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MCAS ELA Grade 4 study materials
MCAS ELA Grade 4 study resources

MCAS ELA Grade 4 practice questions

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Question 1English Language Arts

Read this sentence: 'The squirrel buried the acorn under the old oak tree.' What is the simple subject of the sentence?

  1. tree
  2. squirrel Correct answer.
  3. buried
  4. acorn

Explanation

The simple subject is the noun or pronoun that performs the action. Here the squirrel does the burying, so 'squirrel' is the simple subject, while 'acorn' and 'tree' are objects of prepositions.

Question 2English Language Arts

Which sentence uses the correct form of the verb to complete it? 'Last summer, my cousins ___ a treehouse in the backyard.'

  1. builds
  2. built Correct answer.
  3. building
  4. build

Explanation

The time phrase 'Last summer' signals an action already completed, which requires the past tense. 'Built' is the past-tense form of the irregular verb 'build,' so it fits the sentence.

Question 3English Language Arts

A student is writing a story and wants to show that a character spoke in a quiet, nervous way. Which sentence best uses a word choice to show this?

  1. 'I guess we could try,' she murmured, her eyes on the floor. Correct answer.
  2. 'I guess we could try,' she said.
  3. 'I guess we could try,' she announced loudly.
  4. 'I guess we could try,' she stated.

Explanation

Strong narrative writing uses precise verbs and details to reveal a character's feelings. 'Murmured' and 'her eyes on the floor' together suggest nervousness, which the plain reporting verbs in the other options do not.

Question 4English Language Arts

Read this sentence: 'The puppy chased its tail around the yard.' Which word is a pronoun?

  1. puppy
  2. chased
  3. its Correct answer.
  4. yard

Explanation

A pronoun is a word that stands in for a noun. 'Its' refers back to the puppy, so it is a possessive pronoun, while the other words are a noun, a verb, and a noun.

Question 5English Language Arts

Which sentence correctly uses a comma?

  1. After the rain stopped, we went outside. Correct answer.
  2. After the rain stopped we went outside.
  3. After the rain, stopped we went outside.
  4. After, the rain stopped we went outside.

Explanation

An introductory phrase that comes before the main clause should be followed by a comma. Placing the comma right after 'stopped' separates the opening phrase from the main clause correctly.

Question 6English Language Arts

In a story, a girl named Maya practices her violin every morning even when her fingers hurt. Which word best describes Maya?

  1. lazy
  2. determined Correct answer.
  3. forgetful
  4. careless

Explanation

A character trait must be supported by evidence in the text. Practicing daily despite pain shows persistence, so 'determined' best describes Maya.

Question 7English Language Arts

Which word is a synonym for 'enormous'?

  1. quick
  2. huge Correct answer.
  3. tiny
  4. quiet

Explanation

Synonyms are words with similar meanings. 'Enormous' means very large, and 'huge' has the same meaning, so they are synonyms.

Question 8English Language Arts

Read this sentence: 'The wind howled through the empty house.' What figure of speech is 'howled'?

  1. personification Correct answer.
  2. alliteration
  3. hyperbole
  4. simile

Explanation

Personification gives human qualities to something nonhuman. The wind cannot truly howl like an animal or person, so describing it that way is personification.

Question 9English Language Arts

Which sentence uses the correct form of the pronoun to complete it? 'My brother and ___ walked to the library.'

  1. myself
  2. me
  3. I Correct answer.
  4. us

Explanation

The pronoun is part of the compound subject performing the action, so the subject pronoun 'I' is needed. A quick test is to remove 'my brother and': 'I walked to the library' sounds correct.

Question 10English Language Arts

Read this sentence: 'The students who finished their projects early helped decorate the bulletin board.' What is the main clause of the sentence?

  1. helped decorate the bulletin board
  2. the students helped decorate the bulletin board Correct answer.
  3. who finished their projects early
  4. The students who finished their projects early

Explanation

The main clause has a subject and a verb and can stand alone. 'The students helped decorate the bulletin board' contains the complete subject and predicate, while the 'who' clause only describes the students.

Question 11English Language Arts

A writer wants to combine these two sentences: 'The bridge was old. The bridge was still safe.' Which combined sentence best keeps the meaning?

  1. The bridge was old, so it was still safe.
  2. The bridge was old, but it was still safe. Correct answer.
  3. The bridge was old because it was still safe.
  4. The bridge was old or it was still safe.

