The Pennsylvania System of School Assessment

Similar documents
The Pennsylvania System of School Assessment. Reading Item and Scoring Sampler SUPPLEMENT Grade 5

THE PENNSYLVANIA SYSTEM

3/8/2016 Reading Review. Name: Class: Date: 1/12

Anansi Tries to Steal All the Wisdom in the World

Fry Instant Phrases. First 100 Words/Phrases

PARCC Literary Analysis Task Grade 3 Reading Lesson 2: Modeling the EBSR and TECR

Word Fry Phrase. one by one. I had this. how is he for you

This is a vocabulary test. Please select the option a, b, c, or d which has the closest meaning to the word in bold.

Nebraska State Assessment

SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Genre Study. Comprehension Strategy

School District of Palm Beach County Elementary Curriculum

The Spider Monkey and the Marmoset

RIGHT CONDUCT: KINDNESS SAMPLE. Human Values Foundation. Life-enriching values for everyone

READING CONNECTIONS MAKING. Book E. Provides instructional activities for 12 reading strategies

Beginning Discuss Photograph Point to the frog and say, It s a. Intermediate Develop Concept Write the words pets and wildlife

Text copyright Michael Morpurgo, Illustrations copyright Emma Chichester Clark, Courtesy of HarperCollins Children's Books.

Homework for half-chicken March 14 March 18, 2016 (Return this sheet, Monday, March 21 st ) Name:

Instant Words Group 1

THE YELLOW BUTTERFLY. Off flew the butterfly!

Grade 3 FSA ELA Reading Practice Test Questions

TUTOR WORLD ASHFORD SAMPLE TEST ENGLISH. Multiple-choice SAMPLE TEST 1

Third Trimester RL Assessment. Finn MacCool and Oonagh

used to think, on account of my somewhat strange start in life, I suppose, that I was unlike everyone else. In one way I am. After all, I am now 130

Directions: Read the following passage then answer the questions below. The Lost Dog (740L)

BIO + OLOGY = PHILEIN + ANTHROPOS = BENE + VOLENS = GOOD WILL MAL + VOLENS =? ANTHROPOS + OLOGIST = English - Language Arts Step 6

Quick Assessment Project EDUC 203

Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing

ALEX COOPER S CHRISTMAS CHEER. Written by Alex Cooper

A GUIDE TO UNDRESSING YOUR MONSTERS. Sam Sax

Grade 3 FSA ELA Reading Practice Test Answer Key

Student Edition Scaffolded

GRADE 11 SBA REVIEW AFTER YOU VED STOOD ON A LOG AT THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE, WHAT IS THERE LEFT TO DO? Analyze plot, conflict* Inferences*

Sketch. The Boy in the Compost. Dave Oshel. Volume 35, Number Article 14. Iowa State College

INDIAN SCHOOL MUSCAT MIDDLE SECTION SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT: 2 ( ) ENGLISH CLASS V MARKS: 60

SALTY DOG Year 2

2017 Anna DiGilio

Name Date. Reading: Literature

KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA DIPATOLI, RANCHI HALF YEARLY EXAMINATION Class: V (FIVE) Time: 2 ½ HOURS Subject: ENGLISH MM: 80. Section: Date & Date :

6th Grade Reading: 3rd 6-Weeks Common Assessment Review. Name: Period: Date:

The First Hundred Instant Sight Words. Words 1-25 Words Words Words

Literal & Nonliteral Language

Developed in Consultation with Pennsylvania Educators

Mid Programme Entries Year 2 ENGLISH. Time allowed: 1 hour and 30 minutes

3 Reading STAAR. Instruction. Texas. This booklet contains sample pages from a STAAR Ready Instruction Lesson.

What do my 3 rd Graders need to know to pass IREAD? 3 RD GRADE STATE TESTING

NEXT GENERATION ASSESSMENT PRACTICE

Unit 2 Character, Setting and Plot Pre-Post Assessment. The Three Little Pigs: THE REAL STORY

Read this story. Then answer questions XX through XX. The Story of Tu-tok-a-nu-la. Retold by James Bruchac and Joseph Bruchac

CFA 2.0 Design Template for 3-5 Tanner Williams Elementary School

XSEED Summative Assessment Test 2. Duration: 90 Minutes Maximum Marks: 60. English, Test 2. XSEED Education English Grade 1

The Snowman

The Pennsylvania System of School Assessment

How the Fox and Rabbit Became Friends

Show Me Actions. Word List. Celebrating. are I can t tell who you are. blow Blow out the candles on your cake.

