General Information
Test Item Specifications
- incorrect meanings of words, based on structural analysis, that do not fit the context;
- incorrect meanings of foreign words/phrases that do not fit the context;
- words with construct similar to the correct response (e.g., same prefix); and
- plausible but incorrect distractors based on the text.
The student will analyze affixes, or root words, or words/phrases derived from other languages, including Greek and Latin, to determine meaning in a text. Appropriate word strategies, simple analysis, and/or direct inference may be required.
Grade-level appropriate texts should contain vocabulary for assessing the analysis of word structure and for assessing words and phrases derived from other languages, including Greek and Latin.
Assessed words should be no more than two grade levels above the tested grade.
If a stem directs the student back to the text to determine the meaning of an unfamiliar word, or when assessing foreign words and phrases, the text should contain clear and sufficient context for determining the meaning of the assessed word or phrase.
Analyze Word Structure (e.g., affixes, root words)
Analyze Words/Phrases Derived from Latin, Greek, or Other Languages
Texts should be literary or informational.
Other stimuli may include, but are not limited to, illustrations with captions, graphics, and charts.
Texts must contain appropriate words to assess affixes, root words, and foreign words and phrases.
Distractors may include, but are not limited to
Sample Test Items (3)
| Test Item # | Question | Difficulty | Type |
| Sample Item 1 | The Grade 9 sample item below is based on “National Park Service Homepage” on page G–4.
Read the section National Park Service African American History Month Observance 2008 in the National Park Service homepage. Culture comes from the Latin word cultura, which came from colere, meaning “to cultivate.” Based on the meaning of the root word culture, what does the “theme . . . of Multiculturalism” mentioned in this section suggest about groups of people in a society? |
N/A | MC: Multiple Choice |
| Sample Item 2 | The Grade 9 sample item below is based on “A Day in the Stream” on page G–2. Read this excerpt from the essay. Although it maintained a humble exterior, the Montana dude ranch where I was to meet my latest client was much more than a corral-and-bunkhouse affair. A chef with a tall white hat prepared gourmet meals; the massage sign-up sheet was posted on an easel by the front desk; the fax and copy machine were to the left. The words chef, gourmet, and massage are French words that have been absorbed into the English language. What does the use of these words tell readers about the services being provided by the dude ranch? |
N/A | MC: Multiple Choice |
| Sample Item 3 | The Grade 10 sample item below is based on “Cutting Off the World’s Roof ” on page G–18. Read this sentence from the article. Jaded thrill seekers must be wondering why there are so few really tall mountain ranges on Earth, and why the ones we have aren’t taller. The word jaded comes from the Middle English word iade, which means “a worn-out horse, a nag.” Based on the meaning of the root word, the sentence implies that some mountain climbers have become |
N/A | MC: Multiple Choice |