Reading Comprehension Assessment Series
GRADE 3
VOCABULARY IN CONTEXT
The Amazon Rainforest: Layers, Language
& Life
GRADE 8 Reading Test VOCABULARY IN CONTEXT with A...
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Webb's
Depth of Knowledge · Hess's Cognitive Rigor Matrix
Context
Clues ·
Figurative Language · Multiple Meanings · Tier
2 & Tier 3 Vocabulary
Frustration-Level
Text ·
Full-Stack Assessment
Student
Name: _________________________________
Date: ____________
Teacher:
_________________________________
Period / Class: ____________
SKILL REFERENCE: VOCABULARY IN CONTEXT
QUESTION CATEGORIES
This assessment tests vocabulary through
seven distinct question types. The table below explains what each category
tests and its DOK/CRM level.
Vocabulary in Context
Assessment Series — ANSWER KEY & SCORING GUIDE |
Grades 3–8 | Teacher Use Only
Grade 3
— The Amazon Rainforest
Section A — Context Clues
(Q1–6):
Q1: B
Q2: B
Q3: C
Q4: B
Q5: C
Q6: B
Section B — Figurative
Language (Q7–12):
Q7: B
Q8: C
Q9: B
Q10: B
Q11: B
Q12: B
Section C — Multiple
Meanings (Q13–16):
Q13: B
Q14: C
Q15: B
Q16: B
Section D — Connotation
& Tone (Q17–20):
Q17: B
Q18: A
Q19: B
Q20: B
Sections E, F,
G: Apply DOK/CRM open-response rubric below.
Grade 4
— The Silk Road
Section A — Context Clues
(Q1–6):
Q1: B
Q2: C
Q3: A
Q4: B
Q5: B
Q6: B
Section B — Figurative
Language (Q7–12):
Q7: B
Q8: B
Q9: B
Q10: B
Q11: B
Q12: B
Section C — Multiple
Meanings (Q13–16):
Q13: C
Q14: B
Q15: B
Q16: B
Section D — Connotation
& Tone (Q17–20):
Q17: B
Q18: B
Q19: B
Q20: B
Sections E, F,
G: Apply DOK/CRM open-response rubric below.
Grade 5
— The Harlem Renaissance
Section A — Context Clues
(Q1–6):
Q1: B
Q2: B
Q3: B
Q4: B
Q5: B
Q6: B
Section B — Figurative
Language (Q7–12):
Q7: B
Q8: B
Q9: B
Q10: B
Q11: B
Q12: B
Section C — Multiple
Meanings (Q13–16):
Q13: B
Q14: B
Q15: B
Q16: B
Section D — Connotation
& Tone (Q17–20):
Q17: B
Q18: B
Q19: B
Q20: B
Sections E, F,
G: Apply DOK/CRM open-response rubric below.
Grade 6
— The French Revolution
Section A — Context Clues
(Q1–6):
Q1: B
Q2: B
Q3: B
Q4: B
Q5: B
Q6: B
Section B — Figurative
Language (Q7–12):
Q7: B
Q8: B
Q9: B
Q10: B
Q11: B
Q12: B
Section C — Multiple
Meanings (Q13–16):
Q13: B
Q14: B
Q15: B
Q16: B
Section D — Connotation
& Tone (Q17–20):
Q17: B
Q18: B
Q19: B
Q20: B
Sections E, F,
G: Apply DOK/CRM open-response rubric below.
Grade 7
— Neuroscience of Memory
Section A — Context Clues
(Q1–6):
Q1: B
Q2: B
Q3: B
Q4: B
Q5: B
Q6: B
Section B — Figurative
Language (Q7–12):
Q7: B
Q8: B
Q9: B
Q10: B
Q11: B
Q12: B
Section C — Multiple
Meanings (Q13–16):
Q13: B
Q14: B
Q15: B
Q16: B
Section D — Connotation
& Tone (Q17–20):
Q17: B
Q18: B
Q19: B
Q20: B
Sections E, F,
G: Apply DOK/CRM open-response rubric below.
