2022-2021 PSSA-Conventions of Standard English

Read the paragraph of a letter.

Principal Graff,

The seventh graders recently read the novel The Magic Dream in language arts class. As

you may already know, a film version of the book is being released in theaters next week.

Movie critics have praised it for remaining true to the novel, and it is rated as appropriate for

audiences of all ages. The students request permission to organize a field trip to the local

movie theater to view the film.

Which sentence that could be added to the letter best maintains the style and tone of the

paragraph?

• The viewing experience offers students a chance to compare the same story presented in a different way.

• The previews of the movie make it seem like a hilarious comedy that will have students laughing the whole time.

• It would be an absolute shame to pass up an opportunity to see an awesome movie like this one.

• Seeing the story on screen would be a perfect way to reward those students who work like busy bees all day at school.

Answer explanation

The student is asked to determine the sentence that could be added to the letter that best maintains the style and tone of the paragraph. Option A is the correct answer since it maintains the formal style and more objective tone of the paragraph. Options B, C, and D are incorrect since they reflect an informal style and a more personal tone.

Read the paragraph.

(1) As part of Earth Day activities this year, we planted a new tree on the school lawn. (2) A blue spruce, which all students agreed was the best choice of tree to plant. (3) We first dug a hole, and then we filled the hole halfway with water. (4) Once the water drained into the soil, we placed the tree in the hole.

Which sentence should be revised to correct the inappropriate sentence fragment?

• sentence 1

• sentence 2

• sentence 3

• sentence 4

Answer explanation

The student is asked to identify which sentence should be revised to correct the inappropriate sentence fragment. Option B is the correct answer since this option shows a sentence fragment, which is an incomplete thought. Options A, C, and D are incorrect since they are complete sentences.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.1F

Read the paragraph.

(1) Students, who participate in the science activity, will need to wear safety goggles.

(2) The counter that is on the south side of the science classroom has a variety of safety

goggles. (3) The experiment, which has been used by teachers for years, shows how

gases have volume. (4) Baking soda and vinegar are put into a bottle, and then a balloon is

attached to the bottle. (5) The chemical reaction that occurs when baking soda and vinegar

meet causes gas to inflate the balloon.

Which revision corrects the punctuation error in the paragraph?

• Remove the commas after Students and activity in sentence 1.

• Add commas after counter and classroom in sentence 2.

• Remove the commas after experiment and years in sentence 3.

• Add commas after reaction and meet in sentence 5.

Answer explanation

The student is asked to identify the revision that corrects the punctuation error in a given paragraph. Option A is the correct answer; the commas need to be removed since the clause “who participate in the science activity” is restrictive. Option B is incorrect since the clause “that is on the south side of the classroom” is restrictive. Option C is incorrect since the commas are needed due to the clause “which has been used by teachers for years” being nonrestrictive. Option D is incorrect since the clause “that occurs when baking soda and gas meet” is restrictive.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.2C

CCSS.L.6.2A

Read the sentences.

(1) North American hummingbirds like flower nectar, and they often drink from artificial

feeders containing sugar water, which is an effective substitute for nectar. (2) Because these

small, lightweight, delicate birds are highly active, they consume a lot of food often more

than their own weight.

Which revision of sentence 2 uses punctuation to most effectively emphasize the underlined

information?

• Because these small, lightweight, delicate birds are highly active, they consume a lot of food—often more than their own weight.

• Because these small, lightweight, delicate birds are highly active, they consume a lot of food, often more than their own weight.

• Because these small, lightweight, delicate birds are highly active, they consume a lot of food (often more than their own weight).

• Because these small, lightweight, delicate birds are highly active, they consume a lot of food, “often more than their own weight.”

Answer explanation

The student is asked to identify the revision of a given sentence to most effectively emphasize the underlined information. Option A is the correct answer since the em dash is used to set off additional information within a sentence in order to emphasize it. Options B and D are incorrect since commas and quotation marks are not used to emphasize information. Option C is incorrect since parentheses are used to add incidental information, not to emphasize information.

