4th grade PSSA ELA Convention Released Items from 2015-2023

Read the paragraph:

(1) Adult harp seals live in the Arctic and do not spend very much time on land. (2) Instead, they swim in the ocean waters where it is warmer than on the ice. (3) A harp seal can hold its breath for a long time some stay underwater for fifteen minutes. (4) Holding their breath so long allows them enough time to look for fish to eat.

Which sentence is a run-on?

• A. sentence 1

• B. sentence 2

• C. sentence 3

• D. sentence 4

Answer explanation

Sentence 3 is a run-on because it contains two complete thoughts without proper punctuation or conjunctions.

Which sentence has a mistake in capitalization?

A. The bison is the heaviest animal of North America.

B. The bison once made its home in the Great Plains region.

C. You might now see a bison if you travel through Montana.

D. Many bison live on private farms throughout the Country

• A. The bison is the heaviest animal of North America.

• B. The bison once made its home in the Great Plains region.

• C. You might now see a bison if you travel through Montana.

• C. You might now see a bison if you travel through Montana.

Answer explanation

The sentence 'C. You might now see a bison if you travel through Montana.' has a mistake in capitalization. 'now' should be capitalized as 'Now'.

Read the sentence: Jim Thorpe received something in the 1912 Olympic Games.

Choose the most specific words to replace received something in the sentence.

A. earned two gold medals

B. achieved a win

C. won an award

D. got a prize

• A. earned two gold medals

• B. achieved a win

• C. won an award

• D. got a prize

Answer explanation

The most specific words to replace 'received something' in the sentence are 'earned two gold medals'. This choice accurately reflects the action and outcome in the sentence.

Read the letter.

Dear Henry Martin, (1) I think you are amazing! (2) I hope that one day, with lots of practice, I can be as good a drummer as you are. (3) Can you please send me your autograph? (4) It would be great to have a drumstick with your name on it. Sincerely, Olivia Watson Which change most improves the word choice in the letter?

• A. Change amazing to decent in sentence 1.

• B. Change good to skilled in sentence 2.

• C. Change please to just in sentence 3.

• D. Change great to nice in sentence 4.

Answer explanation

Changing 'good' to 'skilled' in sentence 2 improves word choice by emphasizing the level of expertise the writer aspires to achieve.

Which underlined word is used correctly?

A. Did you get the e-mail I scent you?

B. Will you weight for me at the park?

C. I will bring sum snacks for us to eat.

D. Please do not raise the shade.

• A. Did you get the e-mail I scent you?

• B. Will you weight for me at the park?

• C. I will bring sum snacks for us to eat.

• D. Please do not raise the shade.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is D. 'raise' is the only word used correctly in the sentence. It means to lift or elevate something.

Read the paragraph from a story. (1) It was cleanup day at the school, and John was assigned to clean out a closet in the library. (2) While he was moving an old bookcase, he discovered a stack of newspapers that __________. (3) Carefully, he picked up one newspaper and wiped the dust from it. (4) He was able to read the front page: “Man Walks on the Moon!”

Choose the most descriptive group of words to complete sentence 2

• A. had a great amount of dust on them

• B. looked so dusty they could not be read

• C. were resting beneath a thick coat of powdery dust

• D. looked like they had been dusty for a very long time

Answer explanation

The newspapers were found beneath a thick coat of powdery dust, indicating that they had been dusty for a long time. This supports the correct choice, C.

Read the sentences from a story.

(1) My grandmother asked me to water the tomato plants. (2) I filled the watering can. (3) Then I began to pour water on the plants. (4) A toad jumped down and landed on my shoe. (5) That was sure a surprise.

Which sentence should most likely end with an exclamation point to show excitement?

• A. Sentence 1

• B. Sentence 2

• C. Sentence 3

• D. Sentence 5

Answer explanation

The sentence that should most likely end with an exclamation point to show excitement is Sentence 5.

Read the paragraph.

(1) Brian’s sisters went to the library but Brian stayed home. (2) He had a cold and was tired. (3) He decided to play checkers or chess with his older brother instead. (4) Checkers and chess were Brian’s favorite games.

Which revision should be made to the paragraph to correctly punctuate a compound sentence?

• Add a comma after library in sentence 1.

• Add a comma after cold in sentence 2.

• Add a comma after checkers in sentence 3.

• Add a comma after chess in sentence 4.

Answer explanation

The correct revision is to add a comma after 'library' in sentence 1. This correctly punctuates a compound sentence.

Read the sentence. The Howard County library has a book club on Mondays. Which underlined word has a mistake in capitalization?

• A. Howard

• B. library

• C. book

• D. Mondays

Answer explanation

The word 'library' is the correct choice because it is not capitalized correctly.

Choose the correct way to write the sentence.

A. The leader told the hikers, “When we reach the valley, we’ll see a beautiful view.”

B. The leader told the hikers “When we reach the valley, we’ll see a beautiful view.”

C. “The leader told the hikers,” when we reach the valley, we’ll see a beautiful view.

D. The leader told the hikers, when we reach the valley, “We’ll see a beautiful view.”

• A. The leader told the hikers, “When we reach the valley, we’ll see a beautiful view.”

• B. The leader told the hikers “When we reach the valley, we’ll see a beautiful view.”

• C. “The leader told the hikers,” when we reach the valley, we’ll see a beautiful view.

• D. The leader told the hikers, when we reach the valley, “We’ll see a beautiful view.”

Answer explanation

The correct way to write the sentence is option A. It includes the correct punctuation and quotation marks.