Grade 2 Book of Stories

COMMON FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT PLANNING TEMPLATE Greenfield/Rosedale RCD Project

Excerpt from Blue Jasmine

Fifth Grade Assessment

Grade 2 - English Ongoing Assessment T-2( ) Lesson 4 Diary of a Spider. Vocabulary

8 Eithe Either.. r. o. r / nei r / n the either.. r. n. or Grammar Station either... or neither... nor either eat drink neither nor either

The Sacred Salmon UNIT 2 WEEK 4. Read the passage The Sacred Salmon before answering Numbers 1 through 5. Weekly Assessment Unit 2, Week 4 Grade 6 97

Section I. Quotations

xtreme xcitement Narrative Writing Well-developed narratives make readers feel as if they are in the story.

Vocabulary: Target Vocabulary, Synonyms Comprehension: Understanding Characters, Selection Test 10 8

New York State Testing Program Grade 3 Common Core English Language Arts Test. Sample Student Work

1-1 I Like Stars. A. It is in a room. A. It is looking at the stars through the window. A. They are a rabbit, a frog, a bird, and a mouse.

Georgey Giraffe s Giant Respect Elizabeth L Hamilton

High Frequency Word Sheets Words 1-10 Words Words Words Words 41-50

English Language Arts Packet 5:

Use SQI paragraphs: statement/quotation/inference. You might know this as PEE, PEA, PETAL or PETA paragraphs.

Answer all questions in a COMPLETE SENTENCE(S) unless asked to list or multiple choice. 1. What is the setting?

L.4.4a L.3.4a L.2.4a

7 + Entrance Examination Sample Paper English. Total marks: 50 Time allowed: 45mins

Downloaded from SA2QP Total number of printed pages 10

Something dreadful has happened to Mr Curtis. I am quite surprised to realize that I mind. If you had asked me this morning what I thought of him, I

Bismarck, North Dakota is known for several things. First of all, you probably already know that Bismarck is the state capitol. You might even know

Environmental Science, Test 2 2

The Pirate Substitute

TEST NAME: ELA 11/18 TEST ID: GRADE:05 - Fifth Grade SUBJECT:English Language and Literature TEST CATEGORY: School Assessment

Student Name: Directions: Read this passage and answer the following questions. The Gift

ALLAN WOODROW SCHOLASTIC PRESS NEW YORK

Lexie World (The Three Lost Kids, #1) Chapter 1- Where My Socks Disappear

Subject Part & Action Part

XSEED Summative Assessment Test 1. Duration: 90 Minutes Maximum Marks: 60. English, Test 1. XSEED Education English Grade 3 1

THE GOOD FATHER 16-DE06-W35. Logline: A father struggles to rebuild a relationship with his son after the death of his wife.

English. March Grade. External Measurement of Student Achievement TEST INSTRUCTIONS

from The Worship Drama Library Volume 6 By Mike and Colleen Gray

ENGLISH ENGLISH BRITISH. Level 1. Tests

Poetry and Children. By Kathy Evans

Podcast Series: Holistic Nature of Us. Episode # 43: Meet Craig StandingBear. http//:

Reading Strategies Level D

Before Reading. 44 SpringBoard English Textual Power Level 2. SUGGESTED Learning Strategies: Predicting, Previewing, Quickwrite, Visualizing, Word Map

Teo the Hare. Teo the Hare. A Story for Mathew from his Grampa and Grandmas. April John Bonthron for Matthew, Easter 2014 Page 1

My Writing Handbook. 5th Grade

and Brynn meet a plant scientist and produce buyer who have been working for years to create a variety of

Illustrations by Donald Wu

The Sacred Salmon GO ON

Directions for Viewing PDF Slide Shows

What He Left by Claudia I. Haas. MEMORY 2: March 1940; Geiringer apartment on the terrace.

