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Quick Assessments & Reading Passages

Standards-based

Pre and Post Assessments aligned to a specific standard

and grade-level passages. Questions address 3 levels of

rigor for differentiation. Great for formative assessments,

quizzes, homework, and more.

I can cite evidence to support analysis

and inferences about a text.

Reading Literature RL.6.1

15

Assessment #1 Excerpt from Esperanza Rising

Assessments & Reading Passages

RL 6.1

Standard RL.6.1

I can cite evidence to support analysis and inferences about a text.

Excerpt from Esperanza Rising By Pam Muñoz Ryan

Lexile: 820 Word Count: 237

“Miguel, why must we always drive so far to shop at the Japanese market when

there are other stores closer to Arvin?”

“Some of the other market owners aren’t as kind to Mexicans as Mr. Yakota,”

said Miguel. “He stocks many of the things we need and he treats us like people.”

“What do you mean?”

“Esperanza, people here think that all Mexicans are alike. They think that we are

all uneducated, dirty, poor, and unskilled. It does not occur to them that many

have been trained in professions in Mexico.”

Esperanza looked down at her clothes. She wore a sweatshirt dress that used to

be Mama’s and before that, someone else’s. Over the dress was a man’s

sweater with several buttons missing, which was also too big. She leaned up and

looked in the mirror. Her face was tanned from the weeks in the fields, and she

Name: ______________________________________ Date: _________________

Assessment #1: Excerpt from Esperanza Rising 2

had taken to wearing her hair in a long braid like Hortensia’s because Mama had

been right – it was more practical that way. “Miguel, how could anyone look at

me and think I was uneducated?”

He smiled at her joke. “The fact remains, Esperanza, that you for instance, have

a better education than most people’s children in this country. But no one is likely

to recognize that or take the time to learn it. Americans see us as one big, brown

group who are good for only manual labor.”


1

DOK 1

Name: ______________________________________ Date: _________________

2

DOK 1

3

DOK 2

Standard RL.6.1


Why are Miguel and Esperanza traveling far to a Japanese grocery store?

Choose a quote to support your answer.

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Identify a quote that illustrates Miguel’s beliefs about Americans’ opinion of

Mexican immigrants.

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Which of the quotes below provides evidence that Esperanza has a sense of

humor even during hard times? Reread the passage so that you can

understand each quote in context.

a. “...she had taken to wearing her hair in a long braid like Hortensia’s

because Mama had been right – it was more practical that way”

b. “Miguel, why must we always drive so far to shop at the Japanese

market…?”

c. “Over the dress was a man’s sweater with several buttons missing,

which was also too big.”

d. “‘Miguel, how could anyone look at me and think I was

uneducated?’”


5

DOK 3

The theme of the passage is related to heritage. State the theme in your own

words and choose three quotes to support your statement.

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Esperanza assesses her appearance to try to understand why people might

judge her. Choose two quotes from the text that describe her appearance, and

discuss why she thinks people might judge her.

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_

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4

DOK 2

Assessment #1: Excerpt from Esperanza Rising

5

Bonus Question: Choose a quote from the text that describes the main

character, Esperanza. The quote could describe her personality, like her

curiosity, sense of humor, or her love of learning. Describe why you chose the

quote and how it illustrates her personality. _________________________________________________________________________

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* Bonus

Assessment #1: Excerpt from Esperanza Rising

6

Scoring Rubric RL.6.1 Assessment #1:

Excerpt from Esperanza Rising

Question

/ Level

Key / Rubric Points

#1

DOK 1

d. “‘Miguel, how could anyone look at me and think I was uneducated?’”

0 1

#2

DOK 1

Quotes might include any of the following sentences:

“‘Esperanza, people here think that all Mexicans are alike. They think that

we are all uneducated, dirty, poor, and unskilled. It does not occur to them

that many have been trained in professions in Mexico.’”

“The fact remains, Esperanza, that you for instance, have a better education

than most people’s children in this country. But no one is likely to

recognize that or take the time to learn it. Americans see us as one big,

brown group who are good for only manual labor.”