Grade 8
— Philosophy of Language
Section A — Context Clues
(Q1–6):
Q1: B
Q2: B
Q3: B
Q4: B
Q5: B
Q6: B
Section B — Figurative
Language (Q7–12):
Q7: B
Q8: B
Q9: B
Q10: B
Q11: B
Q12: B
Section C — Multiple
Meanings (Q13–16):
Q13: B
Q14: B
Q15: B
Q16: B
Section D — Connotation
& Tone (Q17–20):
Q17: B
Q18: B
Q19: B
Q20: B
Sections E, F,
G: Apply DOK/CRM open-response rubric below.
DOK / CRM Open-Response Rubric
— Vocabulary in Context
|
Score |
DOK |
Context Clue / Figurative Accuracy |
Analytical Depth |
Vocabulary & Register |
|
18–20 |
4 |
Precise; identifies type of
clue or figure; explains fully |
Evaluates effect;
synthesizes across passage; explores nuance |
Tier 3 vocabulary; fully
formal academic register |
|
14–17 |
3 |
Mostly accurate; identifies
figure or clue type with partial explanation |
Analytical; explains
connotation/effect; some synthesis |
Tier 2; mostly formal;
occasional imprecision |
|
9–13 |
2 |
Partial accuracy; identifies
figure but explains inadequately |
Some analysis; relies partly
on paraphrase |
Basic academic vocabulary;
inconsistent register |
|
0–8 |
1 |
Inaccurate or absent
identification |
Retelling or tautology; no
rhetorical/semantic analysis |
Informal language; no
academic register |
|
Question Category |
Skill Tested |
DOK / CRM Range |
Points |
|
Context Clues — Direct
Definition |
Locate embedded definition;
infer from appositive or restatement |
DOK 1–2 / A-1–B-2 |
2 pts each |
|
Context Clues — Inference |
Use surrounding sentences to
infer meaning without an explicit definition |
DOK 2–3 / B-2–C-3 |
2 pts each |
|
Figurative Language —
Metaphor |
Interpret a non-literal
comparison embedded in the text |
DOK 2–3 / B-2–C-3 |
2 pts each |
|
Figurative Language — Idiom
/ Simile / Personification |
Identify figurative meaning;
explain rhetorical effect |
DOK 2–3 / B-2–C-3 |
2 pts each |
|
Multiple Meanings |
Choose the meaning of a
polysemous word that fits the specific context |
DOK 2–3 / B-2–C-3 |
2 pts each |
|
Connotation / Tone |
Distinguish between
denotative meaning and connotative weight; identify author's tone |
DOK 3 / C-3 |
2 pts each |
|
Short Answer — Vocabulary |
Construct definitions;
explain figurative meaning; analyze word choice effect |
DOK 3–4 / C-3–D-4 |
10 pts each |
|
Extended Response |
Analyze how vocabulary and
figurative language work together to develop meaning and tone |
DOK 4 / D-4 |
20 pts |
DIRECTIONS
Read the passage carefully. Underline
unfamiliar words and circle context clues that help you determine their
meaning. For each question, the category label in brackets tells you which
vocabulary skill is being tested. Choose the BEST answer for multiple-choice
questions. Written responses require complete sentences and specific textual
evidence.
PASSAGE: THE AMAZON RAINFOREST — LUNGS,
LABYRINTH & LIVING CATHEDRAL
Deep within South America lies the Amazon
rainforest—the largest tropical rainforest on Earth, covering more than 2.7
million square miles across nine countries. Scientists often call the Amazon
the "lungs of the planet" because its billions of trees absorb carbon
dioxide and release oxygen, helping regulate the air that all living things
breathe. But the Amazon is far more than a giant air filter. It is a
labyrinthine, or maze-like, world of extraordinary complexity, teeming with
life at every level from the forest floor to the uppermost canopy.
The rainforest is organized into four
distinct layers, each with its own climate, inhabitants, and character. The
emergent layer, at the very top, consists of the tallest trees—some reaching
200 feet—whose crowns pierce the cloud cover like the spires of a cathedral.
Below it lies the canopy, a dense, interlocking ceiling of leaves and branches
that captures roughly 80 percent of all available sunlight and is home to the
majority of the forest's animal species. The understory beneath the canopy is a
dim, humid world where plants grow oversized leaves to catch what little light
filters through. At the bottom, the forest floor is almost entirely dark, a
realm where decomposers—organisms that break down dead plant and animal
matter—recycle nutrients back into the soil.