Tags

CCSS.L.6.2A

Read the paragraph .

(1) Everybody (this includes sixth, seventh, and eighth graders) is going to hear Professor

McGregor speak about his research . (2) Facts about Science for Non-Scientists is the book

that he wrote . (3) Neither the science teachers nor their students have read the book yet .

(4) By next week, someone from each of the three grades have to be prepared to ask an

interesting question about the topic .

Which change would correct the mistake in the paragraph?

• Change is to are in sentence 1 .

• Change is to are in sentence 2 .

• Change have to has in sentence 3

• Change have to has in sentence 4

Answer explanation

The student is asked to determine which change would correct the mistake in the given paragraph . Option D is the correct answer, because “have” needs to be changed to “has” to ensure subject-verb agreement with “someone,” which is singular . Option A is not correct, because sentence 1 already has subject-verb agreement between “everybody” and “is .” Option B is not correct, because sentence 2 has subject-verb agreement between “Facts about Science for Non-Scientists” and “is .” Option C is not correct, because sentence 3 already has subject-verb agreement between “teachers”/“students” and “have .”

Tags

CCSS.L.3.1F

Which sentence is the most descriptive?

• Waiting backstage, John was nervous about having to perform a solo in front of so many people at the annual music night at his school

• He had practiced for days on end, trying to play the music as perfectly as he could

• In fact, he had memorized his solo weeks before the night of his performance because he had thought that doing so would help

• Feeling jittery, John stepped unsteadily onto the stage and into the glaring lights to brave a sea of faces in the audience

Answer explanation

The student is asked to identify the sentence that is most descriptive . Option D is the correct answer, because the specific details allow the reader to understand best how John feels and what he sees . Option A is not correct, because even though it says that John was “nervous,” it does not describe his behavior as specifically as option D . Both options B and C are not correct, because they do not specifically describe John’s surroundings or feelings

Tags

CCSS.L.1.1F

CCSS.L.2.1E

Read the paragraph .

(1) As the head of postal services, Benjamin Franklin established a profitable mail delivery

system in colonial America . (2) The adventurous Franklin traveled some 1,600 miles

between postal offices to mark all possible direct routes . (3) He had riders transport mail

day and night for faster more productive delivery . (4) He also created a simpler and more

standard rating system so postmasters could consistently calculate the price of postage .

Where should a comma be added?

• after profitable in sentence 1

• after possible in sentence 2

• after faster in sentence 3

• after simpler in sentence 4

Answer explanation

The student is asked to determine where in the given paragraph a comma should be added . Option C is the correct answer, because a comma needs to be placed after “faster” in sentence 3 since “faster” and “more productive” are coordinate adjectives . Option A is not correct, because “profitable” and “mail delivery” do not function as coordinate adjectives in sentence 1 . Option B is not correct, because “possible” and “direct” do not function as coordinate adjectives in sentence 2 . Option D is not correct, because “simpler” and “more standard” do not function as coordinate adjectives in sentence 4.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.2C

CCSS.L.6.2A

Read the sentence .

The International Space Station a large satellite in outer space, orbits Earth at speeds of about 17,500 miles per hour .

Which revision should be made to the sentence?

• Add a comma after Station

• Add a dash before orbits

• Add a comma after speeds

• Add parentheses around miles per hour

Answer explanation

The student is asked to determine which revision should be made to correctly use punctuation to set off nonrestrictive elements . Option A is the correct answer, because “a large satellite in outer space” is a nonrestrictive clause, it should be set off with a comma after “Station .” Option B is not correct, because a dash is used to strongly emphasize a parenthetical element and often conveys a change in tone, which is not appropriate in this sentence . Option C is not correct, because no comma is needed after “speeds .” Option D is not correct, because parentheses should not be placed around “miles per hour” since this phrase is necessary for the completion of the sentence and is not additional or unneeded information

Tags

CCSS.L.4.2C

CCSS.L.6.2A