Explanation

The two ideas contrast: being old might suggest danger, yet the bridge is safe. The conjunction 'but' signals that contrast, so the combined sentence keeps the original meaning.

Question 12English Language Arts

Read this short passage: 'The tide crept up the sand. Small crabs scuttled sideways. A gull dropped a shell on the rocks.' Which sentence best describes the mood of the passage?

  1. It creates a calm, natural seaside scene. Correct answer.
  2. It creates a silly, humorous scene.
  3. It creates a tense, frightening scene.
  4. It creates a formal, scientific scene.

Explanation

Mood is the feeling a passage creates through details and word choice. The gentle verbs 'crept' and 'scuttled' and the everyday beach images together create a calm, natural feeling.

Question 13English Language Arts

Which sentence uses 'their,' 'there,' and 'they're' correctly?

  1. They're going to put there books over their.
  2. There going to put they're books over their.
  3. They're going to put their books over there. Correct answer.
  4. Their going to put there books over they're.

Explanation

'They're' means 'they are,' 'their' shows possession, and 'there' points to a place. Only this sentence uses each homophone in its correct role.

Question 14English Language Arts

Read this sentence: 'The scientist carefully recorded every measurement in her notebook.' What is the adverb in the sentence?

  1. recorded
  2. notebook
  3. scientist
  4. carefully Correct answer.

Explanation

An adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb. 'Carefully' describes how the scientist recorded, so it is an adverb.

Question 15English Language Arts

Which sentence correctly uses an apostrophe to show possession?

  1. The dogs bowl was empty.
  2. The dog's were barking.
  3. The dog's bowl was empty. Correct answer.
  4. The dogs' bowl was empty and belonged to one dog.

Explanation

An apostrophe before the 's' shows that one dog owns the bowl. 'Dog's' correctly marks singular possession, while the other options either omit the apostrophe or misuse it.

Question 16English Language Arts

Read these sentences: 'The hike was long. We reached the summit by noon.' Which revision best combines them using a subordinate clause?

  1. The hike was long, we reached the summit by noon.
  2. Although the hike was long, we reached the summit by noon. Correct answer.
  3. The hike was long; we reached the summit by noon.
  4. The hike was long and we reached the summit by noon.

Explanation

A subordinate clause begins with a subordinating conjunction and cannot stand alone. 'Although the hike was long' is such a clause, and it shows the contrast between the difficulty and the success.

Question 17English Language Arts

A student is writing a report about honeybees and wants to organize facts about how bees find food, make honey, and live in a hive. Which text structure would best organize the report?

  1. compare and contrast
  2. problem and solution
  3. cause and effect
  4. description with categories Correct answer.

Explanation

Text structure should match the writer's purpose. Grouping facts about finding food, making honey, and hive life means describing several categories of bee behavior in turn.

Question 18English Language Arts

Read this sentence: 'The thunder grumbled angrily as the storm rolled in.' Which two words work together to create personification?

  1. thunder, storm
  2. grumbled, angrily Correct answer.
  3. rolled, in
  4. storm, rolled

Explanation

Personification gives human traits to nonhuman things. 'Grumbled' and 'angrily' describe the thunder as if it were a person, which creates the personification.

Question 19English Language Arts

Read this sentence from a story: 'The hallway seemed to stretch for miles before the classroom door finally appeared.' What does the sentence most likely suggest about the narrator?

  1. The narrator is lost in a large building.
  2. The narrator enjoys walking down hallways.
  3. The narrator feels the walk is taking a long time. Correct answer.
  4. The narrator is eager to reach the classroom.

Explanation

Figurative language such as 'seemed to stretch for miles' exaggerates distance to show how long the walk feels. It suggests impatience or discomfort rather than a literal measurement.

Question 20English Language Arts

A passage states: 'Many people believe goldfish have three-second memories. In fact, studies show that goldfish can remember tasks for months.' What is the author's purpose in this passage?

  1. to explain how to care for a goldfish
  2. to entertain readers with a story about pets
  3. to correct a common misunderstanding with evidence Correct answer.
  4. to compare goldfish with other fish

Explanation

The author contrasts a popular belief with research findings. Presenting evidence to overturn a common myth shows the purpose is to correct a misconception.