Transcription:

The Pennsylvania System of School Assessment 2006 2007 Reading Item and Scoring Sampler Grade 7 Pennsylvania Department of Education Bureau of Assessment and Accountability 2006 2007

TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction................................................................... 3 General Scoring Guidelines for Reading........................................... 4 Reading Reporting Categories.................................................... 5 Grade 7 Reading Passage 1....................................................... 6 Reading Multiple-Choice Items................................................... 7 Grade 7 First Open-Ended Item................................................... 9 Open-Ended Item-Specific Scoring Guide......................................... 10 Open-Ended Item Responses.................................................... 11 Grade 7 Reading Passage 2...................................................... 17 Reading Multiple-Choice Items.................................................. 18 Grade 7 Reading Passage 3...................................................... 20 Reading Multiple-Choice Items.................................................. 23 Grade 7 Second Open-Ended Item............................................... 25 Open-Ended Item-Specific Scoring Guide......................................... 26 Open-Ended Item Responses.................................................... 27 Grade 7 Reading Item Sampler 2006 2007 1

Grade 7 Reading Item Sampler 2006 2007 2

INTRODUCTION General Introduction The Department of Education provides districts and schools with tools to assist in delivering focused instructional programs aligned to the state assessment system. These tools include assessment anchor documents, assessment handbooks, and content-based item and scoring samplers. This 2006 2007 Reading Item and Scoring Sampler is a useful tool for Pennsylvania educators in the preparation of local instructional programs and the statewide PSSA. What Is Included This item and scoring sampler contains reading passages with multiple-choice and open-ended items that have been written to focus on and align with the 2007 Assessment Anchor Content Standards (Assessment Anchors). These items are actual examples of those used to assess student performance on the PSSA. These items provide an idea of the types of items that will appear on the operational Spring 2007 PSSA. The passages represent some of the genres approved by PDE for appearance on the PSSA. Each item has been through a rigorous review process to ensure alignment with the Assessment Anchors. Purpose and Uses The passages with items in this sampler may be used as examples for creating assessment items at the classroom level, and they may also be copied and used as part of a local instructional program.* Classroom teachers may find it beneficial to have students respond to the open-ended items in this sampler. Educators can then use the sampler as a guide to score the responses either independently or together with colleagues within a school or district. Item Format and Scoring Guidelines The multiple-choice items have four answer choices. Each correct response to a multiple-choice item is worth 1 point. Each open-ended item is designed to take about ten minutes to complete. During an actual testing event, students are given additional time as necessary to complete the test items. The open-ended items in reading are scored with item-specific scoring guidelines on a 0 3 scale. An item-specific scoring guide with examples of responses for each score point is presented with each item. Also included is the General Scoring Guidelines for Reading used to develop the item-specific guidelines. The General Scoring Guidelines should be used to develop any item-specific scoring guideline created for use within local instructional programs.* Grade 7 Reading Item Sampler 2006 2007 3

3 Points GENERAL SCORING GUIDELINES FOR READING The response provides a complete answer to the task (e.g., a statement that offers a correct answer as well as text-based support). The response provides specific, appropriate, and accurate details (e.g., naming, describing, explaining, or comparing) or examples. 2 Points The response provides a partial answer to the task (e.g., indicates some awareness of the task and at least one text-based detail). The response attempts to provide sufficient, appropriate details (e.g., naming, describing, explaining, or comparing) or examples; may contain minor inaccuracies. 1 Point The response provides an incomplete answer to the task (e.g., indicating either a misunderstanding of the task or no text-based details). The response provides insufficient or inappropriate details or examples that have a major effect on accuracy. The response consists entirely of relevant copied text. 0 Points The response provides insufficient material for scoring. The response is inaccurate in all aspects. Categories within zero reported separately: BLK (blank) No response or written refusal to respond or too brief to determine response OT Off task/topic LOE Response in a language other than English IL Illegible Grade 7 Reading Item Sampler 2006 2007 4

REPORTING CATEGORIES Reading Scores will be reported in two categories: A Comprehension and Reading Skills B Interpretation and Analysis of Fictional and Nonfictional Text Examples of multiple-choice and open-ended items assessing these categories are included in this booklet. SAMPLE ITEMS There are three reading passages in this booklet. Each passage is followed by one set of multiple-choice items. Each item is preceded by the Assessment Anchor and Eligible Content coding. The correct answer for a multiple-choice item is indicated by an asterisk (*). Two of the passages are followed by an open-ended item. Each item is preceded by the Assessment Anchor and Eligible Content coding. Each open-ended item is displayed with an item-specific scoring guideline and examples of student responses with scores and annotations. Grade 7 Reading Item Sampler 2006 2007 5

