Reports, Mathematics test results are reported under five

MCAS reporting categories, which are identical to the five Mathematics Curriculum

Framework content strands listed above.

Test Sessions and Content Overview

The MCAS Grade 6 Mathematics Test included two separate test sessions. Each session
included multiple-choice, short-answer, and open-response questions.

Reference Materials and Tools

Each student taking the Grade 6 Mathematics Test was provided with a plastic ruler and
a Grade 6 Mathematics Reference Sheet. A copy of the reference sheet follows the final

question in this chapter. No calculators, other reference tools, or materials were allowed.

The use of bilingual word-to-word dictionaries was allowed for limited English proficient

students only, during both Mathematics test sessions.

Cross-Reference Information

The table at the conclusion of this chapter indicates each item's reporting category

and the Framework learning standard it assesses. The correct answers for multiple-choice

and short-answer questions are also displayed in the table.

162
 Mathematics
Session 1

You may use your reference sheet and MCAS ruler during this session.
You may not use a calculator during this session.

DIRECTIONS
This session contains twelve multiple-choice questions, two short-answer questions, and
three open-response questions. Mark your answers to these questions in the spaces provided in
your Student Answer Booklet.

Bonnie bought a 13 -pound turkey for The table below shows the number of
$0.85 per pound. How much money did pounds of fertilizer needed to cover a
she pay for the turkey? given area.

A. $11.05
Fertilizer Coverage
B. $13.85
Pounds Square Yards of Coverage
C. $33.00
4 100
D. $110.05
8 200
12 300
16 400

Based on the pattern in the table, how

many pounds of fertilizer are needed to
cover 600 square yards?

A. 18 pounds

B. 20 pounds

C. 24 pounds

D. 25 pounds

163
 h

Mathematics Session 1

Which of the following is closest to the Which of the following is closest to

distance between point and point A B on the product 298.7 X 10.1?
the number line shown below?
A. 300
A B
——I
H 1 1 1 1
h H
B. 2,000

200 300 400 500 C. 3,000

D. 20,000
A. 175 units

B. 275 units
What value of x makes the equation shown
C. 450 units
below true?
D. 725 units
2;c + 2 = 10

A. jc = 4
A sea otter has over 1 ,000,000 hairs per
B. ;c = 6
square inch on its back. Which of the
following equals 1,000,000? C. JC = 8

A. 105 D. ;c = 12

B. 10^

C. 10^

D. 10^

164
Mathematics Session 1

Rae is making a salad. The choices for the Judith has a total of 8 fish in her
ingredients are shown in the chart below. aquarium. Exactly 6 of the fish
are guppies. What percent of the
Salad Ingredients fish in the aquarium are guppies?

Lettuce Vegetable Dressing A. 48%

Iceberg Carrot Ranch B. 60%
Romaine Celery Italian
C. 68%
Broccoli Caesar
Cauliflower Vinaigrette D. 75%
French

Sam is 37 years older than Dennis. If Sam

What is number of different

the total is 55 years old now, how old is Dennis?
salads she can make using one lettuce,
A. 12 years old
one vegetable, and one dressing?
B. 18 years old
A. 11
C. 28 years old
B. 15
D. 92 years old
C. 20

D. 40

165
Mathematics Session 1

Question 10 is an open-response question.

• BE SURE TO ANSWER AND LABEL ALL PARTS OF THE QUESTION.
• Show your work (diagrams, tables, or computations) in your Student Answer Booklet.
all
• If you do the work in your head, explain in writing how you did the work.

Write your answer to question 10 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

On the grid in your Student Answer Booklet, create a coordinate grid like the one shown below.

y
11
unit
10 I>
9
8

6
5

4
3

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

a. On your coordinate grid, plot the point (4, 3). Label the point A.

b. On your coordinate grid, plot the point (4, 9). Label the point B.

c. The points A and B will be used to form a triangle.

• On your coordinate grid, plot and label a third point, C, so that a right isosceles
triangle will be formed when points A, B, and C are connected.

• What are the coordinates of point C?

• Explain how you know that the triangle formed is both right and isosceles.

d. What is the area, in square units, of triangle ABCl Show or explain how you got your answer.

166
Mathematics Session 1

Questions 11 and 12 are short-answer questions. Write your answers to these questions in the boxes
provided in your Student Answer Booklet. Do not write your answers in this test booldet. You may do
your figuring in the test booklet.

What is the value of the following expression?

3 + 6x4

The radius of a circle is 14 inches. What is the diameter of the circle?

167
Mathematics Session 1

Question 13 is an open-response question.

• BE SURE TO ANSWER AND LABEL ALL PARTS OF THE QUESTION.
• Show your work (diagrams, tables, or computations) in your Student Answer Booklet.
all
• If you do the work in your head, explain in writing how you did the work.

Write your answer to question 13 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

The local library charges the same fine per day for each day a library book is overdue. The table
below shows the amount of the fine for a book that is overdue for different numbers of days.

Fines for Overdue Library Books

Number of Days Overdue Amount of Fine

2 $0.30
4 $0.60
6 $0.90

18

a. What is the amount of the fine for a book that is 1 day overdue? Show or explain how you
got your answer.

b. What will be the amount of the fine for a book that is 1 8 days overdue? Show or explain
how you got your answer.

c. Using numbers, words, or symbols, write an expression that represents the amount of the
fine for a book that is x days overdue.

d. What is the fewest number of days a book can be overdue if the amount of the fine is greater
than $14.00? Show or explain how you got your answer.

168
Mathematics Session 1

Mark your answers to multiple-choice questions 14 through 16 in the spaces provided in your
Student Answer Booklet. Do not write your answers in this test booklet. You may do your figuring
in the test booklet.

What is the value of the expression below There are 1 1 teachers and 1 32 students
when A = 8? at a middle school. What is the ratio of
teachers to students?

2 A. 1 to 11

A. 2 B. 1 to 12

B. 3 C. 11 to 12

C. 4 D. 11 to 13

D. 6

Mr. Young wrote five numbers on the

board in his classroom. After class, one of
the numbers was erased. Four of the five
numbers are shown below.

18 25 30 17 J_
If themedian of the five numbers that
Mr. Young wrote on the board was 18,
which of the following could be true?

A. The number that was erased was

greater than 30.

B. The mode of the five numbers Mr.

Young wrote on the board was 24.
C. The mean of the five numbers Mr.
Young wrote on the board was 22.6.
D. The number that was erased was
less than or equal to 18.

169
Mathematics Session 1

Question 17 is an open-response question.

• BE SURE TO ANSWER AND LABEL ALL PARTS OF THE QUESTION.
• Show all your work (diagrams, tables, or computations) in your Student Answer Booklet.
• If you do the work in your head, explain in writing how you did the work.

Write your answer to question 17 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

Shing made the design shown below using gray square tiles and white square tiles.

Key

[ I
represents 1 gray tile

I I
represents 1 white tile

a. What fractional part of the whole design is made up of gray tiles? Write your answer as a
fraction. Show or explain how you got your answer.

b. Write the fraction from part a. as a decimal. Show or explain how you got your answer.

c. Write the fraction from part a. as a percent. Show or explain how you got your answer.

170
 Mathematics
Session 2
You may use your reference sheet and MCAS ruler during this session,
You may not use a calculator during this session. \mk
DIRECTIONS
This session contains seventeen multiple-choice questions, three short-answer questions, and
two open-response questions. Mark your answers to these questions in the spaces provided in
your Student Answer Booklet.

Mr. Donato drew an equilateral triangle. Bridget created the input-output table
Which of the following statements is true shown below.
about the triangle?

A. At least one angle is obtuse. Input 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

B. All of the angles are acute. Output 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

C. At least one angle measures

90 degrees. Which of the following rules is true for all
values in Bridget's input-output table?
D. All of the angles have different
measurements. A. Input + 3 ^ Output

B. Input X 3 = Output

C. (Input X2) + \ = Output

D. (Input X 2) -h 2 = Output

171
Mathematics Session 2

Marta is plotting points on the number Based on the equation below, which of the
line below. following statements must be true?

3(A) 12
-3 1 0 1

A. A = 3 + 12
Between which two numbers should Marta
B. A = 12 - 3
plot -2y?
C. A = 12 - 3
A. and 2
1
D. A = 3 - 12
B. 2 and 3

C. -2 and -1
Which of the following shows the numbers
D. -3 and -2 in order from least to greatest?

A. 0.765, 0.82, 0.791

What is the area of the triangle B. 0.765, 0.791, 0.82

shown below? 0.765
C. 0.791, 0.82,

D. 0.791, 0.765, 0.82

21 cm

A. 126 cm2

B. 210 cm2

C. 252 cm2

D. 420 cm2

172
Mathematics Session 2

What is the value of the expression The stem-and-leaf plot below shows the
shown below? number of minutes each of Ms. Dena's
students spent practicing the piano on
6 + (-9) Monday night.

A. -15
Minutes Spent Practicing
B. -3
1 0 0
C. 3 2 5 8

D. 15 3 0 0 5 7
4 5 9

Which of the following represents the

statement "3 times the sum of 2 and 4"? Key
A. 3x2 + 4 6 I
5 represents 65

B. 3 + (2 X 4)

C. 3X4 + 2 Each student's assignment was to practice

at least 30 minutes on Monday night.
D. 3 X (2 + 4) What is the total number of students who
completed their assignment?

A. 4

B. 6

C. 8

D. 10

173
Mathematics Session 2

Question 27 is an open-response question.

• BE SURE TO ANSWER AND LABEL ALL PARTS OF THE QUESTION.
• Show your work (diagrams, tables, or computations) in your Student Answer Booklet.
all
• If you do the work in your head, explain in writing how you did the work.

Write your answer to question 27 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

Mattias has a rectangular prism with the dimensions shown below.

10 cm

1-5 cm H

a. What is the area, in square centimeters, of the shaded face of the rectangular prism? Show or
explain how you got your answer.

b. What is the volume, in cubic centimeters, of the rectangular prism? Show or explain how you
got your answer.

c. What is the total surface area, in square centimeters, of the rectangular prism? Show or explain
how you got your answer.

174
Mathematics Session 2

Questions 28 and 29 are short-answer questions. Write your answers to these questions in the
boxes provided in your Student Answer Booklet. Do not write your answers in this test booklet.
You may do your figuring in the test booklet.

Based on the pattern in the input-output table below, what is the value of y when x = 47

Input Output
(X) (y)

1 7

2 14

3 21

4 7

Ticket sales for the sixth-grade banquet are shown in the table below.

Banquet Tickets Sold

Homeroom Number of Tickets Sold
Ms. Sanchez 22
Ms. Blake 28
Mr. Chang 21
Mr. Williams 25

What is the mean number of tickets sold per homeroom?

175
Mathematics Session 2

Question 30 is a short-answer question. Write your answer to this question in the box provided in
your Student Answer Booklet. Do not write your answer in this test booklet. You may do your
figuring in the test booklet.

Lines w, x, y, and z are shown below.

>z

What are 2 lines that appear to be perpendicular to each other?

176
Mathematics Session 2

Question 31 is an open-response question.

• BE SURE TO ANSWER AND LABEL ALL PARTS OF THE QUESTION.
• Show all your work (diagrams, tables, or computations) in your Student Answer Booklet.
• If you do the work in your head, explain in writing how you did the work.

Write your answer to question 31 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

Silas has the cards shown below. All cards are the same size and shape. He put the cards into a bag.

Silas will pull one card out of the bag without looking.

a. Will the number on the card Silas pulls out more likely be an even number or more likely be
an odd number? Show or explain how you got your answer.

b. What is the probability that the card Silas pulls out will have a 3 on it? Show or explain how
you got your answer.

c. Silas will perform this experiment a total of 72 times, replacing the card after each pull.
What is the total number of times he should expect to pull out a card with a 7 on it? Show
or explain how you got your answer.

177
Mathematics Session 2

Mark your answers to multiple-choice questions 32 through 39 in the spaces provided in your Student
Answer Booklet. Do not write your answers in this test booklet. You may do your flguring in the test
booklet.

Each jar below contains an equal number of coins.

The total number of coins in 6 of the 8 jars is 54. How many coins are in all 8 jars?

A. 24

B. 61

C. 72

D. 324

Amie wrote the number pattern below.

1,2, 5, 14,41

If the pattern continues in the same way,

which of the following rules can Amie
use to find the next number in the
number pattern?

A. Add 1.

B. Multiply by 2.

C. Multiply by 2; then add 1.

D. Multiply by 3; then subtract 1.

178
 ( — ( —

Mathematics Session 2

Which of the following shows Julian is drawing a rectangle on the

one hundred four thousand, six hundred coordinate grid below. Each vertex of
twenty-nine and four hundredths his rectangle will have whole number
written in standard form? coordinates. Vertices A, B, and C of the
rectangle are shown on the grid.
A. 104,629.004

B. 104,629,400

C. 104,629.04

D. 104,629.4

—c •

B
—— t — 1
A

123456789 10

Julian will graph the point D to complete

the rectangle. What are the coordinates of
point Z)?

A. (4,6)

B. (5,5)

C. (6,4)

D. (6,5)

179
Mathematics Session 2

^ Mariatu drew the figure shown on the The Gupta family uses 20 to 25 plums
grid below. to make ajar of preserves. Which of the
following is closest to the number of
jars of preserves they can make using

/\ a total of 3700 plums?

/ \ A. 17 jars
/ \ B. 85 jars
. J
c

0 C. 170 jars
a
O- D. 340 jars

f
What is the value of the expression below
when jc = 16?
What is the area of the entire figure?
Ix + 15
A. 320 cm2
A. 31
B. 236 cm2
B. 33
C. 200 cm2
C. 47
D. 72cm2
D. 62

180
Mathematics Session 2

Jared bought bags of large pretzels at the food store. The graph below represents the relationship
between the number of bags he bought and the total number of pretzels in the bags.

Total Number of Pretzels

in Bags Jared Bought

50

•i 40
N
•*-»

£ 30
©
i 20

s
10

12 3 4 5

Number of Bags

Based on the graph, what is the relationship between the number of bags and the total
number of pretzels in the bags?

A. Total Number of Pretzels 10 X Number of Bags

B. Total Number of Pretzels 10 + Number of Bags
C. Total Number of Pretzels 10 — Number of Bags
D. Total Number of Pretzels 10 Number of Bags

181
MASSACHUSmS
COMPREHENSIVE
ASSESSMEhfT
SYSTEM
Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System
Grade 6 Mathematics Reference Sheet

AREA FORMULAS VOLUME FORMULAS

square A= S'S rectangular prism V= Iwh
OR
cube V= S'S'S
A= Iw
=
(s length of an edge)

rectangle A = bh
OR CIRCLE FORMULAS
A = Iw
C= 2'TTr

parallelogram A = bh
OR
C= TTd

triangle A= -bh A= -nr

PERIMETER FORMULAS CONVERSIONS

perimeter = distance around 3 feet = 1 yard

5280 feet = 1 mile

square P= 4s

60 seconds = 1 minute
rectangle P = 2b +2h
OR 60 minutes = 1 hour
P= 2l + 2w

triangle P= a + b + c

182
 Grade 6 Mathematics
Spring 2005 Released Items:
Reporting Categories, Standards, and Correct Answers

Correct Answer
Item No. Page No. Reporting Category Standard
(MC/SA)*

1 163 Number Sense and Operations 6.N.13 A

2 163 Patterns, Relations, and Algebra 6.P.1 C
3 164 Geometry 6.G.5 A
4 164 Number Sense and Operations 6.N.1 B
5 164 Number Sense and Operations 6.N.16 C
6 164 Patterns, Relations, and Algebra 6.P.5 A
7 165 Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability 6.D.3 D
8 165 Number Sense and Operations 6.N.5 D
9 165 Number Sense and Operations 6.N.12 B
10 166 Geometry 6.G.4

11 167 Number Sense and Operations 6.N.11 27

12 167 Measurement 6.M.5 28 inches

13 168 Patterns, Relations, and Algebra 6.P.4

14 169 Patterns, Relations, and Algebra 6.P.2 A

15 169 Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability' 6.D.1 D
16 169 Number Sense and Operations 6.N.4 B
17 170 Number Sense and Operations 6.N.5

18 171 Geometry 6.G.1 B

19 171 Patterns, Relations, and Algebra 6.P.4 D
20 172 Number Sense and Operations 6.N.6 D
21 172 Measurement 6.M.4 A
22 172 Patterns, Relations, and Algebra 6.P.3 C
23 172 Number Sense and Operations 6.N.7 B
24 173 Number Sense and Operations 6.N.15 A
25 173 Patterns, Relations, and Algebra 6.P.4 D
26 173 Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability 6.D.2 B
27 174 Measurement 6.M.6
28 175 Patterns, Relations, and Algebra 6.P.4 28
29 175 Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability 6.D.1 24
line z and line w\ or line z
1 /D Geometry O.VJ. J
and line x
31 177 Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability 6.D.4
32 178 Number Sense and Operations 6.N.9 C
33 178 Patterns, Relations, and Algebra 6.P.1 D
34 179 Number Sense and Operations 6.N.2 C
35 179 Geometry 6.G.4 C
36 180 Measurement 6.M.4 B
37 180 Number Sense and Operations 6.N.16 C
38 180 Patterns, Relations, and Algebra 6.P.2 C
39 181 Patterns, Relations, and Algebra 6.P.6 A

* Answers are provided here for multiple-choice and short-answer items only. Sample responses and scoring guidelines for
open-response items, which are indicated by shaded cells, will be posted to the Department's Web site later this year.

