Writing/ Inquiry Benchmark Questions

A student is writing a research report about emperor penguins. The student has taken notes on the research. Choose the note that best fits in the section of the report called “Penguin Parents.”

• Emperor penguins live along the coast of Antarctica.

• Emperor penguins can stay underwater for more than 20 minutes.

• Emperor penguins stop caring for their chicks before they can swim.

• Emperor penguins are the largest of all types of penguins.

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.3.1

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RL.4.1

Which sentence is written correctly?

• The women rides together in the car.

• The river are high after the heavy rain.

• The flowers bloom in late spring.

• The bed are soft and warm.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.1F

Read the introductory paragraph for a narrative. Ernie dipped his toe into the water. The pool felt cold, and a chill ran down his spine. The last thing he wanted to do was jump in. Maybe it would be better to climb in slowly. He sat on the edge, letting his lower legs dip into the water. Which is a necessary detail to add to the introduction?

• Ernie was taking his first swimming lesson.

• Ernie lived in an apartment in New York City.

• Ernie had a big brother named Nate.

• Ernie enjoyed listening to music.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.3.10

CCSS.RL.3.6

CCSS.RL.4.10

CCSS.RL.4.6

Which sentence is capitalized appropriately?

• The sound of music takes place during World War II.

• The movie Magic Wind was part of the Venice Film Festival.

• The Football player drank a glass of rite stuff sports drink before playing in the super Bowl.

• Chicago, Illinois, is home to many sports teams including the Cubs, the bears, and the bulls.

Tags

CCSS.RF.2.3C

CCSS.RF.3.3B

CCSS.RF.3.3C

CCSS.RF.3.3D

CCSS.RF.4.3A

A student is writing a research report about apples. Read the sentences from the report. Apples grow best in areas where the winters are cold. It is difficult to grow apples near the ocean. Different types of apples grow best in different places. For example, Fuji apples grow well in southern states. On the other hand, McIntosh apples grow well in northern states. Which source would most likely give the student more information about what is written?

• a map that shows where apple trees are found

• a web page called “Tips for Picking from Apple Trees”

• a magazine article called “Which Animals Eat Apples?”

• a book that shows how apples are made into applesauce

Tags

CCSS.RI.2.1

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RL.2.1

CCSS.RL.3.1

CCSS.RL.3.2

Read the paragraph. Mrs. Yates told the students to take out their reports. Margaret opened her folder. She thought the report would be on top, but it was missing. She flipped through all her papers. No luck. ________, she found it on the writing desk at home. She had never even put it in her backpack! Which word best fills the blank?

Tags

CCSS.RL.1.3

CCSS.RL.2.3

CCSS.RL.3.3

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

Which sentence is written correctly?

• Darryl and Holly finished their science project early, so their teacher let them start the homework.

• Darryl and Holly finished her science project early, so their teacher let them start the homework.

• Darryl and Holly finished his science project early, so her teacher let them start the homework.

• Darryl and Holly finished her science project early, so her teacher let them start the homework.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.3.10

CCSS.RL.3.6

CCSS.RL.4.10

CCSS.RL.4.6

A student is writing a research report about animation, a way of making movies or cartoons with drawings. Read the sentences from the report. Animated movies are made up of still pictures. Artists begin making an animated movie by drawing one picture at a time. Each picture is only a little different from the last. When the pictures are played together quickly, the characters seem to move. Which source would most likely give the student more information about what is written?

• a website that lists the titles of the best animated television shows

• a book with step-by-step directions for making an animated movie

• a newspaper article titled “Animation Studio Opens on West Main Street”

• a magazine article titled “Why Do Children Enjoy Animated Movies?”

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.5

CCSS.RL.4.1

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

Read the sentence. The ice skater can glide along the ice on one foot. Which changes the sentence to show the event happened in the past?

• The ice skater is gliding along the ice on one foot.

• The ice skater will glide along the ice on one foot.

• The ice skater glided along the ice on one foot.

• The ice skater glides along the ice on one foot.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.3.10

CCSS.RL.3.6

CCSS.RL.4.10

CCSS.RL.4.6

Read the paragraph from a student’s narrative. "My grandpa held my hand in his as he opened the store door. Cal’s Hardware had been in Wendell even longer than my grandpa. The clerk gave us a friendly smile and asked if we needed help. My grandpa shook his head and pointed toward the back of the store. He could find the hand tool section blindfolded." The student decides to add this sentence to the narrative. "A bell softly clinked, and the air smelled dusty." Why does the student add this sentence to the narrative?

• The sentence develops a character from the narrative.

• The sentence restates the topic of the narrative.

• The sentence explains how the problem is solved in the narrative.

• The sentence adds details about the setting of the narrative.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.3.10

CCSS.RL.3.6

CCSS.RL.4.10

CCSS.RL.4.6