Read the following poem about a pond in a park. Then answer questions 1 8 in your answer booklet. Water Picture by May Swenson In the pond in the park all things are doubled: Long buildings hang and wriggle gently. Chimneys are bent legs bouncing on clouds below. A flag wags like a fishhook down there in the sky. The arched stone bridge is an eye, with underlid in the water. In its lens dip crinkled heads with hats that don t fall off. Dogs go by, barking on their backs. A baby, taken to feed the ducks, dangles upside-down, a pink balloon for a buoy. Treetops deploy a haze of cherry bloom for roots, where birds coast belly-up in the glass bowl of a hill; from its bottom a bunch of peanut-munching children is suspended by their sneakers, waveringly. Grade 7 Reading Item Sampler 2006 2007 6

A swan, with twin necks forming the figure three steers between two dimpled towers doubled. Fondly hissing, she kisses herself, and all the scene is troubled: water-windows splinter, tree-limbs tangle, the bridge folds like a fan. B.2.1.1 1. Which is the most likely reason the speaker says the dogs are barking on their backs? A B C The speaker is imagining that the dogs are barking. The dogs are rolling on the grass as they bark. The speaker is viewing the dogs through a lens. B.2.1.1 2. In the poem, the buildings wriggle gently because A they are hanging. * B the water has ripples in it. C D they are very tall. the chimneys are being shaken. * D The dogs are reflected upside down in the water. Grade 7 Reading Item Sampler 2006 2007 7

B.2.1.1 3. Read the lines from the poem. The arched stone bridge/is an eye, with underlid/in the water. This metaphor means that the A B poet is looking under the water. stone bridge s arch is broken. B.2.1.1 5. In the poem, water-windows are windows that A B C keep water out. are the color of water. can hold water. * D are reflected in the water. C poet sees ripples under the bridge. * D stone bridge s reflection makes a circle. A.1.2.2 A.1.4.1 4. What dangles upside-down in the poem? A a dog * B a baby 6. As it is used in the last line of the poem, the word folds most likely means A B C opens. embraces. blends. * D collapses. C D a duck a hat A.1.4.1 7. This poem is mostly about A B wildlife seen in a park. a swan swimming in a pond. * C images seen in a pond. D an arched bridge in a park. Grade 7 Reading Item Sampler 2006 2007 8

B.1.1.1 8. Write a word or phrase to describe the speaker of the poem. Use at least two examples from the poem to support your response. Grade 7 Reading Item Sampler 2006 2007 9

OPEN-ENDED ITEM-SPECIFIC SCORING GUIDE Item #8 This item will be reported under Category B, Comprehension and Reading Skills. Assessment Anchor: B.1 Understand components within and between texts. Specific Eligible Content addressed by this item: B.1.1.1 Interpret, compare, describe, analyze, and/or evaluate the relationships among the following within fiction and literary nonfiction: Character: Interpret, compare, describe, analyze, and/or evaluate character actions, motives, dialogue, emotions/ feelings, traits, and relationships among characters within fictional or literary nonfictional text. Scoring Guide: Score 3 2 1 0 Nonscorable In response to this item, the student demonstrates complete knowledge of understanding character traits by describing the speaker of the poem and by using at least two examples from the poem. demonstrates partial knowledge of understanding character traits by describing the speaker of the poem. (Example: Student describes the speaker and uses one example from the poem to support the response.) demonstrates incomplete knowledge of understanding character traits by describing the speaker of the poem. (Example: Student describes the speaker without using any examples from the poem to support the response.) has given a response that provides insufficient material for scoring or is inaccurate in all respects. BLK No response or written refusal to respond or response too brief to determine response OT Off task/topic LOE Response in a language other than English IL Illegible Example Top Scoring Response (3 Points): Description with Examples The speaker of the poem is imaginative, seeing things differently from the way things are seen by other people. For example, the long buildings wriggle gently in the water and A flag wags like a fishhook down there in the sky. Grade 7 Reading Item Sampler 2006 2007 10

OPEN-ENDED ITEM RESPONSES B.1.1.1 Response Score: 3 8. Write a word or phrase to describe the speaker of the poem. Use at least two examples from the poem to support your response. The student has given a complete answer to the task by using a word or phrase to describe the speaker of the poem ( I feel that the speaker of the poem Water Picture is a very observative person ) and by using two examples from the poem to support the response ( how the swan hisses something most people would not have noticed and how the baby that was taken to feed the ducks held a pink ballon ). Grade 7 Reading Item Sampler 2006 2007 11