183
VIII. Mathematics, Grade 8
 Grade 8 Mathematics Test
The spring 2005 Grade 8 MCAS Mathematics Test was based on learning standards in

the Massachusetts Mathematics Curriculum Framework (2000). The Framework identifies

five major content strands, hsted below.

I Number Sense and Operations

I Patterns, Relations, and Algebra

I Geometry

I Measurement

I Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability

The grade 7-8 learning standards for each of these strands appear on pages 62-66 of the
Mathematics Curriculum Framework, which is available on the Department Web site at

www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/math/2000/final.pdf.

In Test Item Analysis Reports and on the Subject Area Subscore pages of the MCAS
School Reports and District Reports, Mathematics test results are reported under five

MCAS reporting categories, which are identical to the five Framework content strands

listed above.

Test Sessions and Content Overview

The MCAS Grade 8 Mathematics Test included two separate test sessions. Each session
included multiple-choice and open-response questions. Session 1 also included short-

answer questions.

Reference Materials and Tools

Each student taking the Grade 8 Mathematics Test was provided with a plastic ruler and
a Grade 8 Mathematics Reference Sheet. A copy of the reference sheet follows the final

question in this chapter.

During session 2, each student had sole access to a calculator with at least four functions

and a square root key. Calculator use was not allowed during session 1. No other reference
tools or materials were allowed.

The use of bilingual word-to-word dictionaries was allowed for limited English proficient

students only, during both Mathematics test sessions.

Cross-Reference Information

The table at the conclusion of this chapter indicates each item's reporting category

and the Framework learning standard it assesses. The correct answers for multiple-choice

and short-answer questions are also displayed in the table.

186
 Mathematics
Session 1

You may use your reference sheet and MCAS ruler during this session.
You may not use a calculator during this session.

DIRECTIONS
This session contains fifteen multiple-choice questions, five short-answer questions, and two
open-response questions. Mark your answers to these questions in the spaces provided in your
Student Answer Booklet.

Noel is To fix a
a computer repairman. The stem-and-leaf plot below shows the
computer, he charges a customer $40 per number of people using a skateboard park
hour, plus a fixed fee of $15 for the service on 13 different days.
call, as represented by the equation below.
Number of Skateboard Park Users
}^ = 40jc + 15
3 0 2
In the equation, what is represented by 4 2 3 5 6
the variable xl
5 14 4 6
A. the number of hours Noel worked 6 1 2 4
B. the amount Noel charged per hour

C. the fixed fee for the service call

Key
D. the total cost of the repair job
4 I
3 represents 43

\ix — 2 and >' = 4, what is the value of the

What is the range of the data in the
following expression?
stem-and-leaf plot?

A. 29

B. 31
A. -18
C. 32
B. -12
D. 34
C. 12

D. 18

187
Mathematics Session 1

The coordinate grid below shows the graphs of two Hnes: Hne / and line m.

9-

•
8-

• 7.

b-

. 4.
(3.5)_

1
(6.2)

» -ii - / -( I - 0 -
1

i
<
X
h'

-(--3. -4 )- A.

-A.

•-5.

.-h.

•7.

-8

•9

Which of the following is a true statement about the relationship between line / and line ml

A. The slope of line / is greater than the slope of line m.

B. The jc-intercept m is greater than the jc-intercept of line

of line /.

C. The v-intercept of line m is greater than the y-intercept of line /.

D. The slope of line m is greater than the slope of line /.

188
Mathematics Session 1

The coordinate plane shown below has The first number in a pattern is 50. To go
a figure in the third quadrant. from one number in the pattern to the next
number, the rule is to divide by 5. What is
the fourth number in the pattern?

A.

© B.

Which of the following shows the same C.

figure after it has been reflected across the
>'-axis and then reflected across the jc-axis?
D.

©
B.

189
Mathematics Session 1

Questions 7 and 8 are short-answer questions. Write your answers to these questions in the
boxes provided in your Student Answer Booklet. Do not write your answers in this test booklet.
You may do your figuring in the test booklet.

What is the length, in units, of EFl

What is the solution to the equation shown below?

fjc + 4 = 19

190
Mathematics Session 1

Question 9 is an open-response question.

• BE SURE TO ANSWER AND LABEL ALL PARTS OF THE QUESTION.
• Show all your work (diagrams, tables, or computations) in your Student Answer Booklet.
• If you do the work in your head, explain in writing how you did the work.

Write your answer to question 9 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

Jianmade some designs using equilateral triangles, as shown below. He noticed that as he
added new triangles, there was a relationship between n, the number of triangles, and p, the
outer perimeter of the design.

The table below lists the outer perimeters for the designs shown.

Number
of 1 2 3 4 n
Triangles

Outer
Perimeter 3 4 5 6 P
(in units)

a. If the pattern is continued, what would be the outer perimeter of a design using
10 triangles?

b. Write a rule for finding p, the outer perimeter for a design that uses n triangles.

c. On the grid in your Student Answer Booklet, draw a scatterplot on a coordinate plane
that shows the relationship between the number of triangles and the outer perimeter of
the design. Be sure to label the axes.

191
Mathematics Session 1

Mark your answers to multiple-choice questions 10 through 18 in the spaces provided in your
Student Answer Booklet. Do not write your answers in this test booklet. You may do your figuring
in the test booklet.

Which of the following is equivalent to The below shows the ages

scatterplot
the expression below? and heights of players on the school
1 1

football team. Each dot represents

(2-1(2^) one player.

11 Ages and Heights of Players

A. 2
30
B. 2
63
11
C. 4
30 62
D. 4

^ 61
B

^ 60
*a5

* 59

58

12 13 14
Age (years)

What is the total number of 14-year-olds

who are more than 60 inches tall?
A. 0

B. 2

C. 3

D. 5

192
Mathematics Session 1

What is the solution to the equation below?

y
= 21
-7

A. -3
B. y^3
C. 147

D. y= -147

The results of four games played by a school's baseball team are shown in the table below.

Scores of the School Baseball Team's Four Games

Game Home Team Visiting Team
1 9 1

2 6 8

3 2 5

4 7 6

In which game was the positive difference in scores the least between the winning team and
the losing team?

A. Game 1

B. Game 2

C. Game 3

D. Game 4

193
 y

Mathematics Session 1

Which of the following is equivalent to To win game, Yepa must get a sum of 8
a
multiplying any number, n, by 2? on her next two spins of the arrow on the
spinner shown below. All the sections of
A. dividing nhy the spinner are of equal size.

B. dividing « by 2

C. dividing n by —

D. dividing n by —2

Which of the following is equivalent to the

expression below?

-1 (6 - 8jc)

A. -3 + 4x
B. 3 + 4jc What is the probability that the results

- of Yepa's next two spins will have a

C. -3 8x
sum of 8?
D. 3-Sx
A. 0

^- 25

3_
C.
25

D.
25

194
Mathematics Session 1

The number 18 has a total of 6 factors: Coach Wilson constructed a Venn diagram
1, 2, 3, 6, 9, and 18. What is the total that shows the number of eighth-grade
number of factors that the number athletes who play football, basketball, and
130 has? hockey.

A. 4

B. 6 Football Basketball

C. 8

D. 13

Hockey

Which phrase best identifies the number 5

shown in the diagram?

A. the total number of athletes who do

not play all three sports

B. the total number of athletes who play

both football and hockey, but not
basketball

C. the total number of athletes who play

either football or hockey, but not both

D. the total number of athletes who do not

play basketball

195
Mathematics Session 1

Questions 19 and 20 are short-answer questions. Write your answers to these questions in the
boxes provided in your Student Answer Booklet. Do not write your answers in this test booklet.
You may do your figuring in the test booklet.

What is 30% of 600?

Chan is designing a new swimming pool that will have a length of 34 feet. He plans to make a

scale drawing of the pool. In his drawing, j inch represents 1 foot. What should be the length,

in inches, of Chan's scale drawing of the pool?

196
Mathematics Session 1

Question 21 is a short-answer question. Write your answer to this question in the box provided in
your Student Answer Booklet. Do not write your answer in this test booklet. You may do your
figuring in the test booklet.

What is the value of the following expression?

l-sl + l-sl - I-3I

197
Mathematics Session 1

Question 22 is an open-response question.

• BE SURE TO ANSWER AND LABEL ALL PARTS OF THE QUESTION.

• Show all your work (diagrams, tables, or computations) in your Student Answer Booklet.
• If you do the w ork in your head, explain in writing how you did the work.

Write your answer to question 22 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

The diagram below shows right triangle ABC drawn on a unit grid.

B C

1 unit

a. What is the length, in units, of line segment AC? Show or explain how you got your answer.

b. What is the area, in square units, of triangle ABC? Show or explain how you got
your answer.

c. In your Student Answer Booklet, draw a rectangle that has the same area in square units
as triangle ABC. Be sure to label the dimensions of your rectangle.

198
 Mathematics
Session 2
You may use your reference sheet and
You may
MCAS ruler during this session,
use a calculator during this session.
q
|Sj

DIRECTIONS
This session contains fourteen multiple-choice questions and three open-response questions.
Mark your answers to these questions in the spaces provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

The graph below shows a family's annual were 1682 students

In a recent year, there
expenses. enrolled in Amherst College in Amherst,
Massachusetts. The ratio of the number of
students to the number of faculty members
Family Annual Expenses was approximately 15:2.

Based on this ratio, which of the following

Miscellaneous is closest to the number of faculty members
that year?

A. 310

Clothing B. 220

C. 120

D. 110

Kristen was x inches tall a year ago.

Transportation
Since then, she has grown taller and
is now y inches tall. Which of the
If the family's annual income is $40,000, following represents the number
what is the family's annual expense for of inches Kristen grew during the
housing? past year?

A. $120 A. jc + _y

B. $3,000 B. x-y
C. $12,000 C y —X
D. $30,000 D. j-x

199
Mathematics Session 2

ff^l Three friends played a video game. Naomi Which of the following numbers is a
won the greatest number of points. The solution for the inequality shown below?
chart below shows the results of the game.
7(2jc - 3) > 49

Results of Video Game

A. 10
Player Number of Points
Naomi 4,500 B. 5

Daria 2,000 C. 0
Isaac 3,500 D. -6

What fraction of the total number of points

were won by Naomi?

4
A.
5

9_
B.
20

c. ^
n
D.
20

200
Mathematics Session 2

Questions 28 and 29 are open-response questions.

• BE SURE TO ANSWER AND LABEL ALL PARTS OF EACH QUESTION.

• Show all your work (diagrams, tables, or computations) in your Student Answer Booklet.
• If you do the work in your head, explain in writing how you did the work.

Write your answer to question 28 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

Use your MCAS ruler to answer question 28.

The scale map below shows a campground in a state park.

Campground
"El

( Lake
^

Park
4
Antler
Entrance Bluff

Scale

1 inch : 2 mile

a. Based on the scale, what is the distance, in miles, from the park entrance to Antler Bluff?
Show or explain how you got your answer.

b. What is the area, in square miles, of the campground? Show or explain how you got
your answer.

201
Mathematics Session 2

Write your answer to question 29 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

Glenn bowls in a bowling league every Saturday morning. Last Saturday, the scores from Glenn's
first 3 bowling games were 141, 128, and 157.

a. What is the mean of the scores from Glenn's first 3 games? Show or explain how you got
your answer.

b. Glenn will bowl a fourth game. What will he have to bowl in his fourth game to have a mean
of 150 for the 4 games? Show or explain how you got your answer.

c. Each player in Glenn's bowling league is given a handicap, which allows players of different
abilities to compete equally. A player's handicap is determined with the following formula.

A player's handicap is equal to 80 percent of the difference between the player's

average ( mean ) and 220.

Miguel is Glenn's teammate. Miguel's average (mean)

If is 130, what is his handicap?
Show or explain how you got your answer.

202
Mathematics Session 2

Mark your answers to multiple-choice questions 30 through 38 in the spaces provided in your Student
Answer Booklet. Do not write your answers in this test booklet. You may do your figuring in the test
booklet.

^1 The roads connecting the three towns on

Two
The line plot below shows the number of
the map below form a right triangle. people in each student's household for a
of the distances are given. class of students.

X
Maple X
XX X
XX XX
X X X X X
X X X X X X
25 km 20 km '
I I I I I I h
2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Number of People in
Student Households
Hickory
What is the mean number of people in
households for this class of students?
Based on the distances given on the
map, what is the distance between A. 3
Maple and Sable? B. 3.5

A. 12 km C. 4

B. 15 km D. 6
C. 16 km
D. 19 km Which of the following is not an irrational
number?

A. K

B. VT
C. V?
D. 2V4

203
Mathematics Session 2

The Madhany family traveled 3560 miles On Monday, Chris and Ravi went to the
on a trip across the United States. Since gym. Chris plans to return every second
one mile is about .6 kilometers, which of
1 day. Ravi plans to return every fourth day.
the following is closest to the total number Ifthey follow their plans, what is the next
of kilometers in 3560 miles? day of the week they will both be at the
gym on the same day?
A. 5700 kilometers
A. Wednesday
B. 4540 kilometers
B. Thursday
C. 3558 kilometers
C. Friday
D. 2225 kilometers
D. Saturday

Sari deposited $150.00 in a savings

account that earns interest at a rate of 6%
compounded annually. The table below
shows her account balance at the end of
each of three years.

End-of-Year
Account Balances
Year Balance
1 $159.00
2 $168.54
3 $178.65

If Sari makes no additional deposits or

withdrawals, which of the following will
be closest to her account balance at the
end of year 6?

A. $184.65

B. $189.37

C. $200.73

D. $212.77

204
Mathematics Session 2

The chart below shows the cost of the four Which of the lines graphed below has the
different-sized boxes of chicken nuggets greatest positive slope?
that are available at The Chicken Shack.

Box Sizes and Costs A.

10-
of Chicken Nuggets

Number of Cost of Box

Box Size Nuggets in Box (dollars)
-10
i
Kid 5 1.29

Small 9 2.09

Medium 15 3.19
-10-
1/
Large 22 4.99
)
B.
10-
Which of the following box sizes has the
least cost per nugget?

A. Kid -H
\
-10
B. Small

C. Medium -10:

D. Large

Which of the following is equivalent to x^o-

20 centimeters?

A. 2000 millimeters
-H
-10 10
B. 200 millimeters

C. 20 millimeters
-10;
D. 2 millimeters

-10-

205
Mathematics Session 2

Question 39 is an open-response question.

• BE SURE TO ANSWER AND LABEL ALL PARTS OF THE QUESTION.

• Show your work (diagrams, tables, or computations) in your Student Answer Booklet.
all
• If you do the work in your head, explain in writing how you did the work.

Write your answer to question 39 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

Andrea works as a cashier in a music store. A customer wants to pay for a CD that is on sale for
15% off the regular price of $14.00.

Greatest
Rock 'N'Roll
Hits

The cash register is broken, and Andrea must calculate the price of the CD using only a calculator.

a. What is the sale price of the CD? Show or explain how you got your answer.

b. Andrea needs to add 7% sales tax to the sale price of the CD. What should Andrea charge the
customer for the CD, including tax? Show or explain how you got your answer.

c. The customer told Andrea that she could save time by just taking 8% off the regular price of
the CD, because 15% — 7% is 8%. Is the customer right? Explain your reasoning.

206
4 MASSACHUSETTS
COMPREHENSIVE
ASSESSMENT
SYSTEM
Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System
Grade 8 Mathematics Reference Sheet

PERIMETER FORMULAS AREA FORMULAS

square P = 4s square A =
rectangle P = 2b + 2h rectangle A = bh
triangle P = a + b + c OR
A = Iw

triangle A = \bh
CIRCLE FORMULAS
circle A - nr'
circle C= 2nr
trapezoid A - \h{bx + bj)

A = Tir'
VOLUME FORMULAS
rectangular prism V = Bh
(B = area of base)
PYTHAGOREAN THEOREM
cone V = -^nr h

cylinder V= nr^h

cube V=
b (s = length of an edge)
+ b^ = &

CONVERSIONS

1 mile = 5280 feet

1 square mile = 640 acres

207
 11 4
2
6
7 8

Grade 8 Mathematics
Spring 2005 Released Items:
Reporting Categories, Standards, and Correct Answers

Correct Answer
Item No. Page No. Reporting Category Standara
(MC/SA)*

1 1 87 Pntt^i'n c Ri^lntinnv nun A loe^nyn 8. P.