Question 21English Language Arts

Read these sentences: 'The committee reached its decision quickly. However, some members still had doubts.' How does the transition word 'However' function in the passage?

  1. It adds another supporting reason.
  2. It summarizes the main idea of the paragraph.
  3. It signals a contrast with the previous sentence. Correct answer.
  4. It shows that the second sentence happened later.

Explanation

Transition words show how ideas connect. 'However' introduces an idea that contrasts with the first sentence: the decision was quick, but doubts remained.

Question 22English Language Arts

A writer wants to revise this sentence for clarity: 'The boy who was wearing a red hat and who had a backpack that was heavy ran to the bus.' Which revision is clearest?

  1. The boy who was wearing a red hat and who had a backpack that was heavy ran to the bus quickly.
  2. The boy, wearing a red hat and carrying a heavy backpack, ran to the bus. Correct answer.
  3. The boy ran to the bus wearing a red hat and carrying a heavy backpack.
  4. The boy with the red hat and heavy backpack ran to the bus.

Explanation

Clear revision removes wordy relative clauses while keeping the details in a logical order. The appositive phrase set off by commas tightens the sentence and keeps the details attached to the boy.

Question 23English Language Arts

In a fable, a fox flatters a crow to make it drop a piece of cheese. Which statement best expresses the theme of the fable?

  1. Birds should not sit in trees.
  2. Crows are stronger than foxes.
  3. Flattery can be used to trick people. Correct answer.
  4. Cheese is hard to find in the forest.

Explanation

A theme is a message about life that a story conveys. The fox's flattery causes the crow to lose its cheese, which teaches that flattery can be a tool for tricking others.

Question 24English Language Arts

A student is writing a paragraph about a class field trip. Which sentence would work best as the topic sentence of that paragraph?

  1. The bus left at eight in the morning.
  2. Then we went home.
  3. My sandwich had tuna in it.
  4. Our class trip to the aquarium taught us more about ocean life than any textbook could. Correct answer.

Explanation

A topic sentence states the main idea that the rest of the paragraph will support. Only the aquarium sentence makes a broad claim about learning that later details could explain. The other sentences are narrow details or transitions.

Question 25English Language Arts

Read this sentence: 'Before the concert began, the musicians tuned their instruments.' Which part is an introductory dependent clause?

  1. the musicians tuned their instruments
  2. their instruments
  3. Before the concert began Correct answer.
  4. tuned their instruments

Explanation

An introductory dependent clause comes before the main clause and cannot stand alone as a sentence. 'Before the concert began' begins with the subordinating word 'before' and does not express a complete thought by itself. The main clause is 'the musicians tuned their instruments.'

Question 26English Language Arts

A student wants to find the meaning of the word 'fragile' in a science article. Which reference source would be most useful for finding the word's meaning quickly?

  1. An almanac
  2. An atlas
  3. A dictionary Correct answer.
  4. A thesaurus

Explanation

A dictionary gives the meanings of words, so it is the direct tool for finding a definition. A thesaurus lists synonyms and an atlas or almanac provides maps and facts, not definitions.

Question 27English Language Arts

Read this sentence: 'The museum's new exhibit, which features dinosaur fossils, opens Saturday.' Which type of clause is 'which features dinosaur fossils'?

  1. An introductory phrase
  2. An independent clause
  3. A relative clause describing the exhibit Correct answer.
  4. A compound predicate

Explanation

A relative clause begins with a relative pronoun such as 'which' and describes a noun in the sentence. Here it tells more about 'the museum's new exhibit.' It cannot stand alone, so it is not independent.

Question 28English Language Arts

A student is writing a story and wants to show that a character is nervous without stating it directly. Which sentence best shows nervousness through actions?

  1. Sam's nervousness was obvious to everyone in the room.
  2. Sam was a nervous person by nature.
  3. Sam wiped his palms on his pants and read the first line three times. Correct answer.
  4. Sam felt very nervous about the speech.

Explanation

Showing rather than telling means revealing a feeling through concrete actions and details. Wiping palms and rereading a line let readers infer nervousness. The other sentences simply name the feeling.

Question 29English Language Arts

Read this sentence: 'The recipe calls for two cups of flour, one teaspoon of salt, and three eggs.' Why does the writer use commas in this sentence?

  1. To show possession
  2. To join two complete sentences
  3. To set off a quotation
  4. To separate items in a series Correct answer.