The Amazon River, which flows through the
heart of the rainforest, is itself a superlative, or record-breaking, feature
of the natural world. It discharges more freshwater into the Atlantic Ocean
than any other river on Earth—roughly one-fifth of all the river water on the
planet. During the rainy season, the Amazon floods so dramatically that the
river expands to a width of nearly 30 miles in places, temporarily submerging
vast tracts of forest and creating a unique ecosystem called the várzea, where
fish swim among the branches of flooded trees.
The biodiversity of the Amazon—meaning the
variety of different species living there—is staggering. Scientists estimate
that the Amazon basin contains approximately 10 percent of all the species on
Earth, including 40,000 plant species, 1,300 bird species, 3,000 types of fish,
and more species of insects than any other place on the planet. Many of these
species are endemic, meaning they exist nowhere else on Earth and would vanish
entirely if their habitat were destroyed.
Deforestation—the clearing and destruction of
forests, typically to create farmland or extract timber—poses an existential
threat to the Amazon. Scientists describe deforestation as a sword of Damocles
hanging over the ecosystem: a catastrophe that could fall at any moment if
human activity is not urgently curtailed. Each year, thousands of square miles
of Amazon forest are cleared, releasing enormous quantities of stored carbon
into the atmosphere and destroying irreplaceable habitat. Researchers warn that
if deforestation continues at its current rate, the Amazon could reach a
"tipping point"—a threshold beyond which the damage becomes
self-perpetuating and irreversible.
SECTION A — CONTEXT CLUES (2 pts each)
Questions 1–6: Use context clues within the
passage to determine the meaning of words and phrases.
1. [Context Clues — Direct Definition] In paragraph one, the word
"labyrinthine" is followed by the phrase "or maze-like."
What type of context clue does the author provide here?
DOK 1 · CRM
A-1
▸ Tests
recognition of appositive/restatement context clues embedded by the author.
A) A contrast clue, because the
author is showing the opposite of what labyrinthine means
B) A direct definition or restatement
clue, because the author immediately follows the unfamiliar word with its
meaning set off by commas
C) An example clue, because the
author provides a list of mazes that illustrate the word
D) An inference clue, because the
reader must use surrounding sentences to guess the meaning
2. [Context Clues — Direct Definition] In paragraph three, the author
places the word "superlative" and then immediately defines it as
"record-breaking." Using this embedded definition, which sentence
below uses "superlative" correctly?
DOK 1 · CRM
A-1
▸ Tests
ability to transfer an embedded definition to a new context.
A) "The superlative rainfall
made the soil damp and difficult to farm during winter months."
B) "The cheetah is a superlative
runner, holding the record as the fastest land animal on Earth."
C) "The scientist wrote a
superlative report that was average in quality but longer than usual."
D) "Many superlative plants in
the understory have small leaves that filter excess sunlight."
3. [Context Clues — Inference]
In paragraph two, the word "decomposers" is
described as "organisms that break down dead plant and animal
matter." Using this context, what would a scientist most likely classify
as a decomposer?
DOK 2 · CRM
B-2
▸ Tests
application of an in-text definition to a real-world inference.
A) A jaguar that hunts other animals
along the forest floor
B) A parrot that feeds on seeds and
fruits in the canopy
C) A fungus that absorbs nutrients
from a rotting fallen tree
D) A bromeliad plant that collects
rainwater in its leaves
4. [Context Clues — Inference]
Paragraph four states that many Amazon species are
"endemic, meaning they exist nowhere else on Earth." Based on this
meaning, which situation would be MOST devastating for an endemic species?
DOK 2 · CRM
B-2
▸ Tests
ability to apply an in-text definition to evaluate a hypothetical consequence.
A) A drought that temporarily reduces
water levels in a river the species shares with many other animals
B) Complete destruction of the
specific Amazon habitat where the species lives, since it has no other home on
the planet
C) An increase in tourism that brings
researchers who study and document the species
D) Competition from a related species
that recently migrated into the same region from a neighboring ecosystem
5. [Context Clues — Inference]
In paragraph five, the author uses the word
"curtailed" to describe what must happen to human activity. Using the
surrounding context—which describes deforestation as a threat that could fall
"at any moment"—what does "curtailed" most likely mean?
DOK 2 · CRM
B-2
▸ Tests
inference from surrounding urgency context without an explicit definition.