2 187 P/ittt>i'nv c nun A i<7t^r\yn 8. P. \

3 187 lintn A nni\'^i ^ \tnti *itir'^ nun Pvnnnnint\' 8.D.3

4 188 IPntti'fn*;
fAlli,! r/j, nt^lntinnv
J\t: 1141 liJflj ,
nun ^
A t^CUf
lAtlL*icy^fiyn
U 8 p 10 3
5 1 89 \J t 1^1 HC f f \ 8.G.6 Q
6 189 P/itf(^)'n K Rf^uitinn ? nnn A /<7t>h)'n 8.P.1 B
7 190 .rICLdOltf ClflCitt 8.M.4 10

8 190 Pnttfvn
1Lillet V R f^infinti
JVC v
liA I IL/fU ,
nn/i
L4tH4 A lot^nvn
i^l^CUt L* 8. P. 1

9 191 IPnttfVfi c JRt^lntinfi

LtllCf flj, nnn -ilA l^Ctyf
Vc U i L/A( J^ UflU »
loi^hvn
( U , 8 PI
10 192 . ^ LtfllL't: / •JCf/Jc LtflL* X^L/C t L4I IL/ilJ 8.N.7 \
1 192 Dntn A n/j/i'tit \tnti ^tir"^ nnn Pynnnni 8.D.2 c
12 193 Pntfpy}T\ Rplntinvi^ nnd AlQphrn 8.P.7 D
13 193 Data Analysis. Statistics, and Probabilit}- 8.D.2 D
14 194 Number Sense and Operations 8.N.9 A
15 194 Patterns. Relations, and Algebra 8.P.3 A
16 194 Data Analysis. Statistics, and Probability 8.D.4 C
17 195 Siimber Sense and Operations 8.N.5 C
18 195 Data Analysis. Statistics, and Probability 8.D.2 B
19 196 Sumber Sense and Operations 8.N.10 180

20 196 Measurement 8.M.1 8 inches

2] 197 8.\.6 7

22 198 8.G.4

23 199 8.N.10 c
24 199 8.N.3

25 199 r Ultcr Hj. IXCIUl IL/fl^. UflLt rllVC Ui Lt 8. P. (7

26 200 \iinint^y \^nvt^ nnn itrti^i'ntinn*^ 8.N. 1 B

27 200 Pnft^i'n^ ni>lntinn'^ nnn AlCft^riyn 8. P. \
28 201 8.M.3
29 202 l}ntn Jjj/i/i'c/v STntivti^^ nnn Pi'/innni lit~\' 8.D.3
^O^ \JtUfflt:ti \
8 04 B
3 203 llntn >4i7/7/i'c/c \tnt7vti/^v nnn Pi'/lnnni 1 It^' 8.D.3 Q
32 203 Number Sense and Operations 8.N.2 D
33 204 Measurement 8.M.2 A
34 204 Patterns. Relations, and Algebra 8.P.1 D
35 204 Number Sense and Operations 8.N.5 C
36 205 Number Sense and Operations 8.N.3 C
37 205 Measurement 8. M.I B
38 205 Patterns. Relations, and Algebra 8.P.5 A
39 206 Number Sense and Operations 8.N.10

* Answers are provided here for multiple-choice and short-answer items only. Sample responses and scoring guidelines for
open-response items, which are indicated by shaded cells, will be posted to the Department's Web site later this year.

208
IX. Mathematics, Grade 10
 Grade 1 0 Mathematics Test

The spring 2005 Grade 10 MCAS Mathematics Test was based on learning standards in the

Massachusetts Mathematics Curriculum Framework (2000). The Framework identifies five

major content strands hsted below.

I Number Sense and Operations

I Patterns, Relations, and Algebra

I Geometry

I Measurement

I Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability

The grade 9-10 learning standards for each of these strands appear on pages 72-75 of the
Mathematics Curriculum Framework, which is available on the Department Web site at

www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/math/2000/final.pdf.

In Test Item Analysis Reports and on the Subject Area Subscore pages of the MCAS School
Reports and District Reports, Mathematics test results are reported under five MCAS

reporting categories, which are identical to the five Framework content strands listed above.

Test Sessions and Content Overview

The MCAS Grade 10 Mathematics Test included two separate test sessions, which were
administered on consecutive days. Each session included multiple-choice and open-response
questions. Session 1 also included short-answer questions.

Reference IVIaterials and Tools

Each student taking the Grade 10 Mathematics Test was provided with a Grade 10
Mathematics Reference Sheet. A copy of the reference sheet follows the final question in
this chapter.

During session 2, each student had sole access to a calculator with at least four functions
and a square root key. Calculator use was not allowed during session 1. No other reference

tools or materials were allowed.

The use of bilingual word-to-word dictionaries was allowed for limited English proficient
students only, during both Mathematics test sessions.

Cross-Reference Information

The table at the conclusion of this chapter indicates each item's reporting category and
the Framework learning standard it assesses. The correct answers for multiple-choice and
short-answer questions are also displayed in the table.

210
 Mathematics
Session 1

You may use your reference sheet during this session.

You may not use a calculator during this session.
DIRECTIONS
This session contains fourteen multiple-choice questions, four short-answer questions, and three
open-response questions. Mark your answers to these questions in the spaces provided in your
Student Answer Booklet.

What is the value of the expression below? The graph below shows the thickness of
the ice on a lake during the colder months.
(3^ + 3)(3^ - 3)

A. 27
Lake Ice Thickness
B. 72

C. 81

D. 90

Dec 1 Jan 1 Feb 1 Mar 1 Apr 1 May

Date

Which of the following is closest to

the number of days the ice was at least
3 inches thick?

A. 30

B. 45

C. 60

D. 75

211
Mathematics Session 1

o A fast-growing strain of bacteria doubles

in population every 20 minutes. A
What is the value of the expression

|23 - 32|
below?

laboratory has a culture of 200 of these

bacteria cells. The function below can be A. 0
used to find p, the number of bacteria cells
B. 1
in this culture after / hours.
C. 2
p = 200(8')
D. 3
Which of the following is closest to
the total number of bacteria cells after
2 hours?
Which of the following is a factor of the
A. 3,200 polynomial below?
B. 12,800
4jc-V - 8jc2>'2 + 10x>'3

C. 51,200 A. 4/
D. 2,560,000 B. 2x'-

C. 2xy

D. x^y^

212
Mathematics Session 1

The Golden Ratio is defined by the In which equation below is the solution
expression shown below. 2
equal to the multiplicative inverse of y?

1 + VJ
A. f.r=l
Which of the following is closest to the 2 2
value of the ratio?
T3
B. 3-r= 3

A. 1.1
C. f.r = 0
B. 1.6

C. 2.1 D. 4 - r = -1
D. 2.9

Which of the following is closest

2^-5^
to
33

A. 5

B. 12

C. 120

D. 1200

213
Mathematics Session 1

What is the area of the parallelogram ^jj^ Which of the following best represents
represented below? the equation of the line shown on the
graph below?

4 cm - 8

- 7

- 6
-
5

-
8 cm 4

-
3

- 1

A. 32cm2 1

i - 7
-t) -.) ^ - ! -2 -
0 I L ( J

--1
B. 24cm2
--2

C. 16cm2 --3

D. 12 cm' --5

--6

--7

--8

A. >'
= -^jc + 2

B. >'
= -2x + 2

C. y = -jx + 4

D. y = -2;c + 4

214
Mathematics Session 1

At a fish market, Mr. Estes bought Point X is graphed on the number line as
several pounds of cod that was on sale shown below.
for $3.59 per pound. The total cost of
the cod that he bought was $28.63.

Which of the following

amount of cod that
is closest to the
Mr. Estes bought? 0 12 3 4

A. 6 pounds
Which of the following numbers is closest
B. 7 pounds to the location of point X?

C. 8 pounds
A. vT
D. 9 pounds
B. Vs
c. vTT
D. VH
If the denominator is not zero, which
of the following is equivalent to the
expression below?

6x^ - \2x^ - 9x
3x

A. 6x^ - I2x^ - 3

B. 2x^ - \2x^ - 9x

C. 6x^ - 4x- 3

D. 2x^ - 4jc - 3

215
Mathematics Session 1

The graph below shows the number of minigrams of a medication in the bloodstream from the time
it was administered to 300 minutes after administration.

Medication in the Bloodstream

y

X
25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250 275 300

Number of Minutes After Administration

Using the information from the graph, which of the following statements is true?

A. The maximum amount of medication in the bloodstream was 1 2 milligrams.

B. The minimum amount of medication was in the bloodstream 300 minutes after administration.

C. The amount of medication in the bloodstream increased at a faster rate than it decreased.

D. The maximum amount of medication was in the bloodstream 100 minutes after administration.

216
Mathematics Session 1

Questions 15 and 16 are short-answer questions. Write your answers to these questions in the boxes
provided in your Student Answer Booklet. Do not write your answers in this test booklet. You may
do your figuring in the test booklet.

Trapezoid ABCD shown below has bases measuring 6 inches and 10 inches and a height
of X inches. Square EFGH shown below has sides measuring x inches. The trapezoid and
the square have equal areas.

What is the value of x, in inches?

^ On an airline, approximately 10% of the airline passengers who are booked for a flight do not show
up for the flight. The airline has booked 160 passengers for a flight with maximum seating of 135.
How many of the 160 passengers booked for this flight will not have a seat, assuming 10% of the
booked passengers do not show up?

217
Mathematics Session 1

Question 17 is an open-response question.

• BE SURE TO ANSWER AND LABEL ALL PARTS OF THE QUESTION.
• Show all your work (diagrams, tables, or computations) in your Student Answer Booklet.
• If you do the work in your head, explain in writing how you did the work.

Write your answer to question 17 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

Quinn works in Chicago and in New York City. He travels by taxi in each of the two cities.

In Chicago, he pays a fixed taxi fare of $1.90 per ride, plus $1.60 per mile traveled.

a. Write an equation that expresses /, Quinn's total fare for a taxi ride in Chicago, as a function
of m, the number of miles traveled.

In New York City, Quinn pays a fixed taxi fare of $1.50 per ride, plus 250 per jn. mile traveled.

b. Write an equation that expresses/, Quinn's total fare for a taxi ride in New York City, as a
function of w, the number of miles traveled.

c. On Quinn noticed that the total number of miles traveled by taxi from the
a recent trip
airport to the hotel was the same in each of the two cities. Before tips were added, his
taxi fare to the hotel in New York City was $12.20 more than his taxi fare to the hotel
in Chicago. What was the distance from the airport to the hotel in each city? Show or
explain how you got your answer.

218
Mathematics Session 1

Questions 18 and 19 are short-answer questions. Write your answers to these questions in the boxes
provided in your Student Answer Booklet. Do not write your answers in this test booklet. You may
do your figuring in the test booklet.

The circle graph shown below represents the membership of a service organization. In this

2
organization, y of the members are female.

Service Organization
Membership

Approximately what fractional part of the total membership consists of males who are 18 or older?

219
Mathematics Session 1

Questions 20 and 21 are open-response questions.

• BE SURE TO ANSWER AND LABEL ALL PARTS OF EACH QUESTION.

• Show all your work (diagrams, tables, or computations) in your Student Answer Booklet.
• If you do the work in your head, explain in writing how you did the work.

Write your answer to question 20 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

A landscaper's scale model of a patio is shown on the coordinate plane below. All of the comers
of the patio form right angles, and the patio has both a horizontal and a vertical line of symmetry.
The coordinates of some of the vertices are shown.

(0, 5)

(0, 2)

^
(2, 0) (5, 0)

Scale
1 unit represents 1 yard

a. What is the total perimeter of the patio, in yards? Show or explain how you got your answer.

b. What is the total area of the patio, in square yards? Show or explain how you got your answer.

c. A circular fountain will be placed in the center of the patio at the point where the patio's
lines of symmetry intersect. What are the coordinates of the point that shows where the
center of the fountain will be placed? Show or explain how you got your answer.

220
Mathematics Session 1

Write your answer to question 21 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

Carla can use 100 square feet of floor space in her school's gymnasium, in any way she chooses,
to setup computer stations for a science fair. She has chosen to use floor space in the shape of a
rectangle, with dimensions that are whole numbers.

a. Draw all possible rectangles with an area of 100 square feet and whole-number dimensions.
Your drawings do not have to be to scale, but you must label the dimensions on each drawing.

b. Carla plans to buy a length of rope to surround her floor space. Which rectangle that you drew in
part a. has the smallest perimeter and will thus require the least amount of rope? Show or explain
how you got your answer.

c. To up her computer stations, Carla will subdivide her rectangular

set floor space into small
rectangles that each measure 2 feet by 4 feet.

• Using the rectangle you chose in part b. as Carla's floor space, what is the maximum
number of these small rectangles that she can create?
• To support your answer, sketch the rectangle from part b. subdivided into the maximum
number of these small rectangles.
• Explain how you know your answer is correct.

221
 Mathematics
Session 2
You may use your reference sheet during this session, [a]
Youmay use a calculator during this session. ISi
DIRECTIONS
This session contains eighteen multiple-choice questions and three open-response questions.
Mark your answers to these questions in the spaces provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

Four major underwater tunnels were

constructed inNew York City between
1925 and 1950. The tunnels and their
lengths are listed in the chart below.

New York City Tunnel Lengths

T\innel Length Year

Name (kilometers) Completed
Holland 2.6 1927
Lincoln 2.5 1937
Queens-Midtown 1.9 1940
Brooklyn-Battery 2.8 1950

Which of the following is closest to the

mean of these four lengths?
A. 2.20 kilometers

B. 2.35 kilometers

C. 2.45 kilometers

D. 2.55 kilometers

222
Mathematics Session 2

A local university is divided into What is h, the height of the triangle

three colleges. The table below shows represented below, if its area is

the number of students enrolled in 58.5 square centimeters?

each college.

University Enrollment
College Number of Students
Arts and Sciences 8036
I 9 cm
Business 2977
Law 1014
A. 13 cm
Which of the following circle graphs best
B. 18 cm
represents the data in the table?
C. 26 cm
A. University Enrollment
D. 39 cm

B. University Enrollment

Business

C. University Enrollment

Business

D. University Enrollment
Law

Business

223
Mathematics Session 2

AB has one endpoint at A(2, 5), and Of the people in attendance at a recent

its midpoint is at (4, 0). What are the baseball game,

coordinates of B, the other endpoint • one-third had grandstand tickets,

of A6? • one-fourth had bleacher tickets, and

A. (2. -5) the remaining
• 1,250 people in
1

B. (3,2.5) attendance had other tickets.

C. (6, -5) What was the total number of people in

attendance at the game?
D. (6,2.5)
A. 27,000

B. 20,000

C. 16,000

D. 18,000

224
Mathematics Session 2

Tiffany wants to calculate the volume of Marcella's homeroom had a party at a local
her globe. The globe is shape of a
in the arcade. Each of the 26 students attending
sphere, as represented by the picture below. played the same game. Marcella recorded
She measured the circumference of the the number of points that each student
globe along the equator to be 24 inches. scored for that game and put the data into
score intervals. The results are shown in
the chart below.

Arcade Game Scores

Score Interval Number of
(in points) Students
0 through 100 4
101 through 200 6

201 through 300 4

301 through 400 7

401 through 500 3

501 through 600 2

Based on the information in the chart,

which interval contains the median score?
Which of the following measures is closest
to the volume of Tiffany's globe? A. 101 through 200

A. 46 cubic inches B. 201 through 300

B. 61 cubic inches C. 301 through 400

C. 183 cubic inches D. 401 through 500

D. 234 cubic inches

225
Mathematics Session 2

The diagram below shows the side view of a house. The base of its roof is 4 meters above
ground level.

4 m

Ground Level

Point P is the highest point on the roof. Based on the diagram, what is the distance from P to
ground level?

A. 6 m
B. 7 m

C. 10 m

D. 13 m

226
Mathematics Session 2

The stem-and-leaf plot below shows the

scores on a history exam.

Exam Scores
5 8

6 27
7 03 3 6

8 455
9 22247
10 0

Key
6 2 represents 62
I

Which of the following measures of the

data is greatest?

A. mean
B. median

C. mode
D. range

227
Mathematics Session 2

Question 31 is an open-response question.

• BE SURE TO ANSWER AND LABEL ALL PARTS OF THE QUESTION.

• Show all your work (diagrams, tables, or computations) in your Student Answer Booklet.
• If you do the work in your head, explain in writing how you did the work.

Write your answer to question 31 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

A designer at Royal Jewelers wants to create a 10-ounce necklace that will be made of gold and
silver. The necklace will have a total value of $206.50.

a. Write an equation that represents the total weight of the 10-ounce necklace if it contains
g ounces of gold and s ounces of silver.

b. Given that the value of gold is $318 per ounce and the value of silver is $5 per ounce, write
an equation in terms of g and s that represents the total value of the 10-ounce necklace.

c. The two equations from parts a. and b. form a system. Solve the system of equations for g and s.

Show all of your work.

d. What will be the value, in dollars, of the gold in the 10-ounce necklace? Show or explain how
you got your answer.

228
Mathematics Session 2

Mark your answers to multiple-choice questions 32 through 40 in the spaces provided in your Student
Answer Booklet. Do not write your answers in this test booklet. You may do your figuring in the test
booklet.

A kite has perpendicular diagonals with Deborah decided to mow lawns to earn the
the measures shown in the drawing below. $280 she needs for a school orchestra trip.
If she earns $18 per lawn, what is the

20 in. 20 in.
minimum number of lawns she needs
to mow to earn the money for the trip?

T A. 15
21 in.

B. 16

C. 18

D. 20

Which of the following is equivalent to the

expression below?

(x - 2)(2x^ + 3) + jc^ 2x

99 in.
A. 3x' 2x

B. 3x-' + X - 6

C. 3jc^ - x^ - 2x - 6

D. 3jc^ - 4x^ + X - 6

What is the perimeter, in inches, of

the kite?

A. 130

B. 165

C. 260

D. 310

229
Mathematics Session 2

The scatterplot below shows the ages and The table below shows the test scores of
heights of 20 trees on a tree farm. 7 students. The scores are in order from
least to greatest.

y Tree Ages and Heights

Test Scores
10
Student Score

C/3
Janet 72
U
Mark 75
£ Luisa 77
c
•
• •
Byron 81
•

••
Ray 84
*•
Devin 86
•
Kamara 90
•
•

0 2 4 6 8 10 Which of the following would change the

median of the scores?
Age (in years)
A. adding 5 points to Janet's score
If jc = age in years and >' = height in
B. adding 5 points to Devin 's score
meters, which of the following equations
best approximates the line of best fit C. subtracting 5 points from Ray's score
for this scatterplot?
D. subtracting 5 points from Luisa's score

1
.
A. y = yjc

B. V = ^x + 5

C. y = 2x

D. y = 2x + 5

230
Mathematics Session 2

The chart below separates the number of students majoring in math/science from students pursuing
other majors at a state college.

