MCAS Practice Capturing the Moment

Read the sentences from paragraph 2.

How strange, she mused. It had rained just after lunch at school, but the downpour hadn’t seemed that heavy.

What is the most likely meaning of the word mused as it is used in the first sentence?

• joked

• criticized

• predicted

• considered

Which inference about Lisa is best supported by paragraph 4?

• She draws any subject that strikes her as interesting.

• She forces herself to make her drawings more sophisticated.

• She chooses only challenging scenes to represent in her drawing.

• She focuses on the emotional power of her subjects when she draws.

Which statement best expresses a central idea of paragraph 11?

• A short encounter leaves Lisa saddened by the passing of time.

• A sudden insight causes Lisa to commit to her dream of being an artist.

• A beautiful occurrence inspires Lisa to marvel at the world’s complexity.

• A breathtaking event leads Lisa to pity an animal’s inability to distinguish details.

What do paragraphs 18 and 19 mainly suggest about Lisa’s attitude toward her father?

• She is proud of his success in his profession.

• She understands his desire for a better future.

• She resents his careless habits around the house.

• She is embarrassed by his enthusiasm for his hobby.

How do paragraphs 23 and 24 mainly contribute to an important idea in the passage?

• by illustrating Lisa’s expanded knowledge of the natural world

• by suggesting the freedom that Lisa feels when creating her art

• by showing the exceptional conditions around Lisa return to normal

• by demonstrating Lisa’s dissatisfaction with her drawing of the scene

Lisa feels privileged to witness an unlikely series of events.

Which detail from the passage best supports the answer to Part A?

• “Lisa released a sigh, and muttered, ‘I’ll clean it later.’” (paragraph 20)

• “Would surprises never end! Near the egrets under the rainbow’s arch floated two fat geese.” (paragraph 20)

• “Kneeling at the edge of the lake, Lisa quickly added to her penciled scene and noted the colors that she would employ later.” (paragraph 21)

• “As the light faded, the rainbow began to die.” (paragraph 21)

Which phrase best describes the purpose of paragraph 3?

• to provide background about characters

• to resolve a conflict

• to show a turning point

• to describe the setting

Which phrase best describes the purpose of paragraph 6?

• to provide background about characters

• to resolve a conflict

• to show a turning point

• to describe the setting

Which phrase best describes the purpose of paragraph 22?

• to provide background about characters

• to resolve a conflict

• to show a turning point

• to describe the setting