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ELA Testlet 006 - Writing Organization and Content

Last updated about 3 hours ago

7 questions

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Question 1

1.

Read the draft of the report a student has written about Florida manatees. Choose one sentence number from each paragraph to show which sentences the author should omit to give each paragraph a clearer focus.

(1) Manatees, also known as “sea cows,” are large, gentle mammals that live in shallow rivers, canals, and bays in Florida. (2) Manatees are herbivores, which means they eat an all-plant diet.  (3) Baby manatees weigh around sixty-five pounds and are close to four feet long. (4) Tourists who visit Florida enjoy swimming with manatees, even though they are not allowed to touch them.  (5) When full grown, a manatee can grow 9–10 feet long and weigh around 800–1200 pounds.  (6) Manatees are able to hold their breath for up to twenty minutes, although they typically surface every few minutes for air. __________

(7) Unfortunately, Florida’s manatees are currently listed as a threatened species under the
Endangered Species Act.  (8) Collisions with boats and a condition known as “cold stress” are
everyday hazards for the manatee.  (9) Yet even though manatees are a threatened species,
research shows that the number of manatees has been steadily increasing over the past thirty years.  (10) Manatees like to play and are typically very gentle with each other. 
 (11) Manatee lovers and wildlife professionals continue to carefully monitor and work to protect one of Florida’s most beloved mammals.__________

Question 2

2.

A student is writing an essay about virtual field trips. Read the draft:

The virtual experience allows students to connect with what they are learning in a way that
is interesting and motivating. Whether they are climbing the pyramids of Egypt or walking
the Great Wall of China, students are able to feel as if they are actually on a field trip.
Students get to experience places they may not be able to travel to otherwise.

Which sentence would be the best introduction for the paragraph?

During virtual field trips, students explore the world without ever leaving the classroom.

Question 3

3.

Read a student’s journal entry:

Let me tell you about the craziest dream I have ever had. I woke up to get ready for school
but realized all the socks in my dresser drawer were missing. I searched all over the house
but could not find them. It wasn’t until I opened the fridge and saw all my socks neatly
folded that I realized I must have been dreaming.

Choose the best concluding sentence for the student's journal entry.

Who put my socks in the fridge?

Question 4

4.

Read the paragraph from a student’s informational essay about an event in history:

____________________________________The Tokio Express, a container ship, was traveling from the Netherlands to New York City when it was unexpectedly hit by a gigantic wave. The harsh force of the wave tilted the cargo ship dramatically, and it dropped several containers into the sea. One of the containers was filled with approximately five million colorful LEGO bricks. Shortly after the incident, the LEGO pieces began washing ashore throughout the United Kingdom. LEGO pieces have continued to wash ashore for over twenty-five years.

Choose one of the sentences below that is the best introduction for the paragraph.

Things have happened many years ago that can still happen today.

LEGO bricks are toys that people have played with for many years.

Question 5

5.

Read the paragraph from a student’s biography about Jackie Robinson:

In 1942, Robinson was drafted and sent to an Army cavalry unit in Fort Riley, Kansas,
where he was selected for officer training. He was later transferred to Fort Hood, Texas,
and joined the 761st Black Panthers Tank Battalion. Before leaving the Army in 1944,
Robinson served as a coach for Army athletics in Kentucky. It was during this time that he
met a fellow African-American who played for the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro
American Baseball League and urged Robinson to try out for the team.

Which title would be the best heading for this section of the biography?

Question 6

6.

Question 7

7.

Certainly, candy production will continue to change as long as people continue to love sweets.

There is much to learn and appreciate about the history of candy companies.

Today, candy comes in many price ranges for people to consume.

It is hard to believe sugary chocolate candy has not always been around for people to enjoy.

Virtual field trips let students meet students from other parts of the world.

During virtual field trips, students get to learn another language.

Virtual field trips are not as costly as actual field trips.

Of all the dreams I have ever had, that was the most ridiculous!

That is one fridge I do not want to eat out of!

Socks do not belong in the fridge, even a fridge in a dream!

The United Kingdom has experienced some interesting events over the years.

On February 13, 1997, the Great LEGO Spill occurred near the United Kingdom.

How Robinson Stayed Motivated

How Robinson Trained as an Athlete

How Robinson was Discovered

How Robinson Persevered

Read the draft of a student’s narrative: 

(1) Shelly hopped out of the car and darted full speed through the hot sand toward the crashing waves. (2) It was beach day—Shelly’s favorite! (3) “Stop!” a voice suddenly shouted. (4) Shelly felt a tap on her shoulder. (5) “Don’t step on them.  (6) You could hurt them,” an older girl said to Shelly.  (7) Shelly stopped, looked down, and saw a small nest of white eggs by her feet.  (8) Shelly and her mom had driven to the beach, and the ride had taken about an hour.  (9) “Those are sea turtle eggs.  (10) Once they hatch, the sea turtles will crawl into the sea,” the older girl said as she smiled at Shelly. (11) She explained that she was putting up signs to warn visitors about the nests. (12) Shelly happily agreed to help her, and the two took off.

Choose the sentence that should be moved or revised to maintain a clear focus.

(1) Shelly hopped out of the car and darted full speed through the hot sand toward the crashing waves.

(2) It was beach day—Shelly’s favorite!

(3) “Stop!” a voice suddenly shouted.

(4) Shelly felt a tap on her shoulder.

(5)  “Don’t step on them. 

(6) You could hurt them,” an older girl said to Shelly.

(7) Shelly stopped, looked down, and saw a small nest of white eggs by her feet.

(8) Shelly and her mom had driven to the beach, and the ride had taken about an hour.

(9) “Those are sea turtle eggs.

(10) Once they hatch, the sea turtles will crawl into the sea,” the older girl said as she smiled at Shelly.

(11) She explained that she was putting up signs to warn visitors about the nests.

(12) Shelly happily agreed to help her, and the two took off.

A student is writing an informational report about the history of candy in the United States.
Read the student’s draft:

In our world of endless choices of candy and other sweet treats, it is hard to imagine a
time when candy did not exist. Historically, “candy” was used as medicine when people
had stomach trouble or sore throats. For example, peppermint sticks were a type of candy
used as medicine. Early Native Americans and colonial Americans used sap from trees to
make maple syrup, which was combined with other foods, such as nuts and dried fruits, to
make candy. Cocoa was also popular in colonial America, but sugary chocolate candy
wasn’t known to the colonists or Native Americans. People instead used cocoa in different
recipes. However, as food science and technology progressed, the production of
chocolate candy and other types of candy, such as jelly beans, grew in popularity.

Which sentence would be the best conclusion for the student’s draft?