A) Expanded and accelerated in order
to complete the clearing of forest before species are disturbed
B) Studied and documented by
scientists before being allowed to continue unchanged
C) Reduced, limited, or cut back
significantly to prevent the threatened catastrophe
D) Transferred to other countries so
that Brazil's forests can be preserved while others are cleared
6. [Context Clues — Inference]
In paragraph five, the author describes deforestation as
reaching a "tipping point—a threshold beyond which the damage becomes
self-perpetuating and irreversible." Using all available context, which
situation BEST illustrates the meaning of a "tipping point"?
DOK 3 · CRM
C-3
▸ Tests
synthesis of multi-part embedded definition with application to an analogous
situation.
A) A student who studies a little
harder each night gradually improves her grades over the course of a school
year
B) A glass filled so close to the
brim that one additional drop causes the entire contents to spill over in a
chain reaction that cannot be stopped once it begins
C) A scientist who publishes a series
of research papers that are each read by a progressively larger audience
D) A city that builds a new recycling
program that slowly reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills over several
decades
SECTION B — FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE (2 pts each)
Questions 7–12: Identify and interpret
metaphors, similes, personification, and other figurative language.
7. [Figurative Language — Metaphor]
In paragraph one, scientists call the Amazon the "lungs
of the planet." What does this metaphor communicate about the Amazon's
role?
DOK 2 · CRM
B-2
▸ Tests
identification and interpretation of an extended metaphor.
A) The Amazon is literally a
breathing organism with organs similar to those found in mammals
B) The Amazon performs for the Earth
the same vital function that lungs perform for a body—absorbing carbon dioxide
and releasing oxygen—making it essential to the planet's survival
C) The Amazon is the largest and most
powerful rainforest, just as the lungs are the largest organs in the human body
D) The Amazon makes a sound similar
to breathing because of the way wind moves through its billions of trees
8. [Figurative Language — Simile]
In paragraph two, the author writes that the tallest trees in
the emergent layer "pierce the cloud cover like the spires of a
cathedral." What does this simile suggest about these trees?
DOK 2 · CRM
B-2
▸ Tests
interpretation of simile for visual and tonal effect.
A) The trees are made of stone and
are as old as ancient churches
B) The trees grow in clusters that
form arch-shaped patterns identical to cathedral architecture
C) The trees are exceptionally tall,
narrow, and majestic, rising dramatically above everything around
them—inspiring the same sense of awe that soaring cathedral spires evoke
D) The trees filter light in exactly
the same way that stained-glass cathedral windows filter sunlight
9. [Figurative Language — Metaphor]
In paragraph two, the canopy is described as "a dense,
interlocking ceiling of leaves and branches." What effect does the word
"ceiling" create that the word "covering" would not?
DOK 3 · CRM
C-3
▸ Tests
ability to evaluate a specific word choice within a metaphor for its rhetorical
effect.
A) "Ceiling" suggests the
canopy is man-made and constructed by human hands, unlike a natural covering
B) "Ceiling" implies an
architectural enclosure that creates a distinct interior space below it—like
rooms in a building—helping readers visualize the canopy as a structure that
creates a separate world underneath it, complete with its own enclosed climate
and inhabitants
C) "Ceiling" suggests the
canopy is temporary and will eventually collapse, unlike a more permanent
covering
D) "Ceiling" and
"covering" mean exactly the same thing in this context; the word
choice has no meaningful effect on the reader's understanding
10. [Figurative Language — Idiom/Metaphor] In paragraph five, the author
writes that deforestation is "a sword of Damocles hanging over the
ecosystem." This phrase refers to an ancient story in which a sword hung
by a single hair over a person's head, threatening to fall at any moment. What
does this allusion communicate that the phrase "a serious threat to the
ecosystem" would not?
DOK 3 · CRM
C-3
▸ Tests
interpretation of literary allusion as figurative intensifier; comparison of
literal vs. figurative effect.
A) It communicates that the threat is
new and has only recently been recognized by scientists studying the Amazon
B) It adds urgency and specific
texture to the warning—conveying not just that the danger is serious, but that
it is immediate, suspended over everything, invisible to those beneath it, and
could fall catastrophically at any moment without further warning, which
"serious threat" lacks entirely
C) It suggests that deforestation is
as ancient as the story of Damocles and has been threatening the Amazon for
thousands of years
D) It implies that deforestation is
caused by a specific person or government, just as the sword in the story was
held over a specific individual
11. [Figurative Language — Personification] When writers describe the forest
floor as "a realm where decomposers recycle nutrients," the word
"realm" is borrowed from the language of kingdoms and royalty. What
effect does calling the forest floor a "realm" create?
