Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System Practice Test English Language Arts Reading Comprehension GRADE 7 Student Name School Name District Name [Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System [MCAS] Logo] This is a practice test. Your responses to practice test questions must be recorded on your Practice Test Answer Document. Mark only one answer for each multiple-choice question. If you are not sure of the answer, choose the answer you think is best. HOW TO ANSWER OPEN-RESPONSE QUESTIONS * Make sure that your response is CLEAR, COMPLETE, and ACCURATE. * Provide enough IMPORTANT DETAILS from the selection to completely support your response. Reading Comprehension DIRECTIONS This practice test contains one reading selection with two multiple-choice questions and one open-response question. Mark your answers to these questions in the spaces provided on page 5 of your Practice Test Answer Document. A thief can be outsmarted. "The House of Tiles" is a legend that tells how a robbery was prevented. Read the legend below. Use information from the legend to answer the questions that follow. The House of Tiles by Genevieve Barlow and William Stivers 1 One of the most beautiful buildings in Mexico City is called the House of Tiles. It is not far from the old cathedral of the capital. For many years, only the wealthy and noble people lived in this residence. In the twentieth century, the two Sanborn brothers bought the house. Here, they established a restaurant that serves Mexican as well as American food; it even serves malted milk and hamburgers. This is the legend of the origin of the House of Tiles. 2 In the eighteenth century, young don^1 Luis, the second Count of Orizaba, lived with his wealthy and distinguished family in Mexico City. Luis was not a good son. He was lazy and selfish. He amused himself by day and night and never thought of anything serious. [Illustration of an ornate clock] 3 Luis’ parents were very sad because of the bad conduct of their son. One day Luis’ father said to lazy Luis, "You’ll never be able to make a house of tiles.^2 4 "I don’t care. I only want to have a good time," Luis answered, and left quickly to attend a party. 5 During the following days, Luis thought a lot about what his father had said and he decided to change his behavior. 6 Instead of amusing himself all the time, he would work long hours with great enthusiasm. At the end of a few years, he had amassed a fortune. 7 He bought a large two-story house not far from the cathedral. He and his workmen covered the house with beautiful white, yellow, and blue tiles. When all this work was finished, Luis lived in this elegant house. Afterwards, he spent a lot of time in Europe where he bought elegant and costly furniture. 8 Now, Luis was ready to give a grand party in his magnificent house in honor of his parents. He invited all the wealthy and noble people of the capital. 9 During the party there were songs and dances. Shortly before midnight, Luis noticed that a very costly and ornate clock had disappeared from a table that was below some large windows. 10 Luis thought that there was a thief among the guests. No doubt, the person hid the clock underneath his or her clothes. For that reason, the young man went to the center of the great room and announced aloud, "Ladies and gentlemen, I regret having to interrupt the music, but I am very sad. A valuable clock is no longer on the table below the large windows." 11 "How strange!" many people said. 12 "This clock, mounted with diamonds, is a gift from the king of Spain," Luis continued. "Now it is ten minutes to twelve. Soon the clock will play music before striking twelve. The doors of the house are all locked. No one can leave. Now we are going to turn out the lights of this room for a few minutes. In the dark, the person who has the clock can put it back on the table." 13 After a few moments the servants entered with the lights. Every eye was turned toward the table. There was the clock! It was one minute to twelve. 14 The people impatiently watched the tiny hands of the clock reach twelve and pass it, but the clock didn’t play any music, nor did it strike the hour. 15 Luis, seeing the looks of surprise and curiosity on the faces of the people, said, "The truth of the matter, my friends, is that the clock never plays any music nor strikes the hour. Now, we can go on with our party." 16 Thus ends the legend of Luis and the House of Tiles. ^1 A title used before the first name of a Spanish nobleman or gentleman; doña is the feminine equivalent. ^2 This saying means "You’ll never amount to anything." From "Legends of Mexico" by Barlow and Stivers. Used with permission from NTC/Contemporary Publishing Group. 1 Why does Luis turn the lights out when asking the thief to return his clock? A. The servants will secretly try and catch the thief. B. All of the people will be searched. C. The people will enjoy the mystery more in the dark. D. The thief will be more likely to return it in the darkness. 2 In paragraph 6, what does amassed mean? A. bundled B. counted C. gathered D. wasted Question 3 is an open-response question. * Read the question carefully. * Explain your answer. * Add supporting details. * Double-check your work. Write your answer to question 3 in the space provided on page 5 of your Practice Test Answer Document. 3 Describe how Luis changes from the beginning of the legend to the end of the legend. Support your answer with relevant and specific information from the legend. MASSACHUSETTS COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT SYSTEM Grade 7 English Language Arts Practice Test Answer Document School Name: District Name: Last Name of Student: First Name of Student: Marking Instructions * Use a No. 2 pencil only. * Do not use ink, ballpoint, or felt tip pens. * Make solid marks that fill the circles completely. * Erase cleanly any marks you wish to change. * Make no stray marks on this form. * Do not fold, tear, or mutilate this form. READING COMPREHENSION 1. A B C D 2. A B C D 3.