Students' Majors by Class

Freshmen Sophomores Juniors Seniors

Math/Science Majors 260 310 200 330

Other Majors 1390 1510 1450 1550

What percent of the math/science majors are seniors?

A. 43%
B. 30%
C. 21%
D. 5%

Each of the two interior supports for part

of a roof is perpendicular to a rafter, as
shown below.

interior support

rafter

What is jc, the measure, in degrees, of the

angle formed by the two interior supports?

A. 50

B. 65

C. 90

D. 130

231
Mathematics Session 2

Kelly wants to buy a tool set that is on How many square feet of carpeting are
sale at a hardware store. The price of each needed to cover the floor of the room
tool set will be decreased by 8% each represented by the drawing below?
morning just before the store opens. The Note that the shaded region is to be
sale will last for 7 days, or until all the left uncovered to leave space for the

sets are sold. construction of a built-in trophy case

with a rectangular base.
After the first reduction on Monday, the
price of each set was $135.
15 ft.
If Kelly wants to wait until the dayfirst

that the price is $100 or less, on which day

P
should she buy her tool set, if one is still
available? 9 ft.

A. Wednesday
8 ft.
B. Thursday 10 ft.

C. Friday 3 ft.
6 ft.

D. Saturday
LL n
A. 125 sq. ft.

B. 243 sq. ft.

C. 273 sq. ft.

D. 303 sq. ft.

232
Mathematics Session 2

Questions 41 and 42 are open-response questions.

• BE SURE TO ANSWER AND LABEL ALL PARTS OF EACH QUESTION.

• Show all your work (diagrams, tables, or computations) in your Student Answer Booklet.
• If you do the work in your head, explain in writing how you did the work.

Write your answer to question 41 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

In a report on the history of irrational numbers, Celine compared three different values that have
been used to approximate k. The values are listed below.

Egyptian approximation
Jj

355
Chinese approximation

22
y Archimedes' approximation (Greek)

\'*
/ 4 22
a. Celine compared y , the approximation used by the Egyptians, to y , a value that she

(4Y 22
often uses for n. She converted both y and y to decimals rounded to four decimal places
(nearest ten-thousandth). To the nearest ten-thousandth, what is the absolute value of the

/4\'* 22
difference between y and y ? Show or explain how you got your answer.

355 22 355
b. Celine also compared jyy, the approximation used by the Chinese, to y . She converted

to a decimal rounded to four decimal places (nearest ten-thousandth). To the nearest

355 22
ten-thousandth, what is the absolute value of the difference between jjy and y ? Show or
explain how you got your answer.

c. Celine knows that n ~ 3.1415927. Place the four numbers, , y , and n in order

from least to greatest. Explain your reasoning.

233
Mathematics Session 2

Write your answer to question 42 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

The double bar graph below shows the number of male and female participants in three different
activities at a Field Day. Each person participated in just one activity.

Participants in Field Day Activities

Key
H represents males

represents females

Skateboarding Volleyball RoUerblading

Activities

a. Based on the information in the graph, what was the ratio of male to female participants
overall? Show or explain how you got your answer.

b. What percent of all of the female participants played volleyball? Show or explain how you
got your answer.

c. Sketch and label a circle graph that shows the information given in the graph for the female
Your sketch does not have to be exact but should show the sectors relatively
participants.
proportioned. Explain how you determined the size of each sector.

234
 ,

MASSACHUSETTS
COMPREHENSIVE
ASSESSMENT
SYSTEM
Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System
Grade 10 Mathematics Reference Sheet

AREA FORMULAS VOLUME FORMULAS

triangle A= ^bh cube
{s = length of an edge)
rectangle A = bh
rectangular prism V= Iwh
square A-= OR
trapezoid. .A=\h{b, + b2) V=Bh
(B — area of the base)

CIRCLE FORMULAS sphere V= i-TTp

3

C= I'nr right circular cylinder V = irr^h

2

right circular cone V= -irr^h

right square pyramid

3

LATERAL SURFACE AREA FORMULAS

rectangular prism LA = 2{hw) + 2(lh)
right circular cyhnder LA = liirh
right circular cone LA = irrt
right square pyramid LA = 2s€
(€ = slant height)

TOTAL SURFACE AREA FORMULAS

cube SA 652
rectangular prism SA 2(/w) + 2(hw) + 2(lh)
sphere SA
right circular cyhnder SA 2TTr^ + 2'T^rh
right circular cone SA
right square pyramid SA s^+2s€
(£ = slant height)

46337

235
 3

Grade 10 Mathematics
Spring 2005 Released Items:
Reporting Categories, Standards, and Correct Answers

Correct Answer
ItPITI
1 III ]Vo
i ^ \j* Psgc No, RpnortiTiQ r^atPQorv
(MC/S.\)*

1 211 Number Sense and Operations 10.N.2 B

2 211 Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probabilit}' lO.D.l C
3 212 Patterns, Relations, and Algebra 10.P.7 B
4 212 Number Sense and Operations 10.N.2 B
5 212 Patterns. Relations, and Algebra 10.P.4 C
6 213 Number Sense and Operations 10.N.3 B
7 213 Number Sense and Operations lO.N.l A
8 213 Number Sense and Operations 10.N.4 C
9 214 Measurement 1 O.M.I A
10 214 Patterns. Relations, and Algebra 10.P.2 A
11 215 Number Sense and Operations 10.N.4 C
12 215 Number Sense and Operations 10.\.3 c
13 215 Patterns, Relations, and Algebra 10. P. D
14 216 Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability' IG.D.l c
15 217 Measurement lO.M.l 8 inches

16 217 Number Sense and Operations 8.N.10 9

17 218 Patterns. Relations, and .Algebra 10.P.7

any fraction, decimal, or percent

18 219 Data .Analysis, Statistics, and Probability lO.D.l
appro.ximatelv equal to -j-

19 219 Geometiy 10.G.3 80°

20 220 Geometiy 10.G.7

21 221 Measurement 1 O.M.I

22 222 Data .Analysis, Statistics, and Probabilit}- lO.D.l C

23 223 Data Analysis. Statistics, and Probability lO.D.l D
24 223 Measurement 1 O.M.I A
25 224 Geometiy 10.G.7 C
26 224 Patterns. Relations, and .Algebra 10.P.7 A
27 225 .Measurement 10.M.2 D
28 225 Data .Analysis. Statistics, and Probabilit}- lO.D.l B
29 226 Geometiy 10.G.6 B
30 227 Data .Analysis. Statistics, and Probabilit}- lO.D.l C
31 228 Patterns, Relations, and Algebra 10.P.8

32 229 Geometiy 10.G.5 C

33 229 Patterns. Relations, and .Algebra 10.P.6 B
34 229 Patterns, Relations, and Algebra 10.P.3 D
35 230 Data .Analysis, Statistics, and Probabilit}- 10.D.2 A
36 230 Data .Analysis, Statistics, and Probabilit}- lO.D.l C
37 231 Data .Analysis. Statistics, and Probabilit}- lO.D.l B
38 231 Geometn 10.G.5 A
39 Patterns. Relations, and Algebra 10.P.7 C
40 232 .Measurement lO.M.l B
41 233 Number Sense and Operations 10.N.2

42 234 Data Analysis. Statistics, and Probabilit}- lO.D.l

* Answers are provided here for multiple-choice and short-answer items only. Sample responses and scoring guidelines for
open-response items, which are indicated by shaded cells, will be posted to the Department's Web site later this year.

236
X. Science and Technology/Engineering, Grade 5
 Grade 5 Science and
Technology/Engineering Test
The spring 2005 Grade 5 MCAS Science and Technology/Engineering Test was based
on learning standards in the Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering
Curriculum framework (2001). The Framework identifies four major content strands,
listed below. Page numbers for the grade 3-5 learning standards appear in parentheses.

I Earth and Space Science (Framework, pages 22-26)

I Life Science (Biology) [Framework, pages 41-44)

I Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) [Framework, pages 57-59)

I Technology/Engineering [Framework, pages 75-76)

The Science and Technology/Engineering Curriculum Framework is available on the

Department Web site at www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/scitech/2001/0501.pdf.

In Test hem Analysis Reports and on the Subject Area Subscore pages of the MCAS
School Reports and District Reports, Science and Technology/Engineering test results

are reported under four MCAS reporting categories, which are identical to the four

Curriculum Framework content strands listed above.

Test Sessions and Content Overview

The MCAS Grade 5 Science and Technology/Engineering Test included two separate test

sessions. Each session included multiple-choice and open-response questions.

Reference Materials and Tools

The use of bilingual word-to-word dictionaries was allowed for limited English proficient

students only, during both Science and Technology/Engineering test sessions. No other

reference tools or materials were allowed.

Cross-Reference Information

The table at the conclusion of this chapter indicates each item's reporting category

and the Framework learning standard it assesses. The correct answers for multiple-choice

questions are also displayed in the table.

238
 Science and Technology/Engineering

Session 1

DIRECTIONS
This session contains seventeen multiple-clioice questions and two open-response questions.
Mark your answers to these questions in the spaces provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

The picture below shows a group of toys The table below shows the average
on the floor. monthly temperatures for Massachusetts
over a 30-year period.

Month Temperature
January -1°C
February o°c
March 3°C
April 9

May 15°C
June 20°C
Which property of this set appears to be July 23°C
the same?
August 22°C
A. length
September 18°C
B. pattern
October 13°C
C. shape November 7°C
D. volume December 1°C

The average temperature for April is

missing. Which is the best estimate of
the average temperature for April?

A. rc
B. 10°C

C. 16°C

D. 20°C

239
Science and Technology/Engineering Session 1

Which of the following activities is the The picture below shows a light bulb.
best example of instinctive behavior in an
animal?

A. A dog sits when told to sit by its

owner.

B. A bird avoids an insect that has a bad

taste.

C. A newly hatched sea turtle walks ( bottom

toward the ocean.

D. A chimpanzee uses a stick to pull

termites from a tree stump.
The bottom of this light bulb is an example
of what type of simple machine?

A. a lever
The picture below shows a duck
B. a pulley
swimming in a lake.
C. a screw

D. a wedge

O David planted ten com seeds in sandy soil

and ten com seeds in clay soil. He kept
both groups of plants at room temperature,
gave them the same amount of water, and
placed them all in the same sunny room.

Which of the following questions is David

most able to answer with his experiment?

A. How much soil and water do com

seeds need to grow?

B. Do com plants grow better in sandy

A student sees a mirror image of a duck soil or in clay soil?

in the water of the lake. What causes this

C. Do com plants grown in sandy soil
mirror image?
need more water than com plants
A. black light grown in clay soil?

B. refracted light D. What are the effects of soil,

temperature, water, and sunshine
C. reflected light on the growth of com plants?
D. absorbed light

240
Science and Technology/Engineering Session 1

Which of the following animals goes Alicia has lots of old bicycle parts.
through metamorphosis? She wants to build something new
with the parts. What is the first thing
A. alligator
Alicia should do?
B. frog
A. plan the new item
C. lizard
B. construct the new item
D. turtle
C. try out the new item
D. evaluate the new item
Which of the following objects is probably
the most flexible?

A. a ceramic dish When treesdevelop leaves in the spring,

changes occur on the forest floor. Why
B. a wooden block does the development of leaves cause
C. a short steel rod changes on the forest floor?

D. a new rubber hose A. Rainfall increases.

B. Sunlight is reduced.

C. Wind speed increases.

D. Animal migration is stopped.

241
Science and Technology/Engineering Session 1

A student created the table of materials The picture below shows a staircase.
shown below.

Natural Materials Human-made Materials

wood plastic

cotton polyester

clay silk

Which of the materials in the table is

listed incorrectly?

A. silk

B. clay

C. plastic

D. wood
A staircase is most like what type of
simple machine?

A. lever

The purpose of thorns on a plant is most B. wedge

likely to
C. inclined plane
A. help the plant to get moisture.
D. wheel and axle
B. anchor the plant in the ground.

C. protect the plant from harm.

D. support the stems and branches.

Which of the following properties
best describes a material's ability to
resist scratching?

A. weight

B. flexibility

C. length

D. hardness

242
Science and Technology/Engineering Session 1

When a volcano erupts, lava flows out In a city, the daily high and low
from the top. What type of rock is formed temperatures for a month are best
as the lava cools? represented by which of the following?

A. magma A. flow chart

B. igneous B. line graph

C. sedimentary C. pictograph

D. metamorphic D. pie chart

243
Science and Technology/Engineering Session 1

The pictures below show animals separated into two different groups.

The animals above are grouped by eating habits. Which of the following animals belongs
in Group A?

A. squirrel

B. sheep

C. hawk
D. goat

244
Science and Technology/Engineering Session 1

DIRECTIONS
Questions 18 and 19 are open-response questions.

• BE SURE TO ANSWER AND LABEL ALL PARTS OF EACH QUESTION.

• Show all your work (diagrams, tables, or computations) in your Student Answer Booklet.
• If you do the work in your head, explain in writing how you did the work.

Write your answer to question 18 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

Starting from an egg, a butterfly goes through four stages in its life cycle.

a. In your Student Answer Booklet, draw the life cycle of a butterfly, showing the four
stages in order.

b. Label each of the four stages.

c. Draw arrows to connect the stages in the correct order.

Write your answer to question 19 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

A cook notices a teakettle full of water on a stove. There is a cold window close to the spout
of the kettle. The water begins to boil and water droplets begin to form on the window.

a. Describe in detail what is happening to the water inside the kettle.

b. Why do the water droplets form on the window? Be sure to explain in detail.

245
 Science and Technology/Engineering

Session 2
DIRECTIONS
This session contains seventeen multiple-choice questions and three open-response questions.
Mark your answers to these questions in the spaces provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

Kendra has a mineral that she wants to identify. It is white in color, has a glassy luster,
and has a hardness of 5. The table below shows some properties of selected minerals.

Mineral Color(s) Luster Hardness

Calcite White Dull or Pearly 3
Fluorite White, Blue, Green, Violet Glassy 4
Apatite White, Green, Brown, Violet Glassy or Greasy 5
Topaz Yellow, Red, White, Blue Glassy 8

Based on the information in the table, Kendra's mineral is most similar to

A. calcite.

B. fluorite.

C. apatite.

D. topaz.

Female seals usually return to the same What happens to the path of a light ray as
beaches year after year to give birth. it passes from air into water at an angle?
If they are repeatedly disturbed by
A. Its path widens.
humans at those beaches, how will
the seals most likely respond? B. Its path bends.

A. They will change color. C. Its path becomes shorter.

B. They will give birth to more pups. D. Its path continues in a straight line.

C. They will hunt for food more often.

D. They will give birth at different

beaches.

246
Science and Technology/Engineering Session 2

The weather balloon shown below is made Tomato plants grow in warm weather.
to carry instruments for collecting data If thetemperature drops below 32°F for
about the atmosphere. two days in a row, what will most likely
happen to the tomato plants?

A. They will die.

B. They will migrate.

C. They will hibernate.

D. They will grow faster.

When the temperature of a sample of

water is -5°C, the water is

A. a gas.

B. a liquid.

C. a solid.

D. a vapor.

Balloon

Instruments

What property of the instruments must be

considered in order for the balloon to rise?

A. height

B. shape

C. strength

D. weight

247
Science and Technology/Engineering Session 2

In which case would it take the most effort ff^l Which habitat on Earth would probably
to make points 1 and 2 on the magnets add the greatest amount of water to the
touch each other? water cycle through evaporation?

A. cold lake
N S «
'1 2' >
N S
B. desert sand

C. warm ocean
D. mountain rock
B.
s N "
•1 2' '
S N

C.
N' '1 2' 'N

S S

D.
•
1 2' 'S

S N

Clouds and fog are made up of

A. water.

B. heat.

C. light.

D. helium.

248
Science and Technology/Engineering Session 2

Which of the following was probably When a light bulb is turned on, energy
most important in the formation of dark, changes from one form to another.
fertile soil that is good for farming? Which of the following best describes
this change?
A. plant decomposition
A. sound energy to light energy
B. radioactive decay
B. nuclear energy to light energy
C. water erosion
C. electrical energy to light energy
D. wind erosion
D. magnetic energy to light energy

249
Science and Technology/Engineering Session 2

The picture below shows a flower with a long slender bloom.

The size and shape of a bird's beak are related to the type of food that the bird eats. Which
of the following beaks is suitable for drinking nectar located deep within flowers such as the
one shown above?

A.

B.

D.

250
Science and Technology/Engineering Session 2

Which of the following climates has cold Sound reaches our ears because sound
winters and hot summers? makes air particles

A. polar A. heat up.

B. subtropical B. cool down.

C. temperate C. slow down.

D. tropical D. vibrate.

A small laundry room has several shelves

above the washing machine. These shelves
are an example of

A. making the wall stronger.

B. using storage space efficiently.

C. using a machine for more than

one purpose.

D. solving the need for shelter in a

creative way.

251
Science and Technology/Engineering Session 2

The picture below shows a compass. Which weather instrument measures

air pressure /

A. thermometer

B. anemometer

C. rain gauge

D. barometer

Which type of energy causes the needle on

this compass to move?
A. heat

B. light

C. magnetic

D. sound

252
Science and Technology/Engineering Session 2

DIRECTIONS
Questions 37 through 39 are open-response questions.