DOK 2 · CRM
B-2
▸ Tests
recognition of connotation borrowed from figurative register.
A) It suggests that the forest floor
is ruled by a king or queen who controls all decomposition activity
B) It elevates the forest floor from
a mere location to a domain with its own character, inhabitants, and
importance—giving it the same dignity and complexity as any other layer of the
forest
C) It implies that the forest floor
is the most dangerous part of the rainforest, where most predators live
D) It is an outdated and
inappropriate word choice that should be replaced with a more scientific term
like "zone" or "stratum"
12. [Figurative Language — Extended Metaphor] The passage uses multiple
architectural metaphors to describe the rainforest: "labyrinthine,"
"ceiling," "spires of a cathedral," "realm," and
"layers." What cumulative effect do these architectural comparisons
create?
DOK 3 · CRM
C-3
▸ Tests
synthesis of multiple figurative devices to evaluate their combined rhetorical
purpose.
A) They suggest that the rainforest
was designed and built by human architects over thousands of years
B) They collectively frame the
rainforest as an extraordinarily structured, purposeful, and inhabited space—a
living architecture as complex and layered as any building humans have ever
constructed—making its potential destruction feel like the demolition of an
irreplaceable masterwork
C) They are unrelated comparisons
that happen to use similar vocabulary without any coordinated effect
D) They suggest that the rainforest
is artificial and sterile, like a building, rather than wild and organic
SECTION C — MULTIPLE MEANINGS (2 pts each)
Questions 13–16: Choose the meaning of the
word that fits the specific context of the passage.
13. [Multiple Meanings] The
word "distinct" appears in paragraph two: "The rainforest is
organized into four distinct layers." In everyday life,
"distinct" can mean (1) clearly different from others, (2) easy to
see or hear, or (3) unmistakable. Which meaning BEST fits the context of this
sentence?
DOK 2 · CRM
B-2
▸ Tests
selection of correct meaning among multiple legitimate definitions.
A) Easy to see or hear, because the
layers of the rainforest are visible to any visitor who looks up
B) Clearly different and separate
from each other, emphasizing that each layer has its own unique
characteristics, climate, and inhabitants
C) Unmistakable, meaning scientists
cannot possibly confuse one layer with another
D) Visible and documented, meaning
the layers have been officially classified by scientific organizations
14. [Multiple Meanings] The
word "filters" appears in paragraph two: "what little light
filters through." The word "filter" can mean (1) to pass
gradually through a substance, (2) to remove impurities, or (3) a device that
blocks certain wavelengths of light. Which meaning does "filters"
carry in this sentence?
DOK 2 · CRM
B-2
▸ Tests
disambiguation of a polysemous word using syntactic and contextual evidence.
A) Removes impurities, because the
leaves of the canopy clean the light before it reaches the understory
B) A physical device, because the
canopy functions like a mechanical light filter in a laboratory
C) Passes gradually and partially
through a dense material, because the canopy allows only small amounts of light
to penetrate slowly downward to the understory
D) Blocks all wavelengths, because
the canopy prevents any light from reaching the understory below it
15. [Multiple Meanings] The
word "discharge" in paragraph three ("It discharges more
freshwater into the Atlantic Ocean") shares a root with other common uses:
to "discharge" a weapon, to "discharge" a patient from a
hospital, or to "discharge" a duty. What common meaning connects all
of these uses, and how does that shared meaning apply to the Amazon River?
DOK 3 · CRM
C-3
▸ Tests
identification of the semantic core connecting multiple uses of a polysemous
word.
A) All uses of "discharge"
involve breaking or destroying something; the Amazon breaks through its banks
and floods the surrounding land
B) All uses of "discharge"
involve releasing, sending out, or letting go of something; the Amazon
discharges (releases) its enormous volume of freshwater outward into the ocean
C) All uses of "discharge"
involve a formal or official act; the Amazon officially delivers water to the
ocean as part of a regulated natural process
D) All uses of "discharge"
involve an explosive or violent action; the Amazon discharges its water with
the force of an explosion during the rainy season
16. [Multiple Meanings] In
paragraph five, the author writes that the Amazon could reach a "threshold
beyond which the damage becomes self-perpetuating." The word
"threshold" commonly means (1) the strip at the bottom of a doorway,
(2) the point at which something begins to take effect, or (3) the minimum
level required for something to happen. Which meaning, or combination of
meanings, is most active in this scientific context, and why?