B.1.1.1 Response Score: 2 8. Write a word or phrase to describe the speaker of the poem. Use at least two examples from the poem to support your response. The student has given a partial answer to the task by using a word or phrase to describe the speaker of the poem ( She is very creative ) and by using one example from the poem to support the response ( See said A Swan with twin necks making a Figure Three and in a pond at the park all things are doubled ). Grade 7 Reading Item Sampler 2006 2007 12

B.1.1.1 Response Score: 2 8. Write a word or phrase to describe the speaker of the poem. Use at least two examples from the poem to support your response. The student has given a partial answer to the task by using two examples from the poem to imply a word or phrase that describes the speaker of the poem (... the trees look like they have cherry blooms for roots and... the stone bridge is like a completed eye in the water ). Grade 7 Reading Item Sampler 2006 2007 13

B.1.1.1 Response Score: 1 8. Write a word or phrase to describe the speaker of the poem. Use at least two examples from the poem to support your response. The student has given an incomplete answer to the task by writing a word to describe the speaker of the poem ( exited ) without using any examples from the poem to support the response. Grade 7 Reading Item Sampler 2006 2007 14

B.1.1.1 Response Score: 1 8. Write a word or phrase to describe the speaker of the poem. Use at least two examples from the poem to support your response. The student has given an incomplete answer to the task by using one example from the poem to imply a description of the speaker ( The speaker must like the park to because he said today in the park is doubled ) without explicitly writing a word or phrase to describe the speaker. Grade 7 Reading Item Sampler 2006 2007 15

B.1.1.1 Response Score: 0 8. Write a word or phrase to describe the speaker of the poem. Use at least two examples from the poem to support your response. The student s response is inaccurate in all respects. Grade 7 Reading Item Sampler 2006 2007 16

Read the following passage about vacuums. Then answer questions 9 14 in your answer booklet. Pressure: Vacuums Are All About Nothing by Bill Nye & Ian Saunders Air pressure acts in all directions. But what if there s no air at all? Please consider the following: When there s a place or a space with no air, we call it a vacuum. Vacuum comes from an old word that means empty. Usually, things that we call empty aren t really empty. They re filled with air. An empty room may not have any books or chairs or goldfish in it, but it s got wall-to-wall air! And you know that air is made up of molecules and that these molecules go around bumping into things, making pressure. A vacuum, though, is really empty. I mean empty of everything including air molecules. And when there are no air molecules, we get no air pressure. A good example of a vacuum is a suction cup stuck to a wall. When you push down on the suction cup to attach it to the wall, you force almost all of the air out from under it. That creates a vacuum between the suction cup and the wall. At the same time, the air pressure in the room pushes against the other side of the suction cup. The vacuum under the suction cup has no air molecules and no air pressure, so it doesn t push back. The air molecules in the room hold the cup tightly to the wall. The vacuum under a suction cup doesn t last very long. Air molecules in the room are constantly pushing against all sides of the suction cup. Since there s a vacuum under the suction cup, there s nothing to push back and keep air molecules from getting through tiny gaps between the wall and the cup. That means that some of the air molecules from the room can slowly sneak through into the space under the suction cup. Eventually enough molecules will sneak in, and the suction cup will fall off. That s why we sometimes wet a suction cup to make it stick better. The liquid fills in tiny gaps between the cup and the wall. They re small to us, but they re plenty big enough for air molecules to slide through. See, it s harder for air to get through the gaps when they re filled with water, so the vacuum lasts longer. Soda straws are another way to see a vacuum in action. When you suck up a milkshake, you suck most of the air molecules from the straw into your mouth, making a vacuum in the straw. Then the air pressure in the room pushes down on the top of the milkshake and pushes it up through your straw. Right into your mouth. Mmmm! Grade 7 Reading Item Sampler 2006 2007 17