• BE SURE TO ANSWER AND LABEL ALL PARTS OF EACH QUESTION.

• Show your work (diagrams, tables, or computations) in your Student Answer Booklet.
all
• If you do the work in your head, explain in writing how you did the work.

Write your answer to question 37 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

How is soil formed? In your answer, include two of the major components of soil.

253
Science and Technology/Engineering Session 2

Write your answer to question 38 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

^ The picture below shows some camping supplies. These supplies were brought on a camping trip
by a group of students.

pans

The students forgot their tent. The weather forecast predicted rain for that evening.

a. From the supplies pictured, list materials that the students can use to construct a shelter to
keep dry.

b. Describe how the students would use these materials to create the shelter.

c. The students' shelter needs to be safe. Should the students build their shelter in the clearing near
the stream or in the wooded area? Explain the reasons for your choice based on safety factors.

254
Science and Technology/Engineering Session 2

Write your answer to question 39 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

Penguins are birds that have webbed feet and very small wings. They are unable to fly, but
can use their wings as paddles. They also have thick, oily feathers and a thick layer of fat.
Most penguins are black and white in color.

a. List two features of penguins that help them survive.

b. Explain how these features help penguins survive in their natural environment.

255
 Grade 5 Science and Technology/Engineering
Spring 2005 Released Items:
Reporting Categories, Standards, and Correct Answers

Correct Answer
Item No. Pflgc No. RpnortiriQ ^iit'PQorv StanHarH
(MC)*

1 239 Physical Science (Chemistry and Physics) 1 C

2 239 Earth and Space Science 6 B
3 240 Life Science (Biology) 8 C
4 240 Physical Science (Chemistry and Physics) 12 C
5 240 Tech nology/Engin eering 1.3 C
6 240 Earth and Space Science 5 B
7 241 Life Science (Biology) 4 B
8 241 Physical Science (Chemistry and Physics) 1 D
9 241 Technology /Engin eering 2.3 A
10 241 Life Science (Biology) 10 B
11 242 Techno Iogy/Engin eering 2.4 A
12 242 Life Science (Biology) 2 C
13 242 Technology/Engineering 1.3 c
14 242 Technology/Engineering 1.1 D
15 243 Earth and Space Science 3 B
16 243 Technology /Engin eering 2.2 B
17 244 Life Science (Biology) 1 C
18 245 Life Science (Biology) 4

19 245 Physical Science (Chemistry and Physics) 3

20 246 Earth and Space Science 2 C

21 246 Life Science (Biology) 7 D
22 246 Physical Science (Chemistry and Physics) 12 B
23 247 Technology/Engineering 2.3 D
24 247 Life Science (Biology) 7 A
25 247 Physical Science (Chemistry and Physics) 2 C
26 248 Physical Science (Chemistiy and Physics) 9 C
27 248 Earth and Space Science 10 A
28 248 Earth and Space Science 11 C
29 249 Earth and Space Science 4 A
30 249 Physical Science (Chemistry and Physics) 5 C
31 250 Life Science (Biology) 6 D
32 251 Earth and Space Science 9 C
33 251 Physical Science (Chemistry- and Physics) 11 D
34 251 Techno Iogy/Engin eering 2.1 B
35 252 Physical Science (Chemistry and Physics) 4 C
36 252 Ear-th and Space Science 6 D
37 253 Earth and Space Science 4

38 254 Technology/Engineering 2.1

39 255 Life Science (Biology) 6

* Answers are provided here for multiple-choice items only. Sample responses and scoring guidelines for open-response
items, which are indicated by shaded cells, will be posted to the Department's Web site later this year.

256
^ XI. Science and Technology/Engineering, Grade 8
 Grade 8 Science and
Technology/Engineering Test
The spring 2005 Grade 8 MCAS Science and Technology/Engineering Test was based
on learning standards in the Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering
Curriculum Framework (2001). The Framework identifies four major content strands
listed below. Page numbers for the grade 6-8 learning standards appear in parentheses.

I Earth and Space Science {Framework, pages 29-30)

I Life Science (Biology) {Framework, pages 46-48)

I Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) {Framework, pages 60-62)

I Technology/Engineering {Framework, pages 76-79)

The Science and Technology/Engineering Curriculum Framework is available on the

Department Web site at www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/scitech/2001/0501.pdf.

In Test Item Analysis Reports and on the Subject Area Subscore pages of the MCAS
School Reports and District Reports, Science and Technology/Engineering test results

are reported under four MCAS reporting categories, which are identical to the four

Curriculum Framework content strands listed above.

Test Sessions and Content Overview

The MCAS Grade 8 Science and Technology/Engineering Test included two separate test

sessions. Each session included multiple-choice and open-response questions.

Reference iViaterials and Tools

The use of bilingual word-to-word dictionaries was allowed for limited English proficient

students only, during both Science and Technology/Engineering test sessions. No other

reference tools or materials were allowed.

Cross-Reference Information

The table at the conclusion of this chapter indicates each item's reporting category

and the Framework learning standard it assesses. The correct answers for multiple-choice

questions are also displayed in the table.

258
 Science and Technology/Engineering

Session 1

DIRECTIONS
This session contains seventeen multiple-choice questions and two open-response questions.
Mark your answers to these questions in the spaces provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

O While hiking through Granville State

Forest, a student finds an unusual
The drawing below shows an entrance
building with both steps and a ramp.
to a

plant-like organism that appears to

lack chlorophyll. When the student
examines a sample using a microscope,
he sees many cells with cell walls and
no chloroplasts.

This organism is most likely a member

of what Kingdom?
A. Animalia

B. Eubacteria

C. Fungi
The ramp in front of this building most
D. Protista likely functions as which of the following?

A. an assistive device

o Which of the following

explains why
statements best
the lower mantle of Earth
B. a structural support

C. a prosthetic device
is much more rigid and dense than the
upper mantle? D. a suspension system

A. The lower mantle is older than the

upper mantle.
Which of the following is an example
B. The lower mantle is cooler than the of a physical change?
upper mantle.
A. lighting a match
C. The lower mantle under more
is

pressure than the upper mantle.

B. breaking a glass

D. The lower mantle is farther from the C. burning of gasoline

core than the upper mantle. D. rusting of iron

259
Science and Technology/Engineering Session 1

Mercury, the planet nearest to the Sun, When air near the ground is warmed by
has extreme surface temperatures, sunlight, which of the following occurs?
ranging from 465°C in sunlight to -180°C
A. The warm air radiates and becomes
in darkness.
cool again.
Why is there such a large range of
B. The warm air evaporates into the
temperatures on Mercury?
cooler air.

A. The planet is too small to hold heat.

C. The warm air expands and rises,
B. The planet is heated on only one side. resulting in convection.

C. The planet reflects heat from its D. The warm air loses its abihty to hold
dark side. water and precipitates.

D. The planet lacks an atmosphere to

hold heat.

^ Fossilized coral reefs, fish, and other

water marine creatures have been found
warm

in mountainous regions of New England.

Which of the following best explains how
this could have occurred?

A. The climate and geology of this area

have changed over time.

B. These creatures were better adapted to

cold climates at one time.

C. The process of fossilization greatly

changed the original material.

D. Scavengers carried the remains of

these creatures to higher regions.

260
Science and Technology/Engineering Session 1

The diagram below represents part of the horse fossil record from three time periods. It includes
illustrations of the hooves and teeth of horses from each time period.

Hoof Tooth Hoof Tooth Hoof Tooth

Which of the following statements is best supported by the horse fossil record?

A. The horse has been a carnivore.

B. The horse has changed over time.

C. The horse has many common ancestors.

D. The horse has lived in the same ecosystem.

261
Science and Technology/Engineering Session 1

The diagram below represents a diver's ^pl The diagram below shows a polar
motion from the top of a high diving board projection of Earth and four positions
into a pool of water. of the Moon.

Sun's
Rays

©
© ©
©
The highest high tides and lowest low
tides are called spring tides. Which
positions of the Moon produce spring
tides in Earth's oceans?

A. 1 and 2

B. 2 and 4

C. land 3

D. 3 and 4

At which labeled point does the diver have

the least potential energy?

A. 1

B. 2

C. 3

D. 4

262
Science and Technology/Engineering Session 1

The diagram below shows the path of a jet Which of the following describes a feature
from Washington, D.C. to Dallas, TX. that is shared by Earth and the Moon?
A. They have nearly the same
atmosphere.

B. They have almost the same

CANADA gravitational pull.

C. They have a rocky crust that

includes mountains.

D. They have areas that show

considerable water erosion.

Dalluv ^

MEXICO
PACIFIC
OCEAN

The approximately 2 hours and

trip takes
covers approximately 1900 km. Which of
the following best describes the speed and
direction of the jet's flight?

A. 475 km/h southwest

B. 950 km/h southwest

C. 1900 km/h southwest

D. 3800 km/h southwest

263
Science and Technology/Engineering Session 1

A beam bridge supporting a toy truck is Sulfur (S), oxygen (O2), water (H2O), and
siiown in the diagram below. sodium chloride (NaCl) are all examples
of pure substances. Which of the following
describes all pure substances?

A. A pure substance consists of only one

type of element.

B. A pure substance has a definite

chemical composition.

C. A pure substance cannot be broken

down into simpler substances.

D. A pure substance is normally found as

a solid at room temperature.

When an object pushes down on this

bridge, the bottom edge experiences a
force that tends to pull it apart as shown.
What is the type of force labeled X?
A. compression

B. shear

C. tension

D. torsion

If 1 kg of the compound toluene melts

at -95°C, then 500 g of toluene will

A. melt at -47.5°C.

B. mehat-95°C.
C. boilat95°C.

D. boilat47.5°C.

264
Science and Technology/Engineering Session 1

The drawing below represents a bit Which of the following is performed by

used in a power drill. the quality control division of a company
that is manufacturing a chair?

A. applying the varnish

B. assembling the parts

C. cutting the material

D. inspecting the finish

Which of the following metals is most

suitable for making this drill bit?

A. aluminum

B. copper

C. gold

D. steel

265
Science and Technology/Engineering Session 1

DIRECTIONS
Questions 18 and 19 are open-response questions.

• BE SURE TO ANSWER AND LABEL ALL PARTS OF EACH QUESTION.

• Show all your work (diagrams, tables, or computations) in your Student Answer Booklet.
• If you do the work in your head, explain in writing how you did the work.

Write your answer to question 18 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

Two different bars of soap are being investigated by a group of students. They measured the mass
and volume of each bar and recorded the results in the table below.

Soap Mass (g) Volume (cm^) Density of water = 1.0 g/cm'

A 110 100
B 95 100

a. Calculate the density of each bar of soap. Show your work.

b. The diagram below represents a container of water. In your Student Answer Booklet, copy the
container of water as illustrated. Draw and label the positions that soap bar A and soap bar B
would occupy if they were placed in this container.

Air

Water

c. Explain why you drew each bar of soap in the position selected.

266
Science and Technology/Engineering Session 1

Write your answer to question 19 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

Members of this forest community get materials they need to survive from the ecosystem. These
materials are constantly being recycled.

a. Explain the role of grass in this food web, and include in your response why it is at the bottom
of the web.

b. What is the role of the grasshopper in this food web?

c. Explain what would happen to the population of snakes if the rabbits were suddenly removed
from this ecosystem.

d. Explain what would happen to the grasshopper population if the insect-eating birds were
suddenly removed from this ecosystem.

267
 Science and Technology/Engineering

Session 2
DIRECTIONS
This session contains seventeen multiple-choice questions and three open-response questions.
Mark your answers to these questions in the spaces provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

How many different elements are in the The diagram below shows the supports of
compound sodium carbonate (Na2C03)? a proposed bridge.

A. 1

B. 3

C. 6

D. 7
Which of the following wooden bridge
designs, if built from one support to the

other, would withstand the heaviest load?

Lightning from a thunderstorm strikes a

and dies.
tree that falls to the forest floor
During the next few years the dead tree
undergoes many changes.

What organisms are most likely

responsible for the biological and
chemical changes to the tree?

A. consumers
B.
B. decomposers

C. predators

D. producers

C.

268
Science and Technology/Engineering Session 2

The axes below relate the temperature to

the depth below Earth's surface.

8,000

u
o
6,000
800 1600 2400 3200 4(KX) 48(X) 36(K) 6400
II II I

3
I

4,000 Crust Mantle Outer

Core Core
2
a 2,000-
Depth of Earth (km)

i_i I
800 1600 2400 3200 4000 4800 5600 6400 B.
I II II I

Crust Mantle Outer Inner

Core Core
Depth of Earth (km)

Which of the following graphs best

represents temperatures inside Earth? 800 1600 24(K1 320(1 4000 4800 5600 6400
II II II I

Crust Mantle Outer

Core Core

Depth of Earth (km)

C.

Crust Mantle Inner

Core

Depth of Earth (km)

269
Science and Technology/Engineering Session 2

A.
The diagram below shows a
three-dimensional object.

Top

Front Side
Front

B.
Which of the following diagrams correctly
shows an orthographic projection of this
three-dimensional object?

Front Side

Front Side

D. I 1

Top

Front Side

270
Science and Technology/Engineering Session 2

On Earth, Johanna weighs 100 lbs. She The population of which of the following
calculated what her weight would be at organisms would most likely decline if
several other locations in the solar system. small animals like rats, rabbits, and snakes
The results are shown in the table below. were eliminated from an ecosystem?

A. earthworms
Location in Weight
B. grasses
Solar System (lbs.)
C. hawks
Venus 90
D. mushrooms
Earth 100

Moon 16

Mars 40 In producing an automobile, which of the

following is the best use of a robot?
Jupiter 260
A. to perform repetitive tasks
Which of the following statements is best
B. to determine the trunk space
supported by the information in the table?
C. to demonstrate passenger comfort
A. Venus has more gravitational force
than Earth. D. to perform quality control inspections

B. Mars has less gravitational force than

the Moon.
Which of the following is an example
C. Earth has four times the gravitational of heat transfer by conduction?
force of Mars.
A. a whole metal spoon getting hot when
D. Jupiter has more than twice the one end is in hot soup
gravitational force of Earth.
B. the inside of a car in the sun getting
very hot

C. a tar road getting hotter in the sun than

a concrete sidewalk

D. a fireplace fire heating a room on a

cold day

271
Science and Technology/Engineering Session 2

The diagram below illustrates the motion Which cellular organelle uses oxygen and
of prevailing winds over oceans on Earth. glucose to provide energy to the cell?

A. mitochondrion

B. nucleus

C. ribosome

D. vacuole

Key
Eastern United States

(2) Europe

from the eastern United

If a sailboat sailed
States toEurope and then back, which of
the following winds would most directly
power the sailboat?

A. Polar Easterlies going and

Westerlies returning

B. Northeast Trade Winds going and

Westerlies returning

C. Westerlies going and Northeast

Trade Winds returning

D. Southeast Trade Winds going and

Northeast Trade Winds returning

272
Science and Technology/Engineering Session 2

The drawings below show skulls of three In order for a glider to fly, its weight must
modem animals. be opposed by

A. lift.

B. drag.

C. gravity.

D. friction.

true
seal

The three skulls all share characteristics

with a fossil skull of an extinct seal (not
shown) that is believed to be 23 million
years old. What conclusion can be drawn
about the relationship between the three
modem animals and the fossil?
A. They are all the same species.

B. They share a common ancestor.

C. They share the same food supply.

D. They are all 23 million years old.

273
Science and Technology /Engineering Session 2

The diagram below shows a cell. The drawing below shows a wooden crate.

Which of the following sets of equipment

Nucleus
is most appropriate to design and

construct this wooden crate?

Where would this cell most likely
A. hammer, wrench, electric drill, sander
be found?
B. electric drill, nails, chisel, screwdriver
A. bark
C. measuring tape, hand saw,
B. frog
nails, hammer
C. leaf
D. electric stapler, pliers,

D. mushroom yardstick, screwdriver

274
Science and Technology/Engineering Session 2

When dense, cold air pushes beneath Four containers of water with different
warmer atmospheric air, the Hghter, temperatures are placed on a table as
warmer air rises. As this air rises into the shown below. The temperature of the
atmosphere, it cools and some of the water room is 25 °C.
vapor in it condenses.

Which of the following will most likely

form as this occurs?

A. a cloud

B. a rainbow

C. a sunset

D. a tornado
After four hours, which beaker of water
will have exchanged the most heat energy
with the environment?

A. W
B. X
C. Y
D. Z

275
Science and Technology/Engineering Session 2

DIRECTIONS
Questions 37 through 39 are open-response questions.

• BE SURE TO ANSWER AND LABEL ALL PARTS OF EACH QUESTION.

• Show all your work (diagrams, tables, or computations) in your Student Answer Booklet.
• If you do the work in your head, explain in writing how you did the work.

Write your answer to question 37 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

a. Identify the landform shown at point A. Describe how the contour lines and elevations are used
to represent the features of this landform.

b. Identify the landform shown at point B. Describe how the contour lines and elevations are used
to represent the features of this landform.

276
Science and Technology/Engineering Session 2

Write your answer to question 38 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

The graph below relates distance to time for a jogger on a morning run.

Distance vs. Time

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Time (min)

Juan is on a morning jog. His speed is represented in the graph.

a. At what rate of speed is Juan running between 4 min and 6 min?

b. According to this graph, what can you tell about Juan's motion between 7 min and 1 1 min?

c. If Juan had maintained the same speed as in the first 7 min, how long would it have taken
him to run 3000 m? Explain your answer.