0 1

#3

DOK 2

They are traveling to another town for grocery shopping because the store

owner will not be prejudiced against them, according to Miguel: “‘Some of

the other market owners aren’t as kind to Mexicans as Mr. Yakota,’ said

Miguel. ‘He stocks many of the things we need and he treats us like

people.’”

SCORING:

+1 point: relevant evidence

0 1

Student Name: ____________________________ Date of Administration: _____________

Teacher Name: ______________________________________________________________


#4

DOK 2

Model Student Response

She thinks people might judge her based on her appearance because she is

tanned from working in the fields with a long braid (“Her face was tanned

from the weeks in the fields, and she had taken to wearing her hair in a long

braid like Hortensia’s because Mama had been right – it was more practical

that way”) and looks “uneducated,” based on the prejudice beliefs she is

learning about. She also thinks people might judge her for wearing hand-

me-down clothes: “Esperanza looked down at her clothes. She wore a

sweatshirt dress that used to be Mama’s and before that, someone else’s.”

SCORING:

+1 point: relevant quote (2 possible)

+1 point: inference

0 1 2 3

#5


The passage discusses the theme of prejudice. One of the main characters,

Miguel, states the theme, an idea that many Americans were prejudiced

towards Mexican immigrants and saw and judged them as one big group.

Miguel said: “‘Esperanza, people here think that all Mexicans are alike.

They think that we are all uneducated, dirty, poor, and unskilled. It does not

occur to them that many have been trained in professions in Mexico.’”

Esperanza examines her appearance to imagine how people might view and

judge her: “Her face was tanned from the weeks in the fields, and she had

taken to wearing her hair in a long braid like Hortensia’s because Mama

had been right – it was more practical that way.” At the end, Miguel states

the theme in his own way: “‘Americans see us as one big, brown group

who are good for only manual labor.’”

SCORING: +1 point: states the theme

+1 point: piece of evidence (3 possible)

0 1 2 3 4

#BONUS

This item is not scored and is an option for early finishers

-

TOTAL

____ / 10


15

Assessment #2 “Emancipation: A Life Fable”

Assessments & Reading Passages

RL 6.1

Standard RL.6.1


“Emancipation: A Life Fable” By Kate Chopin

Lexile: 970 Word Count: 341

There was once an animal born into this world, and opening his eyes upon Life,

he saw above and about him confining walls, and before him were bars of iron

through which came air and light from without; this animal was born in a cage.

Here he grew, and throve in strength and beauty under care of an invisible

protecting hand. Hungering, food was ever at hand. When he thirsted water was

brought, and when he felt the need of rest, there was provided a bed of straw

upon which to lie: and here he found it good, licking his handsome flanks, to bask

in the sun beam that he thought existed but to lighten his home.

Awaking one day from his slothful rest, lo! the door of his cage stood open:

accident had opened it. In the corner he crouched, wondering and fearingly.

Then slowly did he approach the door, dreading the unaccustomed, and would

have closed it, but for such a task his limbs were purposeless. So out the

opening he thrust his head to see the canopy of the sky grow broader, and the

world waxing wider.

Name: ______________________________________ Date: _________________

Assessment #2: “Emancipation: A Life Fable” 2

Back to his corner but not to rest, for the spell of the Unknown was over him, and

again and again he goes to the open door, seeing each time more Light.

Then one time standing in the flood of it; a deep in-drawn breath—a bracing of

strong limbs, and with a bound he was gone.

On he rushes, in his mad flight, heedless that he is wounding and tearing his

sleek sides—seeing, smelling, touching of all things; even stopping to put his lips

to the noxious pool, thinking it may be sweet.

Hungering there is no food but such as he must seek and ofttimes fight for; and

his limbs are weighted before he reaches the water that is good to his thirsting

throat.

So does he live, seeking, finding, joying and suffering. The door which accident

had opened is open still, but the cage remains forever empty!