DOK 3 · CRM
C-3
▸ Tests
ability to identify and justify the most contextually precise meaning.
A) The literal meaning—the strip at
the bottom of a doorway—because the Amazon's damage is described as something
that must be crossed over to reach the forest floor
B) Both the "minimum level"
and "point at which something begins" meanings are active
simultaneously: the threshold here is the critical point at which deforestation
reaches sufficient scale to trigger irreversible self-reinforcing damage—combining
both the idea of a minimum level and the moment of activation
C) Only the "minimum level"
meaning applies, because scientists are measuring the minimum number of trees
that must remain for the forest to survive
D) The word carries none of its
common meanings in this context; "threshold" is used here purely as a
technical scientific term with no connection to its everyday uses
SECTION D — CONNOTATION & TONE (2 pts each)
Questions 17–20: Analyze how specific word
choices shape the passage's tone and meaning.
17. [Connotation & Tone] The
author could have described deforestation as "the removal of trees"
or "land clearing." Instead, the passage uses the phrase
"clearing and destruction of forests." What does the word
"destruction" add that "removal" or "clearing"
would not?
DOK 3 · CRM
C-3
▸ Tests
distinction between neutral and negatively connotated word choices.
A) "Destruction" is a more
technically precise scientific term that experts prefer over the informal words
"removal" and "clearing"
B) "Destruction" carries a
strongly negative connotation of ruin and irreversible damage—unlike the more
neutral "removal" or "clearing," it implies that what is
lost cannot be restored or replaced, which aligns with the passage's tone of
urgent alarm
C) "Destruction" is a
neutral synonym for "clearing" with no additional emotional or tonal
weight
D) "Destruction" makes the
sentence more dramatic without adding any specific information about the nature
or consequences of the activity
18. [Connotation & Tone] The
passage describes the Amazon's biodiversity as "staggering." Which
word could replace "staggering" while preserving the author's tone of
awe, and which word would most undermine that tone?
DOK 3 · CRM
C-3
▸ Tests
ability to identify words that match or disrupt a passage's established tone.
A) "Overwhelming" preserves
the tone; "surprising" most undermines it, because
"surprising" implies a minor shock rather than profound wonder
B) "Large" preserves the
tone; "enormous" undermines it, because "enormous" is a
stronger word than "staggering"
C) "Measured" preserves the
tone; "documented" undermines it, because scientific words are more
appropriate than emotional ones
D) "Staggering" cannot be
replaced because it is a technical biological term with no synonyms
19. [Connotation & Tone] The
passage uses the word "irreplaceable" to describe the habitat being
destroyed. What specific argument does the word "irreplaceable" make
that the word "valuable" alone would not?
DOK 3 · CRM
C-3
▸ Tests
connotative precision—the specific claim embedded in a word choice.
A) "Irreplaceable" suggests
the habitat is owned by a specific nation and cannot be transferred to another
country's jurisdiction
B) "Irreplaceable" makes
the specific argument that the loss is permanent and cannot be compensated for
by restoration efforts or the creation of substitute habitats—a stronger and
more specific claim than merely "valuable," which implies something
important but potentially replaceable
C) "Irreplaceable" and
"valuable" carry identical meanings in ecological contexts;
scientists use them interchangeably
D) "Irreplaceable" is a
weaker claim than "valuable" because it focuses only on the
uniqueness of the habitat rather than its practical importance
20. [Connotation & Tone] The
passage describes the Amazon's animal population as the forest "teeming
with life." The word "teeming" means "swarming with"
or "overflowing with." What connotation does "teeming" add
that simply saying the forest "contains" a great deal of life would
not?
DOK 3 · CRM
C-3
▸ Tests
recognition of kinetic/energetic connotation vs. neutral containment language.