277
Science and Technology/Engineering Session 2

Write your answer to question 39 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

A communication link between a Coast Guard patrol boat and its base station is shown below.

(not to scale)

The boat uses the satellite to communicate its position to the base station.

a. Explain the purpose of a decoder in a communication system.

b. Identify one of the decoders in this system and describe how it is used.

c. Explain the purpose of a transmitter in a communication system.

d. Identify one of the examples of a transmitter in this system. For the transmitter you have
identified, explain its specific role.

278
 1

Grade 8 Science and Technology/Engineering

Spring 2005 Released Items:
Reporting Categories, Standards, and Correct Answers

Correct Answer
Item No. Page No. Reporting Category Standard
(MC)*

1 259 Life Science (Biology) 1 C

2 259 Earth and Space Science 2 C
3 259 Technology/Engineering 7.1 A
4 259 Physical Science (Chemistry and Physics) 10 B
5 260 Earth and Space Science 10 D
6 260 Life Science (Biology) 17 A
7 260 Earth and Space Science 3 C
8 261 Life Science (Biologx') 18 B
9 262 Physical Science (Chemistry and Physics) 13 D
10 262 Earth and Space Science 9 B
11 263 Physical Science (Chemistry and Physics) 11 B
12 263 Earth and Space Science 10 C
13 264 Technology/Engineering 5.3 C
14 264 Physical Science (Chemistry and Physics) 9 B
15 264 Physical Science (Chemistry and Physics) 8 B
16 265 Technology/Engineering 1.1 D
17 265 Technology/Engineering 4.4 D
18 266 Physical Science (Chemistry and Physics) 2

19 267 Life Science (Biology) 14

20 268 Physical Science (Chemistry and Physics) 5 B

21 268 Life Science (Biology) 15 B
22 268 Technology/Engineering 5.4 D
23 269 Earth and Space Science 2 B
24 270 Technology/Engineering 2.2 A
25 271 Physical Science (Chemistry and Phvsics) 1 D
26 271 Life Science (Biology) 14 C
27 271 Technology/Engineering 4.2 A
28 271 Physical Science (Chemistry and Physics) 16 A
29 272 Earth and Space Science 4 C
30 272 Life Science (Biology) 4 A
31 273 Life Science (Biolosv) 1 B
32 273 Technology/Engineering 6.4 A
33 274 Life Science (Biology) 3 C
34 274 Technology/Engineering 2.4 C
35 275 Earth and Space Science 4 A
36 275 Physical Science (Chemistry and Physics) 16 A
37 276 Earth and Space Science 1

38 277 Physical Science (Chemistry and Physics) 12

39 278 Technology/Engineering 3.1

* Answers are provided here for multiple-choice items only. Sample responses and scoring guidelines for open-response items,
which are indicated by shaded cells, will be posted to the Department's Web site later this year.

279
 I

XII. Biology, Grade 10

 Grade 1 0 Biology Pilot Test

The spring 2005 Grade 10 MCAS Biology Test was based on learning standards in

the Biology content strand of the Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering

Curriculum Framework (2001). These learning standards appear on pages 49-51 of
the Framework.

The Science and Technology/Engineering Curriculum Framework is available on the

Department Web site at www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/scitech/2001/0501.pdf.

Because the Grade 10 Biology Test was administered as a pilot test this year, the reporting

of results is limited to Test Item Analysis Reports. No scaled score or performance level

results are available.

Test Sessions and Content Overview

The MCAS Grade 10 Biology Test included two separate test sessions. Each session
included multiple-choice and open-response questions.

Reference IVIaterials and Tools

The Grade 10 Biology Test was designed to be taken without the aid of a calculator.

Students were allowed to have calculators with them during testing, but calculators

were not needed to answer questions. No other reference tools or materials were allowed.

The use of bilingual word-to-word dictionaries was allowed for limited English proficient

students only, during both test sessions.

Cross-Reference Information

The table at the conclusion of this chapter indicates the Framework learning standard that

each item assesses. The correct answers for multiple-choice questions are also
displayed in the table.

282
 Biology
Session 1

DIRECTIONS
This session contains ten multiple-choice questions and one open-response question. Mark your
answers to these questions in the spaces provided in your Student Answer Booklet. You may
work out solutions to multiple-choice questions in the test booklet.

The diagram below shows a generalized In comparisons of the evolutionary

cycle in sexually reproducing animals. relationships between four species of
birds, which of the following would be
most useful?

A. color of feathers

B. gene sequences

C. nesting behaviors

D. patterns of migration

Afeiosis

What is Process A in this cycle?

A. fertilization

B. mitosis

C. osmosis

D. replication

283
Biology Session 1

Genetic information for a breed of chicken is shown below.

Frizzle Fowl

Types of Chickens with Different Feathers

Genotype Phenotype

FF Normal (Normal feathers)

Ff Frizzle fowl (Curly feathers)

ff Feather shedder (Loses feathers easily)

Which of the following crosses of chickens will produce only Frizzle fowl offspring?

A. Normal X Frizzle fowl

B. Frizzle fowl X Frizzle fowl

C. Normal X Feather shedder

D. Feather shedder X Feather shedder

284
Biology Session 1

Plants use many gallons of water every The table below shows the elemental
day. Almost all of the water used by composition of three different types
plants absorbed through the roots.
is of organisms.
Water leaves plants by which process?

A. infiltration Elemental Composition of Selected

Organisms (percent by weight)
B. precipitation
E. coli
C. runoff Element Human Alfalfa Bacterium
D. transpiration O 65.0 77.9 73.7
C 18.5 11.3 12.1

H 9.5 8.7 9.9

X 3.3 0.8 3.0

P 1.0 0.7 0.6

S 0.3 0.1 0.3

Total 97.6% 99.5% 99.6%

The X in the table represents which of the

following elements?

A. calcium (Ca)

B. iron (Fe)

C. nitrogen (N)

D. sodium (Na)

285
Biology Session 1

The diverse organisms shown in Along the Pacific coast of North America,
the diagram below belong to the there are at least seven subspecies of
same Kingdom. Ensatina eschscholtzii salamanders. All
of them descended from a common
ancestral population. As the species
spread, subpopulations adapted to
their local environments.

Which of the following must have

increased as a result of these adaptations?

A. the number of chromosomes in

each salamander

B. the size of each salamander in the

total population

C. the biodiversity of the total salamander

population

D. the number of offspring produced by

To which Kingdom do these each salamander
organisms belong?

A. AnimaHa
B. Fungi

C. Plantae

D. Protista

286
Biology Session 1

Question 8 is an open-response question.

• BE SURE TO ANSWER AND LABEL ALL PARTS OF THE QUESTION.
• Show all your work (diagrams, tables, or computations) in your Student Answer Booklet.
• If you do the work in your head, explain in writing how you did the work.

Write your answer to question 8 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

The box below shows a list of supplies that are available in a laboratory.

• four flasks with stoppers

• floodlight
• tap water
• graduated cylinders
• small aquarium plants
• four small fish
• bromthymol blue (a chemical indicator that changes color from blue to yellow as the
level of carbon dioxide in a solution increases)

The class sets up an experiment with the four flasks as shown.

Flask 1: 100 mL water, 1 mL bromthymol blue, plant

Flask 2: 100 mL water, 1 mL bromthymol blue, 2 small fish
Flask 3: 100 mL water, 1 mL bromthymol blue, 2 small fish, plant
Flask 4: 100 mL water, 1 mL bromthymol blue

Flask 1 Flask 2 Flask 3 Flask 4

All four flasks are stoppered and placed under the floodlight,

a. What color would the solution in each flask be after a few hours?

b. Explain how the processes that have occurred in each flask result in the observed color
of the bromthymol blue solutions.

287
Biology Session 1

Mark your answers to multiple-choice questions 9 through 11 in the spaces provided in your Student
Answer Booklet. Do not write your answers in this test booklet, but you may work out solutions to
multiple-choice questions in the test booklet.

O DNA and
both contain
RNA are similar because they The diagram below shows a food web.

A. deoxyribose. herons alligators

B. nucleotides.

C. thymine.
tadpoles
D. double helices.

algae decomposers
Four students attempted to classify
organisms into the Plant and Animal
Which population would probably
Kingdoms. Their classifications are
increase if the tadpole population
shown in the table below.
decreased?

Plants Animals A. herons

Eukaryotic Prokaryotic B. alligators

Student 1
cells cells
C. fish
Multicellular Unicellular
Student 2
D. algae
Cells have Cells do not
Student 3
cell walls have cell walls

Heterotrophic Heterotrophic
Student 4
by absorption by ingestion

Which student's classification

correctly separates organisms into
these two Kingdoms?
A. Student 1

B. Student 2

C. Student 3

D. Student 4

288
 Biology
Session 2
DIRECTIONS
This session contains ten multiple-choice questions and one open-response question. Mark your
answers to these questions in the spaces provided in your Student Answer Booklet. You may
work out solutions to multiple-choice questions in the test booklet.

Many animals have internal or external

skeletons that provide support and
structure. Which of the following parts
of plant cells play a similar role?

A. cell membranes
B. cell walls

C. chloroplasts

D. cytoplasm

289
Biology Session 2

The picture below shows two dogs and

their puppies.

Female Male

The parent dogs are each heterozygous

for two traits: fur color and white spotting.
Both parent dogs are solid black. Their
puppies, however, have four different
phenotypes as listed below.

• solid black
• black with white spots
• solid red
• red with white spots

Which of the following explains how

these parent dogs can produce puppies
with these four phenotypes?

A. The genes for these traits are

sex-linked.

B. The genes for these traits

mutate frequently.

C. The genes for these traits

assort independently.

D. The genes for these traits are

on the same chromosome.

290
Biology Session 2

A food web is shown below.

Metallic wood borer

American plum
{Dicera divericata)
(Prunus americana)

American robin
{Turdus migratorius)

White-tailed deer
{Odocoileus virginianus)
Golden mycena
{Mycena leaiana)

Which organism in this food web is a decomposer?

A. American plum

B. golden mycena

C. metallic wood borer

D. white-tailed deer

291
Biology Session 2

The figure below represents the flow of Cyanide is a powerful poison because
food energy through a system. it inhibits an enzyme in mitochondria,
preventing the transfer of energy
Chickens during one of the steps in cellular
respiration. This poison would directly
affect the production of which of the
following molecules?

Wolves
A. ATP
B. glucose

C. oxygen

D. RNA
In an experiment, chickens were fed grain
that contained a chemical marker in its The structure of an organic molecule is
proteins. The presence of the marker can represented below.
be detected in organisms.

Which of the following is the most H OH H

reasonable prediction from this H
experiment? H — X — X — X — X
O
A. The marker will only be found in OH H OH
the grain.

B. Both chickens and wolves will have In this organic molecule, which element
the marker. is identified by each X?

C. Wolves will have the marker, but A. iron

chickens will not.
B. carbon
D. The marker will only be found in the
C. sodium
animals' wastes.
D. phosphorus

292
Biology Session 2

Question 18 is an open-response question.

• BE SURE TO ANSWER AND LABEL ALL PARTS OF THE QUESTION.
• Show all your work (diagrams, tables, or computations) in your Student Answer Booklet.
• If you do the work in your head, explain in writing how you did the work.

Write your answer to question 18 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

^ The chart below shows some triplets from a DNA sequence (codons) and their corresponding
amino acids.

DNA Codon Amino Acid

AGA Arginine
AGG Arginine
AGC Serine

AGT Serine

GGA Glycine
GGT Glycine
GGC Glycine
GGG Glycine
TTG Leucine
TGG Tryptophan
TCG Serine

TCT Serine

A sequence of DNA in a gene reads GGT TCG AGA.

a. What is the sequence of amino acids that is produced when this gene is translated?

b. If the DNA is mutated to read GGT TGG AGC, what will the sequence of amino acids be?

c. Rewrite the original DNA sequence with a single mutation that would not change the sequence
of amino acids.

d. Explain how a mutation can change the DNA but not change the amino acid sequence.

293
Biology Session 2

Mark your answers to multiple-choice questions 19 through 22 in the spaces provided in your Student
Answer Booklet. Do not write your answers in this test booklet, but you may work out solutions to
multiple-choice questions in the test booklet.

The diagrams below show changes in a desert Uzard population.

1 . Population with variety of 2. Predation of individuals with 3. Reproduction of survivors

inherited traits particular traits

Which biological concept is illustrated?

A. polygenic traits

B. natural selection

C. sex-linked inheritance

D. silent mutations

294
 1

Biology Session 2

Which of the following is an example of a 4^ The reaction catalyzed by the bacterial

prokaryotic organism? enzyme B-galactosidase forms a dark-
colored end-product when the cells are
A. bacterium
grown on a particular agar medium.
B. celery As more product is formed, the cells
become darker.
C. horse

D. mushroom Students performed an experiment to

determine the optimum pH for activity of
this enzyme. Their results are shown in the
illustration of bacterial colonies below.
The natural cycling of oxygen between
organisms and their environment is most
Bacterial Colony Color as a Function of pH
directly accomplished through which of
the following pairs of processes?

A. fermentation and oxidation

B. transpiration and evaporation

pH3 pH5 pH7 pH 9 pH 1

C. precipitation and condensation

D. photosynthesis and respiration Based on these data, the students should

conclude that 6-galactosidase functions
best at which pH?

A. 5

B. 7

C. 9

D. 11

295
 Grade 10 Biology
Spring 2005 Released Items:
Standards and Correct Answers

Correct Answer
Item No. Page No. Standard
(MO*
1 283 3.8 A
2 283 5.1 B
3 284 3.7 C
4 285 6.1 D
5 285 1.2 C
6 286 5.3 D
7 286 5.2 C
8 287 2.9

9 288 1.3 B
10 288 5.3 C
11 288 6.2 D
12 289 2.1 B
13 290 3.6 C
14 291 6.2 B
15 292 2.7 B
16 292 2.8 A
17 292 1.1 B
18 293 3.4

19 294 5.2 B
20 295 2.2 A
21 295 6.1 D
22 295 1.5 B

* Answers are provided here for multiple-choice items only. Sample responses and scoring guidelines for open-response items,
which are indicated by shaded cells, will be posted to the Department's Web site later this year.

296
XIII. Chemistry, Grade 10
 Grade 1 0 Chemistry Pilot Test
The spring 2005 Grade 10 MCAS Chemistry Test was based on learning standards in

the Chemistry content strand of the Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering

Curriculum Framework (2001). These learning standards appear on pages 63-67 of
the Framework.

The Science and Technology/Engineering Curriculum Framework is available on the

Department Web site at www.doe.mass.eduyframeworks/scitech/2001/0501.pdf.

Because the Grade 10 Chemistry Test was administered as a pilot test this year, the

reporting of results is limited to Test Item Analysis Reports. No scaled score or

performance level results are available.

Test Sessions and Content Overview

The MCAS Grade 10 Chemistry Test included two separate test sessions. Each session
included multiple-choice and open-response questions.

Reference IVIaterials and Tools

Each student taking the Grade 10 Chemistry Test was provided with a Chemistry
Formula and Constants Sheet/Periodic Table of the Elements. Copies of both sides of this

reference sheet follow the final question in this chapter.

Each student also had sole access to a calculator with at least four functions and a square
root key. No other reference tools or materials were allowed.

The use of bilingual word-to-word dictionaries was allowed for limited English proficient
students only, during both Chemistry test sessions.

Cross-Reference Information

The table at the conclusion of this chapter indicates the Framework learning standard

that each item assesses. The correct answers for multiple-choice questions are also

displayed in the table.

298
 Chemistry
Session 1

DIRECTIONS
This session contains ten multiple-choice questions and one open-response question. Mark your
answers to these questions in the spaces provided in your Student Answer Booklet. You may work
out solutions to multiple-choice questions in the test booklet.

A solid cube was put into a cylinder The correct name for an aqueous solution
containing four liquids with different of HCl is
densities as shown below.
A. chloric acid.

B. chlorous acid.

C. hydrochloric acid.

D. hydrogen chloride.

Substance B = 3.50 g/cm^

Substance C = 6.0 g/cm^

The cube fell quickly through layer A, fell

slowly through layer B, and stopped upon

reaching layer C. The density of the cube
most likely lies between

A. 1.00 and 1.50g/cm\

B. 1.51 and 3.50 g/cm3.

C. 3.51 and 6.00 g/cm3.

D. 6.00 and 9.00 g/cm^.

299
Chemistry Session 1

The solubility of a substance can be Potassium carbonate (K2CO3) is an

described in a variety of ways. Some important component of fertilizer. The
references may use descriptive terms for partially balanced equation for the reaction
solubility, such as those in the table of 6 moles of potassium hydroxide (KOH)
illustrated below. and 3 moles of carbon dioxide (CO2) to
produce potassium carbonate and water
is given below.
Parts of solvent
Descriptive terms needed for
soliitp
1 part
6K0H + 3CO2 ^ _K2C03 + 3H2O
When this equation is balanced, what is
Very soluble <1
the coefficient for potassium carbonate?

Freely soluble 1-10

A. 2

Soluble 10-30 B. 3

Sparingly soluble 30-100 C. 6

Slightly soluble 100-1,000 D. 9

Very slightly soluble 1,000-10,000

Practically insoluble or > 10,000

insoluble

Using the table above as a reference, what

descriptive term would be used for a
medication that required 4,000 mg of
water to dissolve 200 mg of the drug?