Of course, when people talk about a vacuum, they usually mean a machine that cleans the floor. But that kind of vacuum works because it has a vacuum inside of it. See, the motor inside the vacuum cleaner blows almost all of the air out of the machine, making a partial vacuum inside the machine. Then, air in the room rushes in to fill the empty space the only way it can through the end of the long hose you move over the carpet. All that air rushing in carries dirt up off the floor. Va-va-va-voom! A.2.4.1 10. According to the passage, tiny gaps between a suction cup and a wall will A keep the cup stuck tightly to the wall. * B allow air molecules to get under the cup. C D force air molecules to push down on the cup. help create a vacuum between the cup and the wall. A.2.4.1 9. Which statement best summarizes the main idea of this passage? A B All that air rushing in carries dirt up off the floor. The vacuum under a suction cup doesn t last very long. * C And when there are no air molecules, we get no air pressure. A.2.3.1 11. In the passage, soda straws are used as an example of how vacuums are A B difficult to make. created by liquids. * C useful in everyday life. D ruined by air molecules. D Eventually enough molecules will sneak in, and the suction cup will fall off. Grade 7 Reading Item Sampler 2006 2007 18

A.2.4.1 12. According to the passage, what is a vacuum? * A a space that has no air A.2.4.1 14. Which would be the best new title for this passage? * A How Vacuums Work B a liquid pressing on air B Why Vacuums Are Important C a gap that allows air to pass C How to Use a Vacuum Cleaner D a collection of air molecules D The History of the Vacuum Cleaner B.3.3.1 13. Information in this passage is presented through A expert opinions. * B specific examples. C D problems and solutions. comparing and contrasting. Grade 7 Reading Item Sampler 2006 2007 19

Read the following passage about an island village. Then answer questions 15 21 in your answer booklet. Fish, Flowers, and Fruit by Joyce Sidman Long ago, in the village of Ngiwal on the island of Palau in the waters of the great Pacific Ocean, lived a girl named Mora. Life was hard in Ngiwal. The soil was bad and wouldn t grow taro, so the villagers had to spend each day trapping and netting and spearing fish. Mora worked alongside the others, but when she had a free moment, she liked to go off exploring. One day she swam out to a small reef island where no one lived. At the center of its tangled jungle, Mora discovered a most unusual tree. This tree had leaves as green as the ocean and as shiny as the sun, and it was covered all over with round, prickly flowers. The flowers were so odd that Mora reached out and picked one. To her astonishment, a tiny fish hopped out from the broken stem and wriggled in her hand! She picked another flower. Another tiny fish came wriggling out. Mora looked up at the tall, many-flowered tree and thought of her village, which often had to go without food. If there is a fish in each of these flowers, she said to herself, this tree could feed us all! She tucked the flower and the fish in the band of her skirt and swam back to Ngiwal as fast as she could. First she went to her mother and told her about the tree. Her mother shook her head. Such foolishness, she said. Then she went to her father. A happy dream, he sighed. So she went to find the elder in his wooden bai. She spoke respectfully: On the small reef island by the village of Ngiwal on the island of Palau in the wide waters of the Pacific, there is a tree with fish in its flowers. The elder looked her up and down. An amazing story, Granddaughter! How do I know it is true? From her skirt, Mora drew out the strange flower and the tiny fish and placed them in his hand. Show me this tree, the elder said. He gathered four villagers, and they paddled to the island in a canoe. Mora led them to the tree. Sure enough, when the elder stepped up and plucked a flower, a fish came out from the broken stem. The others gasped, What wonders! Soon they were all plucking the odd, prickly flowers and catching the tiny fish that jumped out. Grade 7 Reading Item Sampler 2006 2007 20

