2019 MCAS
Grade 7 English Language Arts
Question 16

The narrative's development indicates full awareness of the mode and clearly illustrates what happens next in the story. Language like "whirred to life" and "the slimy ground squelching beneath her tired feet" exemplifies a rich expression of ideas. Descriptions are also rich, contributing to an understanding of Lisa's qualities, as in this example: "She lined up a fork that was askew, [temporarily mesmerized] by the shiny silver, then snapped out of it and finished her chores in a hurry." The relationship between Lisa and her father shows grounding in the original story, and the dialogue with the parents is a reasonable extension of the excerpt. The interplay of Lisa's art and the family home is described effectively: "The home that was always messy, the tiny trailer home that her papi wasn't proud of. . . . It was their home, their yard, and she had made it beautiful." The narrative skillfully includes a variety of narrative elements such as dialogue, description, and action to continue the story effectively.

Sentences are varied throughout, revealing complexity as well as command of mechanics: "The earth around the puddle was soggy as ever, wet mud and dirt sliding down the edges of the divot in the ground." Consistent control of grammar is also evident, and although there are spelling errors (e.g., "temperarily"), they are minor.