A. soluble

B. slightly soluble

C. sparingly soluble

D. very slightly soluble

300
Chemistry Session 1

The figure below represents the periodic table and the location of four different elements on
the table.

W
X
Y z

A certain element has a ground state electron configuration of 15^25^2/7^35^3/7^. Which letter
in the diagram above represents the position of this element on the periodic table?

A. Y
B. W
C. X
D. Z

301
Chemistry Session 1

^ The equation for

shown below.
a chemical reaction is A student was assigned to take water
samples from a lake near his home. He

C(s) + 2H2(g) ^ CH4(g) + heat

measured the pH of one of the water
samples to be 6.0. Which of the following
best describes this sample of water?
Which of the following actions will
produce a shift of the reaction to the left? A. highly acidic

A. removing CH4 from the system B. slightly acidic

B. increasing the pressure at which the C. highly basic

reaction is performed
D. sHghtly basic
C. increasing the temperature at which the
reaction is performed

D. increasing the amount of H2 used

302
Chemistry Session 1

Question 8 is an open-response question.

• BE SURE TO ANSWER AND LABEL ALL PARTS OF THE QUESTION.

• Show your work (diagrams, tables, or computations) in your Student Answer Booklet.
all
• If you do the work in your head, explain in writing how you did the work.

Write your answer to question 8 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

Several chemists examined a pure, unknown substance and observed and measured its physical
properties. Their results are shown below.

Unknown Substance
Physical Property Description or Value

Color Clear and colorless

Flammability None
Odor Sweet, distinctive odor

Melting point -22.9°C

Boiling point 76.74°C
Density at 20°C 1.585 g/cm^

Water solubility
0.08 g/100gH2O
at 20°C

Based on the data recorded in the table, answer the following.

a. What is the physical state of this substance at room temperature? Explain how the information
in the table is used to make this classification of the substance's state.

b. The substance is unreactive in water. What will happen if 10.00 g of this substance is added to
200. g of water at 20°C and standard pressure? Explain your response.

303
Chemistry Session 1

Mark your answers to multiple-choice questions 9 through 1 1 in the spaces provided in your Student
Answer Booklet. Do not write your answers in this test booklet, but you may work out solutions to
multiple-choice questions in the test booklet.

Which of the following graphs best How many moles of oxygen atoms are
represents how the average kinetic present in 2 moles of Mg3(P04)2?
energy of molecules changes with
A. 4
absolute temperature?
B. 8

C. 12
at
u
D. 16
B
o
c
When elements from group 1 (lA)
combine with elements from group
17 (7 A), they produce compounds.
Absolute Temperature
Which of the following is the correct
combining ratio between group 1 (lA)
elements and group 17 (7 A) elements?

u A. 1:1
C
B. 1:2

C. 2:1

D. 3:2
Absolute Temperature

Absolute Temperature

D. i

Absolute Temperature

304
 Chemistry
Session 2
DIRECTIONS
This session contains ten multiple-choice questions and one open-response question. Mark your
answers to these questions in the spaces provided in your Student Answer Booklet. You may work
out solutions to multiple-choice questions in the test booklet.

The illustrationbelow shows two atoms A student pours mineral salts into a bottle
of a fictitious element (M) forming a of cold water. Which of the following best
diatomic molecule. explains whyshaking the bottle will affect
the dissolving rate of the salt?

:M' + 'M: :m:m:

• • • •
A. Shaking exposes the salts to
the solvent more quickly.

What type of bonding occurs between B. Shaking helps more water to

these two atoms? evaporate.

A. covalent C. Shaking causes more ions to

precipitate out of solution.
B. ionic
D. Shaking equalizes the water
C. nuclear
temperature.
D. polar

305
Chemistry Session 2

Which of the following elements can

form an anion that contains 54 electrons,
74 neutrons, and 53 protons?

B.

183.85

W74
Tungsten

D.

306
Chemistry Session 2

The table below shows pH values of some foods.

pH Values of Some Important Foods

Vegetables pH Citrus pH Dairy/Egg pH Starches pH
Asparagus 5.6 Grapefruit 3.2 Butter 6.2 Bread (white) 5.5

Beans 5.5 Lemons 2.3 Cheese 5.6 Com 6.2

Peas 6.1 Limes 1.9 Eggs (fresh) 7.8 Crackers 7.5

Spinach 5.4 Oranges 3.5 Milk 6.5 Potatoes 5.8

A patient has chronic indigestion due to an overproduction of stomach acid. Which foods
should the patient avoid until the condition is resolved?

A. vegetables

B. citrus

C. dairy /egg

D. starches

307
Chemistry Session 2

A student bends a paperclip rapidly back Which of the following graphs best shows
and forth. When he touches the point the relationship between an element's
where he was bending the paperclip, he atomic mass and its atomic number?
finds that its temperature has increased.
This indicates that the atoms in that part
of the paperclip have increased in

A. conductivity.

B. kinetic energy.

C. mass.
10 11 12 13 14 15 16

D. number. Atomic Number

D.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Atomic Number

308
Chemistry Session 2

Question 18 is an open-response question.

• BE SURE TO ANSWER AND LABEL ALL PARTS OF THE QUESTION.
• Show all your work (diagrams, tables, or computations) in your Student Answer Booklet.
• If you do the work in your head, explain in writing how you did the work.

Write your answer to question 18 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

A student burned a sample of pure carbon in an open crucible. The carbon reacted with oxygen
in the air and produced carbon dioxide.

a. In your Student Answer Booklet, write the balanced equation for the complete combustion
of carbon.

b. The student observed no visible products. Why does it appear that the law of conservation of
mass was violated by this reaction?

c. Ifone mole of carbon is burned, how many moles of oxygen gas will be consumed and how
many moles of product should be obtained? Explain how you determined these values.

309
Chemistry Session 2

Mark your answers to multiple-choice questions 19 through 22 in the spaces provided in your Student
Answer Booklet. Do not write your answers in this test booklet, but you may work out solutions to
multiple-choice questions in the test booklet.

A picture of a balloon is shown below. Aluminum reacts vigorously and

exothermically with copper(II) chloride.
Which of the following is the balanced
equation for this reaction?

A. Al + CuCl2 AICI3 + Cu

B. Al ^ 2AICI3 + Cu
+ 3CuCl2

C. 2A1 + 3CuCl2 ^ 2AICI3 + 3Cu

D. 3A1 + 2CuCl2 ^ 3AICI3 + 2Cu

If the temperature of this balloon were

to decrease suddenly, how would the
balloon change?

A. Its mass would increase.

B. Its mass would decrease.

C. Its volume would increase.

D. Its volume would decrease.

310
Chemistry Session 2

a data table and two prepared beakers are shown below.

Temperature Solubility of KNO3

CO in 100 g H2O
10 22 g
20 33 g
30 48 g
40 65 g
50 84 g

Beaker A Beaker B
10 g KNO3 10 g KNO3

100 g Hp lOOgHjO
10°C 50°C

Solid KNO3 was added to each beaker. Each beaker was stirred at the same rate until all
of the solid dissolved. The table shows the solubilities of KNO3 at different temperatures.
How will the rates of dissolving compare?

A. KNO3 will dissolve faster in Beaker B because of increased surface area.

B. KNO3 will dissolve faster in Beaker A because the water molecules are farther apart.

C. KNO3 will dissolve faster in Beaker B because the overall kinetic energy is increased.

D. KNO3 will dissolve at the same rate in Beaker A and Beaker B because the
concentrations are the same.

Which of the following represents a

double displacement reaction?

A. ABC ^ AB + C
B. A + B ^ AB
C. AB + CD ^ AD + CB
D. A + BC ^ AC + B

311
Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System
Chemistry Formula and Constants Sheet

Common Polyatomic Ions

Ion Ionic Formula

Ammonium NH4+

Carbonate CO3'

Hydroxide OH
Nitrate NO3-

Phosphate P04^-

Sulfate

Ideal Gas Law: PV = nRT

Absolute Temperature Conversion: K= °C + 273

Definition of pH: pH = -log [HgO^]

Specific Heat of Water: Ch,o = 1 -00 cal/g • °C = 4. 1 8 J/g • °C

Mole- Volume of Ideal Gas at STP: 22.4 L at STP

Ideal Gas Constant: R = 0.082 1 L atm/mol • • K = 8.3 14 L • kPa/mol •

Avogadro's number: 6.02 X 10^^

STP: 1 atm, 0°C

Nuclear Particles

Name Symbol

Alpha particle a or 2He

Beta particle P or

Neutron

312
 E o
o 00 Lu Lr
< 00 CO
0)
Ne 10 Neon Ar 18 Argon Kr 36 Krypton
Xe 54 Xenon Rn 86 Radon
967 71 Lutetium
103 Lawrencium

00 -r- CVJ
o o o 174 (260)

o I 20,179 39.948
83.80
131.29
(222)

< 1^ 998403

F 9 Fluorine
CI 17 Chlorine

79.904
Br 35 Bromine

126.905
I 53 Iodine At 85 Astatine
r--

173.04
Yb 70 Ytterbium

(259)
No 102 Nobelium

35.453
(210)
18

S O

<
CO
CD
0 Oxygen
s 16 Sulfur
Se 34 Selenium
Te 52 Tellurium Po 84 Polonium
CO c o
168.934
Tm 69 Thulium Md 101 Mendelevium

(258)
15,9994
127.60
32.06 78.96 (209)

< Er
in
14.0067
N Nitrogen
30.97376
P 15 Phosphorus

74.9216
As 33 Arsenic

121.75
Sb 51 Antimony

208980
BI 83 Bismuth
in
167.26
68 Erbium

(257)
Fm 100 Fermium

<^ Ho Es 99
12.0111
c Carbon

28.0855
Si 14 Silicon

7259
Ge 32 Germaniurr

118.71
Sn 50 Tin

207.2
Pb 82 Lead 164.930
67 Holmium

(252)
Einsteinium

< CO Cf
Dy 66 98
Dysprosium

CO
.
Al 13 Ga 31 In 49 383 TI 81
50 Californium

i 26.98154
Aluminum
Gallium

114.82
Indium
Thallium

162 (251)

o 69.72
204

CD CM eg Tb 65 Terbium Bk 97 Berkelium

Zn 30 Zinc
Cd 48 Cadmium 80 Mercury
CM
65.39
112.41 200.59
Hg 158.925

(247)

c:
0)
CO -- Gd 64 Gadolinium

Cm 96 Curium

Cu 29 Copper
47 Silver 967
Au 79 Gold

63546
107.868 Ag 196
157.25
(247)

uj
Ni Pt Eu 63 Europium
Am 95 Americium

28 Nickel
Pd 46 Palladium
78 110
Q) 58.69
106.42 195.08
Platinum

(269?)
151.96
(243)

O 58.9332
Co 27 Cobalt

102.906
Rh 45 Rhodium Ir 77 Iridium
Mt 109 Meitnerium
36

150
Sm 62 Samarium

(244)
Pu 94 Plutonium

192.22 (266'')

Q)

61 93
00 Fe 26 Ru 44 Os 76 Hs 108
Pm Promethium

Np
Neptunium

\ Iron Ruthenium Osmium Hassium

237.048

(145)
101.07
55.847
190,2
(265)

.o Mn 25 Manganese

To 43 Technetium
Re 75 Rhenium Bh 107 Bohrium
144.24
Nd 60 Neodymium

238.029
u 92 Uranium

54.9380 186,207

(262)
(98)

I 908 Pr 59 036
Pa 91
Cr
w
Protactinium
Praseodymium

24 Mo 42 74 Tungsten 106
Sg
Molybdenum Seaborgium
Chromium
996
94 140 231
183,85

(263)
51 95

Ce Th 90
50,9415
V 23 Vanadium

929064
Nb 41 Niobium

180,948
Ta 73 Tantalum

(262)
Db 105 Dubnium
140.12
58 Cerium

232.038
Thorium

Ti 22 Titanium
Zr 40 Zirconium
Hf 72 Hafnium
Rf* 104 Ruiher1of(Jium

224
88
178.49
(261)
47 91

CD

44.9559
So 21 Scandium

88.9059
Y 39 Yttrium

138.906
La 57 Lanthanun'
028
Ac 89 Actinium
CO CO
0)
227
g •g
'c
o
Be Beryllium 12 Magnesium

Ca 20 Calcium
Sr 38 Ba 56 Barium Ra 88 Radium
c <
Mg
Strontium

9.01218 226025
24305 137.33
40.08 87.62

E c E
3
Li CO V ^ fT) (/)
Fr
ydro Lithium
22.98977
Na 11 Sodium
CO
o
^ « Rb 37 Rubidium
Cs 55 Cesium 87 Francium

8 iS 85.4678 132.905

I
6.941
tj)
c*>
o (223)

Q.
2
o CM CO in CO

pOU9d
 1

Grade 10 Chemistry
Spring 2005 Released Items:
Standards and Correct Answers

Correct Answer
Item No. Page No. Standard
(MC)*

1 299 1 1

2 299 4.7 c
3 300 7.1

jyjyj J. 1
u

301 3 3 r
5 302 9.3 Q
7 8
O. 1
1
R
D
303 1 1

9 304 6.2

10 304 5.3

1
jut A

12 305 4.1 A
13 305 7.2

14 306 3.2 3
15 307 8.1 B
16 308 6.2 B
17 308 3.1 D
18 309 2.2

19 310 6.1 D
20 310 5.1 C
21 311 7.2 C
22 311 5.2 C

* Answers are provided here for multiple-choice items only. Sample responses and scoring guidelines for open-response items,
which are indicated by shaded cells, will be posted to the Department's Web site later this year.

314
XIV Introductory Physics, Grade 9/10
 Grade 9/1 0 Introductory Physics Pilot Test

The spring 2005 Grade 9/10 MCAS Introductory Physics Test was based on
learning standards in the Physics content strand of the Massachusetts Science and
Technology/Engineering Curriculum Framework (2001). These learning standards
appear on pages 68-70 of the Framework.

The Science and Technology/Engineering Curriculum Framework is available on the

Department Web site at www.doe.mass.eduyframeworks/scitech/200 1/050 l.pdf.

Because the Grade 9/10 Introductory Physics Test was administered as a pilot test this

year, the reporting of results is limited to Test Item Analysis Reports. No scaled score

or performance level results are available.

Test Sessions and Content Overview

The MCAS Grade 9/10 Introductory Physics Test contained two separate test sessions.

Each session included multiple-choice and open-response questions.

Reference Materials and Tools

Each student taking the Grade 9/10 Introductory Physics Test was provided with a Physics

Formula Sheet. A copy of this reference sheet follows the final question in this chapter.

Each student also had sole access to a calculator with at least four functions and a square

root key. No other reference tools or materials were allowed.

The use of bilingual word-to-word dictionaries was allowed for limited English proficient
students only, during both test sessions.

Cross-Reference Information

The table at the conclusion of this chapter indicates the Framework learning standard that

each item assesses. The correct answers for multiple-choice questions are also displayed in
the table.

316
 Introductory Physics
Session 1

DIRECTIONS
This session contains ten multiple-choice questions and one open-response question. Mark your
answers to these questions in the spaces provided in your Student Answer Booklet. You may work
out solutions to multiple-choice questions in the test booklet.

The illustration below shows a 2-ton Which of the following describes how a
elephant balancing on a tree stump. microwave oven heats food?

A. The oven's interior reflects heat

onto the food.

B. The oven's interior, like a lens,

focuses heat onto the food.

C. Water molecules in the food reflect

energy from microwave radiation.

D. Water molecules in the food absorb

the energy of microwave radiation.

Which of the following statements must

be accurate?

A. The weight of the tree stump is greater

than 2 tons.

B. A 4- ton force on the ground spreads

out in all directions.

C. The tree stump is exerting a 2-ton force

upward on the elephant.

D. The downward force on the ground

under the tree stump is 4 tons.

317
Introductory Physics Session 1

A recycling plant manager needs to melt Each of the following illustrations

1500 kg of scrap copper to sell to a wire shows the movement of a 1 kg object.
manufacturer. The copper is at 15°C and Which of these is an example of simple
its melting point is 1083°C. The copper harmonic motion?
has a specific heat of 385 J/kg • K.
A.
How much heat is required to raise
the temperature of the copper to
melting point?
its o 1kg

falling freely

A. 6.2 X 108 J

B. 6.3 X 10^ J

C. 7.7 X 10^ J

D. 7.9 X 10« J

B.

swinging
on a rope

318
Introductory Physics Session 1

Which of the following describes an object The below represents

illustration
that must have a net negative charge? an experiment which a hot object
in
is added to a container of water at
A. It contains more molecules
room temperature.
than atoms.
Hot Object
B. It contains more electrons
than protons. <±>
C. It is carrying an electric current.

D. It is made of metal.

A 1500 kg car increases its speed by 2 m/s The water is continuously stirred while
for each second of travel. What is the net the hot object is immersed in it. Which
force acting on the car? of the following graphs best shows
the temperature changes that follow?
A. 750 N
B. 1500 N Temperature

Object
C. 3000 N

D. 6000 N
Time

D . Temperature

Time

319
Introductory Physics Session 1

Question 8 is an open-response question.

• BE SURE TO ANSWER AND LABEL ALL PARTS OF THE QUESTION.

• Show all your work (diagrams, tables, or computations) in your Student Answer Booklet.
• If you do the work in your head, explain in writing how you did the work.

Write your answer to question 8 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

The figure below shows a tennis ball bouncing from point 1 to point 5.