Still, it is only a handful of minnows, said one of the villagers, drawing back an ax. Let us cut a branch and see what happens. He swung and hacked off a thick limb. Out flopped a big, silvery tuna. We will never have to fish again! the villagers cheered. The tree on the small reef island near the village of Ngiwal on the island of Palau in the waters of the great Pacific Ocean provided many fish for the villagers. All they needed to do was lop off a branch, and out flowed enough fish to feed them. They grew fat and happy, and the memory of their hardship faded. One day when Mora swam out to visit the tree, she noticed that it was no longer as green as the ocean nor as shiny as the sun. Most of its leaves were gone, and there were few branches left. Worse yet, when the villagers axes bit into the tree, she heard the sound of weeping. The spirit of the tree is unhappy, she said to the villagers gathering fish. I hear it crying in pain. We hear nothing, the villagers said. Besides, if the tree s spirit were unhappy, why would it continue to give us fish? Mora had no answer. But as they paddled away, an old woman appeared beneath the tree. Tears ran down her wrinkled cheeks, and she held out an empty bowl. Why are you weeping, Grandmother? Mora asked. The old woman looked up. Ah! she said sadly. I weep because my bowl is empty. But here is the tree that gives us fish, Mora said. This tree is dying, the old woman wept. Soon, the sharp blades of the axes will kill it, and I will have nothing left to eat. What shall we do? Mora asked. Surely this wondrous tree was meant to feed us. The woman looked at her with eyes like an old turtle s. The flower that is picked cannot bear fruit. With that, she disappeared. Mora sat for a long time beneath the tree, thinking about what the old woman had said. She leaned against its rough bark and stared up at the few green limbs that grew strong and straight. She parted the petals of a flower and found a tiny pip of fruit. The flower that is picked cannot bear fruit, she murmured to herself. And she knew what she had to do. The next morning, when the villagers came with their axes, they found Mora beneath the tree. Step back, Daughter. We are here to gather the day s fish. Not today, Mora said firmly. The tree is ill. It needs a day to heal. Ask the elder; he will believe me. The villagers stared at her suspiciously. She was just a young girl, but the elder had once listened to her. Reluctantly, they went away, vowing to be back the next day. When they returned, Mora stood in their way again. The tree is not yet healed, she said. Tell the elder one more day is necessary. This is foolishness! the villagers grumbled as they stomped away. But Mora just smiled, Grade 7 Reading Item Sampler 2006 2007 21

for the prickly flowers were losing their petals. On the third day, the villagers brought the elder with them. Daughter, the village is hungry, he said. We must gather fish from the tree. What about our spears and fishing nets, Grandfather? Mora asked respectfully. Have we forgotten how to use them? The elder frowned, and the villagers muttered. In truth, they had begun to forget how to fish the old ways. We are hungry! someone called. Stand aside! The rest raised their axes. But look at the tree! Mora pointed upward. All the strange, prickly flowers had disappeared, and in their place were wrinkled green globes the size of fists. Swiftly, Mora climbed up and shook a branch. One of the globes dropped and split in half, revealing a white, fleshy core. What is this fruit? the elder cried, snatching it up. We have never seen its like before. Cooks! he ordered. Hurry back to the village and see what can be made of this! Much could be made of the strange fruit, they soon discovered. It could be baked, fried, and pickled, and it filled the stomach wonderfully. The elder gave it a name, breadfruit, and declared that, from then on, no ax should touch the tree from whence it came. The breadfruit tree grew once again as green as the ocean and as glossy as the sun. Mora took to carrying its seeds with her, planting them wherever she went. Soon there were enough trees to feed the whole village of Ngiwal and indeed the entire island of Palau. When the villagers yearned for fish, they took up their spears and nets and went out on the wide waters of the Pacific. They remembered the old ways of fishing and passed them on to their sons and daughters. They passed on, too, the story of Mora, the girl who stopped the axes of Ngiwal and turned the flowers of fish into fruit. Grade 7 Reading Item Sampler 2006 2007 22

B.1.1.1 15. Which word best describes Mora? A selfish B reckless C obedient * D courageous A.1.1.2 17. Read the following sentence from the passage. Reluctantly, they went away, vowing to be back the next day. The best synonym for the word reluctantly is A hastily. A.1.3.1 16. Mora tells the villagers that the tree is ill so that the tree can * B unwillingly. C jubilantly. D confidently. * A bear fruit. B C D make seeds. produce fish. grow flowers. A.1.4.1 18. The wrinkled green globes on the unusual tree are A B C fish. leaves. flowers. * D breadfruit. Grade 7 Reading Item Sampler 2006 2007 23

B.1.1.1 19. Which sentence best states the theme? A B Life was hard in Ngiwal. We are here to gather the day s fish. * C The flower that is picked cannot bear fruit. D When they returned, Mora stood in their way again. B.2.1.1 20. Read the sentence from the passage. This tree had leaves as green as the ocean and as shiny as the sun, and it was covered all over with round, prickly flowers. The similes in the sentence emphasize the tree s A island location. B size and shape. * C unusual beauty. D height and width. Grade 7 Reading Item Sampler 2006 2007 24

A.1.3.1 21. What does the old woman represent? Use at least two examples from the passage to support your response. Grade 7 Reading Item Sampler 2006 2007 25