A) "Teeming" suggests the
life in the forest is chaotic and unmanaged, unlike the organized life found in
human-designed environments
B) "Teeming" adds a sense
of dynamic abundance and irrepressible vitality—life that is not merely present
but actively overflowing in every direction—while "contains" presents
life as a static inventory rather than a living, surging reality
C) "Teeming" is a more
scientifically neutral term than "contains" and therefore more
appropriate for an informational text about ecology
D) "Teeming" and
"contains" create identical impressions; the distinction between them
is purely stylistic with no effect on the reader's understanding
SECTION E — SHORT ANSWER (10 pts each)
DOK 3–4
| CRM C-3 / D-4 |
Complete sentences required. Cite specific words or phrases from the passage.
21. [Figurative Language — Analysis]
The passage compares the Amazon to a cathedral in two
separate ways: the emergent trees are like "spires" and the canopy is
a "ceiling." Explain what each comparison means literally. Then
analyze what these two comparisons together suggest about how the author wants
readers to think about the rainforest. Why might an author choose architectural
language to describe a natural environment? (DOK 3 | CRM C-3)
DOK 3 · CRM
C-3
22. [Connotation & Word Choice — Evaluation] Choose any THREE words or phrases
from the passage that you believe were selected deliberately to create a
specific emotional effect on the reader. For each word or phrase: (1) identify
where it appears in the passage; (2) explain the connotation it carries; (3)
identify what neutral word or phrase the author could have used instead; and
(4) explain what would be lost if the neutral word had been chosen. (DOK 4 |
CRM D-4)
DOK 4 · CRM
D-4
SECTION F — EXTENDED RESPONSE (20 pts)
DOK Level 4
| CRM D-4 |
Minimum 8 sentences. Academic register required.
23. [Vocabulary & Figurative Language — Synthesis] Vocabulary and Figurative Language
Synthesis: The author of this passage uses precise scientific vocabulary
(endemic, biodiversity, decomposers, deforestation) alongside vivid figurative
language (lungs of the planet, sword of Damocles, cathedral, labyrinthine,
teeming). In a well-organized extended response: (1) explain why a writer about
science would choose to use both scientific terms AND figurative language
rather than choosing one or the other; (2) analyze at least THREE specific
examples of vocabulary or figurative language that work together to develop the
passage's tone of awe combined with urgency; (3) evaluate which single word or
phrase in the entire passage you find most effective, and construct a precise
argument for why it is the most powerful choice; and (4) explain what the
passage would lose if all figurative language were removed and only scientific
terms remained.
DOK 4 · CRM
D-4
SECTION G — VOCABULARY JOURNAL (4 pts each × 5 words)
DOK 2
| CRM B-2 |
Select FIVE words or phrases from the passage that were new or
challenging. For each: (1) write the word and the sentence it appeared in; (2)
write what you think it means based on context; (3) write your own original
sentence using the word correctly.
Word 1:
Word / Phrase from passage:
____________________________________________
Sentence from
passage:
Meaning based
on context:
My original sentence:
Word 2:
Word / Phrase from passage:
____________________________________________
Sentence from
passage:
Meaning based
on context:
My original sentence:
Word 3:
Word / Phrase from passage:
____________________________________________
Sentence from
passage:
Meaning based
on context:
My original sentence:
Word 4:
Word / Phrase from passage:
____________________________________________
Sentence from
passage:
Meaning based
on context:
My original sentence:
Word 5:
Word / Phrase from passage:
____________________________________________
Sentence from
passage:
Meaning based
on context:
My original sentence:
ASSESSMENT SCORING GUIDE
|
Section |
Points Possible |
Points Earned |
DOK Level |
CRM Cell |
|
Sec A: Context Clues MC (×6) |
12 |
___ |
1–3 |
A-1 / B-2 / C-3 |
|
Sec B: Figurative Language
MC (×6) |
12 |
___ |
2–3 |
B-2 / C-3 |
|
Sec C: Multiple Meanings MC
(×4) |
8 |
___ |
2–3 |
B-2 / C-3 |
|
Sec D: Connotation &
Tone MC (×4) |
8 |
___ |
3 |
C-3 |
|
Sec E: Short Answer (×2) |
20 |
___ |
3–4 |
C-3 / D-4 |
|
Sec F: Extended Response |
20 |
___ |
4 |
D-4 |
|
Sec G: Vocabulary Journal |
20 |
___ |
2 |
B-2 |
|
TOTAL |
100 |
___ |
— |
— |
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