9
The tennis ball bounces up from point 1 as shown in the figure to a maximum height labeled
as point 2. The ball then bounces a few times. Neglect any horizontal motion.

a. Describe the kinetic and gravitational potential energy changes of the ball that occur between
points 1 and 2.

b. Describe the kinetic and gravitational potential energy changes of the ball that occur between
points 2 and 3.

c. Compare the kinetic energy of the ball at points 3 and 4.

d. The tennis ball has less energy at point 5 than it had at point 3. Explain what happened to the
energy the ball had at point 3.

320
Introductory Physics Session 1

Mark your answers through 11 in the spaces provided in your Student

to multiple-choice questions 9
Answer Booklet. Do not write your answers in this test booklet, but you may work out solutions to
multiple-choice questions in the test booklet.

An organ pipe produces a musical note Two boxes, A and B, both contain the
with a wavelength of 2.72 m. What is same number of nitrogen gas molecules.
the frequency of this note if the speed The gas molecules in box A have twice
of sound is 348 m/s? the average speed of the molecules in
box B. Which of the following best
A. 85.7 Hz
describes the nitrogen gas in box A?
B. 128 Hz
A. The nitrogen gas in box A has a
C. 260 Hz greater mass than the nitrogen gas
in box B.
D. 466 Hz
B. The nitrogen gas in box A has a
greater density than the nitrogen
gas in box B.
Students in a physics lab are studying the
C. The nitrogen gas in box A has
circuit shown in the diagram below.
a greater temperature than the
nitrogen gas in box B.

D. The nitrogen gas in box A has a

greater specific gravity than the
nitrogen gas in box B.
V=10V — R = 60Q

<3>
Ammeter

Which of the following options will

double the current through the ammeter?

A. replacing the battery with a 5 V battery

B. adding a 30 ^2 resistor in parallel
with R

C. replacing the resistor with a.30Q.

resistor

D. adding a second 60 Q. resistor in series

with R

321
 Introductory Physics
Session 2
DIRECTIONS
This session contains ten multiple-choice questions and one open-response question. Mark your
answers to these questions in the spaces provided in your Student Answer Booklet. You may work
out solutions to multiple-choice questions in the test booklet.

A hot air balloon exerts a force of A 10 g sample of aluminum and a 10 g

1200 N while lifting a load of 800 N. sample of iron were each heated by 100
Which free-body force diagram depicts joules of energy. The temperature of the
the forces involved? aluminum sample rose 1 1°C, while the
temperature of the iron sample increased
A. 400 N 23°C. Which statement best accounts for
these results?

A. Iron is twice as dense as aluminum.

B. Atoms of aluminum are smaller than

atoms of iron.

C. Using equal masses results in similar

SOON heat capacities.

B. 800 N D. The specific heat of iron is less than

that of aluminum.

The figure below shows regions of the

electromagnetic spectrum.

Gamma
1200 N Radio Microwaves Infrared Visible Ultraviolet X-rays Rays

C. 1200 N
Which of the following waves has the
highest frequency?

A. visible light

B. microwaves

C. ultraviolet rays
800 N
D. infrared radiation
D. 800 N

400 N

322
Introductory Physics Session 2

A student combs her hair with a hard rubber

comb and then hangs thecomb on a loop of
light thread that is suspended from a hook
as shown below.

hook comb comb

thread
B.

comb

She immediately combs her hair with

a second identical comb and hangs it
on the second suspended loop of light comb — — comb
thread. If the combing has caused a
charge to accumulate on the combs, which
of the following shows what will occur?
C.

comb

D.

323
Introductory Physics Session 2

Which of the following best describes Five bowling balls are lined up touching
between frequency and
the relationship one another on a smooth surface. Striking
wavelength of electromagnetic waves? the with a hammer makes the fifth
first ball

ball move away from the group. The force

A. If the frequency remains constant,
of the hammer was transmitted through the
the wavelength increases.
line of balls as what type of wave?
B. The wavelength decreases as the
A. electromagnetic
frequency decreases.
B. heat
C. The frequency increases as the
wavelength decreases. C. longitudinal

D. If thewavelength remains constant, D. transverse

the frequency increases.

f
324
Introductory Physics Session 2

Question 18 is an open-response question.

• BE SURE TO ANSWER AND LABEL ALL PARTS OF THE QUESTION.
• Show all your work (diagrams, tables, or computations) in your Student Answer Booklet.
• If you do the work in your head, explain in writing how you did the work.

Write your answer to question 18 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

The graphs below show movement over time.

Movement Over Time

1500

Time (min)
Graph A

Movement Over Time

a
o
Vi
O
Oh

Time (min)
Graph B

A truck and car are on separate journeys on the same straight road. The truck is traveling at a
constant velocity. The car changes speed and direction.

a. Which of the graphs best represents the truck's journey? Explain your answer.

b. Which of the graphs best represents the car's journey? Explain your answer.

325
 W

Introductory Physics Session 2

Mark your answers through 22 in the spaces provided in your

to multiple-choice questions 19
Student Answer Booklet. Do
not write your answers in this test booklet, but you may work out
solutions to multiple-choice questions in the test booklet.

A student is standing on a skateboard A man ran on a treadmill for 1,800

moving. The total mass of the
that is not seconds. At the end of his run, the
student and the skateboard is 50 kilograms. treadmill indicated his energy output
The student throws a ball with a mass of as 240,000 J. What average power did
2 kilograms forward at 5 m/s. he generate?

Assuming the skateboard wheels A. 666

are frictionless, how will the student
and the skateboard move?
B. 133W
C. 66 W
A. forward at 0.4 m/s

B. forward at 5 m/s
D. 7W
C. backward at 0.2 m/s

D. backward at 5 m/s

Which of the following is a similarity

between x-ray waves and sound waves?

A. Both transfer energy.

B. Both require a vacuum.

C. Both have the same speed.

D. Both have the same frequency.

326
Introductory Physics Session 2

Which of the following figures

correctly shows the conduction
of heat within the system of
metal blocks?

A. 5°C

-20°C 100°C

>

>

-20°C 100°C

c. 5°C

-20°C 100°C

D. 5°C

-20°C IOO°C

327
 '

5"
Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System
Introductory Physics Formula Sheet
MASSACHUSEHS
COMPREHENSIVE
ASSESSMENT
SYSTEM

Formulas
mjm2
Average Speed = Ad F = G p = mv
At
Av
Average Acceleration: KE = jmv^ V= IR
At

Vf = Vj + aAt PE == mgAh P = IV

Ad = ViAt + \ a(At2) W= FAd Q = mcAT

= + 2aAd P =
W V = fx and ^
~
Vf2 Vi2
At

F = ma
f

Variables
a = acceleration PE = gravitational potential energy

c = specific heat Q= heat

d = distance R = resistance
Ad = change in distance At = change in time
f = frequency AT = change in temperature
F = force T = period
Ah = change in height v = velocity
I
= current Av = change in velocity
KE = kinetic energy V = voltage
\ = wavelength W = work
m = mass Subscripts:

P
= momentum i = initial and f = final as subscripts

P = power

Definitions
-11 N
G= Universal gravitational constant = 6.67 X 10

c = speed of electromagnetic waves = 3.00 X 10 m/s

g-lOm/s^ 1 N = H'
'
lJ=lN.m 1 W= 1 J

328
 Grade 9/10 Introductory Physics
Spring 2005 Released Items:
Standards and Correct Answers

Correct Answer
Itpm
M IV III IVo
1^ \J*
(MC)*

1 317 1.10 C
2 317 6.2 D
3 318 3.3 A
4 318 4.1 B
5 319 5.1 B
6 319 1.7 c
7 319 3.3 B
8 320 2.1

9 321 4.2 B
10 321 5.4 C
11 321 3.1 c
12 322 1.8 C
13 322 3.3 D
14 322 6.1 C
15 323 5.1 B
16 324 6.1 C
17 324 4.3 C
18 325 1.4

19 326 2.5 C
20 326 4.4 A
21 326 2.4 B
22 327 3.1 A

* Answers are provided here for multiple-choice items only. Sample responses and scoring guidelines for open-response items,
which are indicated by shaded cells, will be posted to the Department's Web site later this year.

329
XV Technology/Engineering, Grade 9/10
 Grade 9/1 0 Technology/Engineering

Pilot Test

The spring 2005 Grade 9/10 MCAS Technology/Engineering Test was based on learning
standards in the Technology/Engineering content strand of the Massachusetts Science and
Technology/Engineering Curriculum Framework (2001). These learning standards appear
on pages 82-86 of the Framework.

The Science and Technology/Engineering Curriculum Framework is available on the

Department Web site at www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/scitech/2001/0501.pdf.

Because the Grade 9/10 Technology /Engineering Test was administered as a pilot test this

year, the reporting of results is limited to Test Item Analysis Reports. No scaled score or

performance level results are available.

Test Sessions and Content Overview

The MCAS Grade 9/10 Technology/Engineering Test included two separate test sessions.

Each session included multiple-choice and open-response questions.

Reference Materials and Tools

Each student taking the Grade 9/10 Technology/Engineering Test was provided with a

plastic ruler. An image of the ruler is not reproduced in this publication.

Each student also had sole access to a calculator with at least four functions and a square
root key. No other reference tools or materials were allowed.

The use of bilingual word-to-word dictionaries was allowed for limited English proficient

students only, during both test sessions.

Cross-Reference Information

The table at the conclusion of this chapter indicates the Framework learning standard that

each item assesses. The correct answers for multiple-choice questions are also displayed in
the table.

332
 Technology/Engineering
Session 1

DIRECTIONS
This session contains ten multiple-choice questions and one open-response question. Mark your
answers to these questions in the spaces provided in your Student Answer Booklet. You may work
out solutions to multiple-choice questions in the test booklet.

The below shows a

figure pictorial model Foam weather stripping is often placed
of a highway bridge. in theframes of doors and windows in
a home. What is the purpose of this
weather stripping?

A. The weather stripping increases heat

transfer by radiation.

B. Heat is conducted quickly through the

weather stripping.

C. The weather stripping reduces heat

loss due to convection.

What is the primary structural action D. Heat can transfer through the weather
of member A? stripping due to reflection.

A. compression

B. shear

C. tension

D. torsion

333
Technology/Engineering Session 1

Before concrete has hardened, it exhibits Which of the following objects transfers
plasticity. This is an advantage because it its energy primarily by radiation?
allows the concrete to

A. become strong as it cures.

B. withstand compression. Heat lamp

C. remain pliable after hardening.

D. be molded into almost any shape.

B.

Electric stovetop

334
Technology/Engineering Session 1

The diagram below shows a house and its floor plan.

X Breezeway

53

t Wind Direction

Settlers' homes Southwestern United States were often built with a porch facing the
in the
prevailing breeze and with two rooms separated by a breezeway. The funneling effects of the
porch and front building walls could significantly accelerate the wind. Considering the effects of
Bernoulli's principle, what air flow should be expected for windows X and W?

A. in W and out X
B. in Wand in X
C. out W and in X
D. out W and out X

335
Technology /Engineering Session 1

A scale drawing of a machined part is The figure below shows a screwdriver that
shown below. broke while being used as a pry bar.

What does the break indicate about the

: 1 cm = 5 cm material in the shaft of the screwdriver?

A. It was too ductile.

B. It was too brittle.

What would be the actual dimension X of C. It was too elastic,

this part when it is built?
D. It was too dense.
A. 1.3 cm
B. 3.20 cm
C. 10.3 cm
D. 16.0 cm

336
Technology/Engineering Session 1

Question 8 is an open-response question.

• BE SURE TO ANSWER AND LABEL ALL PARTS OF THE QUESTION.

• Show your work (diagrams, tables, or computations) in your Student Answer Booklet.
all
• If you do the work in your head, explain in writing how you did the work.

Write your answer to question 8 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

Susan has installed a wireless doorbell for her apartment. When a person presses the button
on the doorframe, it sets off an electronic buzzer inside the apartment.

a. Explain how the terms "encoder" and "decoder" apply to this communications system.

b. Describe how the system would fail if the encoder were broken.

c. Describe how the system would fail if the decoder were broken.

337
Technology/Engineering Session 1

Mark your answers to multiple-choice questions 9 through 11 in the spaces provided in your Student
Answer Booklet. Do not write your answers in this test booklet, but you may work out solutions to
multiple-choice questions in the test booklet.

One method of heat distribution is a The diagram below shows a thin sheet of
baseboard forced hot water system. metal that has been rolled and fastened to
A baseboard system carries hot water make a cylinder.
through a pipe that passes through many
small, flat plates called fins. What is the Metal sheet
purpose of these fins?

A. to dissipate the heat of the hot water

flowing through the pipe

B. to prevent the baseboard from coming Metal cylinder

in contact with hot surfaces

C. to replace the heated air leaving the Which manufacturing process was used to
system with cold air create the cylinder?

D. to prevent dust and other particles A. conditioning

from entering the baseboard B. finishing

C. forming

D. molding

338
Technology/Engineering Session 1

339
 Technology/Engineering
Session 2
DIRECTIONS
This session contains ten multiple-choice questions and one open-response question. Mark your
answers to these questions in the spaces provided in your Student Answer Booklet. You may work
out solutions to multiple-choice questions in the test booklet.

The diagram below shows a cantilever Several electrical components are

beam with a force (P) applied. drawn below.

Switch

lb. w
X

For the cantilever beam shown, where is

the maximum tensile stress when force P

is applied?

A. W
B. X
C. Y
D. Z

Which of the following is needed

to make an electrical circuit using
these components?

A. load

B. resistor

C. source

D. transistor

340
Technology/Engineering Session 2

The picture below shows a The diagram below shows a machine used
microwave oven. in a factory.

Oil chamber

Large piston
Small
piston
Metal sheet

This microwave is labeled "Convection

Microwave Oven." According to this
label, what is one way heat is transferred
In this machine, fluid pressure is used to
in this oven? stamp sheets of metal with a large piston.
A. by the movement of air inside Which type of system is illustrated?
the oven
A. hydraulic lift

B. by standing waves in air outside

B. hydraulic press
the oven
C. pneumatic lift
C. by electrostatic charges on atoms
in the food D. pneumatic press

D. by direct contact between the oven

and the food

341
Technology/Engineering Session 2

The drawing below shows a block The diagram below shows a circuit.
with a groove along one side.

R] R2 R3
VW AV M^

Which of the following sets of views

could be the front and right-side views
Ohm's Law
of this block?
V = IR

The current in this circuit The

is 3 A.
resistance of Ri is 2 Q. R2 and R3 each
have a resistance of 4 Q. What is the
voltage for this circuit?
B.
A. 6V
B. lOV
C. 30 V
D. 90 V

C.

D.

342
Technology/Engineering Session 2

Question 18 is an open-response question.

• BE SURE TO ANSWER AND LABEL ALL PARTS OF THE QUESTION.
• Show your work (diagrams, tables, or computations) in your Student Answer Booklet.
all
• If you do the work in your head, explain in writing how you did the work.

Write your answer to question 18 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

^ A group of students is doing a semester project to determine the best material for textbook covers.
During the project, they will conduct a one-month pilot study in which a class of students will try
out different types of textbook covers.

a. Identify one step in the engineering design process that the students should do before
starting the pilot study.

b. Explain in detail one step that the students should do after the pilot study.

c. Explain in detail why both of these steps are important.

343
Technology/Engineering Session 2

Mark your answers to multiple-choice questions 19 through 22 in the spaces provided in your Student
Answer Booklet. Do not write your answers in this test booklet, but you may work out solutions to
multiple-choice questions in the test booklet.

Which of the following is the primary The diagram below shows a circuit.
way that evergreen trees planted on
the north and west sides of residences 3Q
in Massachusetts help reduce winter
heating costs?

A. They insulate against cold air.

B. They optimize solar heating.

C. They reduce radiant cooling. 12V

0
D. They act as a windbreak.

Ohm's Law
V = IR
1 = x
R

If the resistance in this circuit is 3 Q and

the voltage is 12 V, what is the expected
current in this circuit?

A. 4 A
B. 9A
C. 15 A

D. 36 A

344
Technology/Engineering Session 2

The drawing below shows a ratchet, The figure below shows a snow-covered
which is a mechanical device. greenhouse.

Pawl

Which of the following is the correct

interpretation of this drawing?
The snow on the greenhouse has a density
A. It shows the size of the finished device. of 100 kg/m^ and is 0. 1 m deep. The roof
B. It shows how a ratchet can be is 5 m wide and 8 m long. What is the load
of snow on the roof?
manufactured.
A. 40 kg
C. Itshows the operation of a ratchet
mechanism. B. 400 kg

D. It shows the necessary materials C. 4,000 kg

for the device.
D. 40,000 kg

345
 1 1

Grade 9/10 Technology/Engineering

Spring 2005 Released Items:
Standards and Correct Answers

Correct Answer
Item No. Page No. Standard
(MC)*

1 333 2.1 C
2 333 4.2 C
3 334 7.1 D
4 334 4.1 A
5 335 3.3 A
6 336 1.4 D
7 336 2.4 B
8 337 6.4

9 338 4.2 A
10 338 7.1 C
1 339 5.2 D
12 340 2.1 A
13 340 5.2 C
14 341 4.1 .A.

1 J J 1
J .4
D
D
16 342 1.2 D
17 342 5.4 C
18 343 1.1

19 344 4.4 D
20 344 5.3 A
21 345 1.5 C
22 345 2.6 B

* Answers are provided here for multiple-choice items only. Sample responses and scoring guidelines for open-response items,
which are indicated by shaded cells, will be posted to the Department's Web site later this year.

346
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