Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System

2018, Grade 10 English Language Arts

Question 36: Open-Response

Reporting Category: Reading Comprehension
Topic: 13 - Nonfiction
Standard: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.2 - Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.

View Reading Selection

Based on the excerpt, explain why radium is both fascinating and frightening. Support your answer with relevant and specific information from the excerpt.

Scoring Guide and Sample Student Work

Select a score point in the table below to view the sample student response.

Score	Description
4	The response is a clear, complete, and accurate explanation of why radium is both fascinating and frightening. The response contains important information from the excerpt.
4
3	The response is a mostly clear, complete, and accurate explanation of why radium is both fascinating and frightening. The response includes relevant but often general information from the excerpt.
2	The response is a partial explanation of why radium is both fascinating and frightening. The response includes limited information from the excerpt and may include misinterpretations.
1	The response is a minimal explanation of why radium is both fascinating and frightening. The response contains little or no information from the excerpt and may include misinterpretations. Or The response relates minimally to the task.
0	The response is incorrect or irrelevant or contains insufficient information to demonstrate comprehension.

Note: There are 2 sample student responses for Score Point 4.

Grade 10 English Language Arts

Question 9: Reading Comprehension

Question 18: Reading Comprehension

Question 27: Reading Comprehension

Question 36: Reading Comprehension

Return to the MCAS 2018 Student Work Directory

Last Updated: March 11, 2024