OPEN-ENDED ITEM-SPECIFIC SCORING GUIDE Item #21 This item will be reported under Category A, Comprehension and Reading Skills. Assessment Anchor: A.1 Understand fiction appropriate to grade level. Specific Eligible Content addressed by this item: A.1.3.1 Make inferences and/or draw conclusions based on information from the text. Scoring Guide: Score 3 2 1 0 Non-scorable In response to this item the student demonstrates complete knowledge of understanding inferences by describing what the old woman represents and by using at least two examples from the passage to support the description. demonstrates partial knowledge of understanding inferences by describing what the old woman represents. (Example: Student describes what the old woman represents and uses one example from the passage.) demonstrates incomplete knowledge of understanding inferences by describing what the old woman represents. (Example: Student describes what the old woman represents without using any examples from the passage.) has given a response that provides insufficient material for scoring or is inaccurate in all respects. BLK No response or written refusal to respond or response too brief to determine response OT Off task/topic LOE Response in a language other than English IL - Illegible Example Top Scoring Response (3 Points): Conclusion with Examples The old woman represents the spirit of the tree. Mora tells the villagers that the spirit of the tree is unhappy, because the villagers are cutting branches off the tree. The old woman weeps when the villagers axes bite into the tree. Grade 7 Reading Item Sampler 2006 2007 26

OPEN-ENDED ITEM RESPONSES A.1.3.1 Response Score: 3 21. What does the old woman represent? Use at least two examples from the passage to support your response. The student has given a complete answer to the task by stating what the old woman represents ( the tree s spirit ) and by using two examples from the passage to support the response ( When Mora saw a villager swing his axe at the tree, she heard weeping. The old woman appeared beneath the tree and she was the one who was weeping and She held out an empty bowl and said, I weep because my bowl is empty. Soon, the sharp blades of the axe will kill it, and I will have nothing left to eat ). Grade 7 Reading Item Sampler 2006 2007 27

A.1.3.1 Response Score: 2 21. What does the old woman represent? Use at least two examples from the passage to support your response. The student has given a partial answer to the task by stating what the old woman represents ( the trees soul ) and by using one example from the passage to support the response ( I think this is so because the woman came out from under the tree and only talked to her after the tree started dying ). Grade 7 Reading Item Sampler 2006 2007 28

A.1.3.1 Response Score: 2 21. What does the old woman represent? Use at least two examples from the passage to support your response. The student has given a partial answer to the task by using two examples from the passage to imply what the old woman represents without explicitly stating what the old woman represents ( She said A flower that is picked cannot bear fruit. and I weap becase the sharp blads of the ax will kill it and I have nothing left to eat. ) Grade 7 Reading Item Sampler 2006 2007 29

A.1.3.1 Response Score: 1 21. What does the old woman represent? Use at least two examples from the passage to support your response. The student has given an incomplete answer to the task by using an example from the passage to imply what the old woman represents without explicitly stating what the old woman represents ( if they cut it down they will not have nothing to eat or the would of been starving ). Grade 7 Reading Item Sampler 2006 2007 30

A.1.3.1 Response Score: 1 21. What does the old woman represent? Use at least two examples from the passage to support your response. The student has given an incomplete answer to the task by stating what the old woman represents ( the tree ) without using any examples from the passage to support the response. Grade 7 Reading Item Sampler 2006 2007 31

B.1.1.1 Response Score: 0 21. What does the old woman represent? Use at least two examples from the passage to support your response. The student s response is inaccurate in all aspects. Grade 7 Reading Item Sampler 2006 2007 32

Acknowledgements Water Picture from NATURE: POEMS OLD AND NEW by May Swenson. Copyright 1994 by The Literary Estate of May Swenson. Reprinted by permission of Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Pressure: Vacuums Are All About Nothing from BILL NYE THE SCIENCE GUY S CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING by Bill Nye. Copyright 1995 Bill Nye. Reprinted by permission of Hyperion Books for Children. Fish, Flowers, and Fruit reprinted by permission of Cricket magazine, July 1998, copyright 1998 by Joyce Sidman. Grade 7 Reading Item Sampler 2006 2007 33

Copyright 2006 by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The materials contained in this publication may be duplicated by Pennsylvania educators for local classroom use. This permission does not extend to the duplication of materials for commercial use.