3

DOK 2

Name: ______________________________________ Date: _________________

1

DOK 1

2

DOK 1

Standard RL.6.1


Which quote or quotes from the passage prove that the animal’s life outside of

the cage was difficult yet rewarding. Select all that apply.

a. “There was once an animal born into this world… he saw above and

about him confining walls…”

b. “Hungering there is no food but such as he must seek and ofttimes fight

for; and his limbs are weighted before he reaches the water that is good

to his thirsting throat.”

c. “...before him were bars of iron through which came air and light from

without; this animal was born in a cage.”

d. “So does he live, seeking, finding, joying and suffering.”

Choose which quotes from the text describe how comfortable life in captivity

was for the animal.

a. “Here he grew, and throve in strength and beauty under care of an

invisible protecting hand.”

b. “Awaking one day from his slothful rest, lo! the door of his cage stood

open: accident had opened it.”

c. “When he thirsted water was brought, and when he felt the need of

rest, there was provided a bed of straw upon which to lie…”

d. A and C


Write a direct quote from the text that illustrates life in the cage was safe for

the animal.

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5

DOK 3

One of the themes of the passage is that freedom is better than captivity.

Choose a quote that develops this theme and then explain how the quote

supports that idea.

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4

DOK 2

Assessment #2: “Emancipation: A Life Fable”

5

Read the passage titled “Emancipation: A Life Fable.” Then answer the

question.

Analyze the decision that the animal faces in "Emancipation: A Life Fable.”

How does the choice impact its life? Support your response with at least two

pieces of evidence from the text.

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Bonus Question: The title of the passage is “Emancipation: A Life Fable.”

Sometimes authors use animals as symbols in an allegory to discuss a theme

that might apply to humans. Using quotes from the text, describe what you

think the author might be saying about making choices in a person’s life.

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_________________________________________________________________________

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* Bonus


6

Scoring Rubric RL.6.1 Assessment #2:

“Emancipation: A Life Fable”

Question

/ Level

Key / Rubric Points

#1

DOK 1

D. A and C

0 1

#2

DOK 1

Any quote from this paragraph would be relevant:

“Here he grew, and throve in strength and beauty under care of an invisible

protecting hand. Hungering, food was ever at hand. When he thirsted water

was brought, and when he felt the need of rest, there was provided a bed of

straw upon which to lie: and here he found it good, licking his handsome

flanks, to bask in the sun beam that he thought existed but to lighten his

home.”

0 1

#3

DOK 2

B and D are the correct answers.

B. “Hungering there is no food but such as he must seek and ofttimes fight

for; and his limbs are weighted before he reaches the water that is good to

his thirsting throat.”

D. “So does he live, seeking, finding, joying and suffering.”

0 1 2

#4

DOK 2

Answers may vary. Model Student Response:

The following quote illustrates that the animal experienced more when it

became free and left captivity. The quote shows that the animal felt joyful:

“So does he live, seeking, finding, joying and suffering.”

0 1 2

Student Name: ____________________________ Date of Administration: _____________

Teacher Name: ______________________________________________________________


SCORING:

+1 point: relevant quote

+1 point: explanation

#5


"Emancipation: A Life Fable" tells the story of an animal who was born in

captivity, but then has the option of being free when the door to its cage is

left open. It must choose whether to be free and face uncertainty and lack of

safety, or be captive and have dependable meals and water. The animal

chooses freedom and, as a result, lives a much fuller life. This is shown in

the text by the description of the animal exploring the wild, "On he rushes,

in his mad flight, heedless that he is wounding and tearing his sleek sides—

seeing, smelling, touching of all things; even stopping to put his lips to the

noxious pool, thinking it may be sweet." While the animal's choice resulted

in a more difficult and dangerous life, it also resulted in more independence

and a wider range of experiences and feelings, "So does he live, seeking,

finding, joying and suffering. The door which accidently had opened is

open still, but the cage remains forever empty!"

SCORING: +2 points: analysis of animal’s decision

+1 point: relevant quote (2 possible)

0 1 2 3 4

#BONUS

This item is not scored and is an option for early finishers

-

TOTAL

____ / 10


8

Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

I can cite evidence to support analysis and

inferences about a text.

RL.6.1

Student Name

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