Explanation

Commas separate the three items in a list so readers can tell where one item ends and the next begins. This use is called separating items in a series. It does not join sentences, mark quotations, or show ownership.

Question 30English Language Arts

Read this sentence: 'The hikers reached the ridge, and they saw the valley below.' What does the conjunction 'and' do in this sentence?

  1. It creates a list of nouns.
  2. It introduces a dependent clause.
  3. It joins two independent clauses. Correct answer.
  4. It shows a contrast between ideas.

Explanation

The word 'and' connects two complete thoughts, each with its own subject and verb. When a coordinating conjunction joins two independent clauses, a comma comes before it. Contrast would be shown by a word such as 'but.'

Question 31English Language Arts

Which word in this sentence is a preposition? 'The cat slept under the warm blanket all afternoon.'

  1. afternoon
  2. warm
  3. under Correct answer.
  4. slept

Explanation

A preposition shows the relationship between a noun and another word, often a position or direction. 'Under' tells where the cat slept in relation to the blanket. 'Slept' is a verb, 'warm' is an adjective, and 'afternoon' is a noun.

Question 32English Language Arts

A writer wants to replace the underlined word in this sentence with a more precise word: 'The dog went across the yard.' Which word best replaces 'went'?

  1. traveled
  2. moved
  3. was
  4. dashed Correct answer.

Explanation

A precise verb shows the manner of the action. 'Dashed' suggests fast, energetic movement that fits a dog crossing a yard. 'Moved' and 'traveled' are vague, and 'was' is a linking verb that does not show action.

Question 33English Language Arts

Read this sentence from a story: 'Lena stared at the empty stage, her costume still in its box.' What does this sentence most likely suggest about Lena?

  1. She is cleaning up after a show.
  2. She has already finished her performance.
  3. She does not enjoy wearing costumes.
  4. She is unprepared for a performance that is coming. Correct answer.

Explanation

An empty stage and a costume still in its box imply that a performance has not yet happened and Lena is not ready. Readers combine these details to infer her situation. The clues point to being unprepared rather than finished.

Question 34English Language Arts

A student is writing an opinion piece about why the school should start a garden. Which sentence best supports that opinion with a reason?

  1. Gardens can be found in many places.
  2. Many schools have gardens.
  3. I like flowers.
  4. A garden would give students a hands-on way to learn about plants and healthy food. Correct answer.

Explanation

A strong support sentence gives a specific reason that explains why the opinion is valid. The hands-on learning reason connects directly to the claim about starting a school garden. The other sentences are general statements or personal preferences without reasoning.

Question 35English Language Arts

Read these sentences: 'The library was quiet. Students whispered as they searched the shelves.' Which word best describes the mood of these sentences?

  1. chaotic
  2. peaceful Correct answer.
  3. cheerful
  4. frightening

Explanation

Mood is the feeling a passage creates in the reader. Quiet surroundings and whispering suggest calm and stillness, which match 'peaceful.' Nothing suggests chaos, fear, or celebration.

Question 36English Language Arts

Which sentence correctly uses a colon to introduce a list?

  1. The picnic basket held: sandwiches, apples, and juice.
  2. For the picnic we packed: sandwiches, apples, and juice in the basket.
  3. The picnic: was packed with sandwiches, apples, and juice.
  4. We packed three things for the picnic: sandwiches, apples, and juice. Correct answer.

Explanation

A colon that introduces a list should follow a complete sentence. 'We packed three things for the picnic' is a complete thought, so the colon is used correctly before the list. A colon should not separate a verb from its objects.

Question 37English Language Arts

A student is writing a report and wants to organize information about three types of clouds, giving one paragraph to each type. Which text structure is the student using?

  1. Cause and effect
  2. Compare and contrast
  3. Problem and solution
  4. Description by category Correct answer.

Explanation

Giving one paragraph to each type of cloud organizes information by category or type. This structure describes several kinds of one thing in turn. Cause and effect, comparison, and problem-solution would each require different organizing details.

Question 38English Language Arts

Read this sentence: 'The old clock in the hall chimed softly.' Which word is an adjective describing 'clock'?

  1. softly
  2. hall
  3. chimed
  4. old Correct answer.

Explanation

An adjective modifies a noun by describing it. 'Old' tells what kind of clock it is. 'Hall' is a noun, 'chimed' is a verb, and 'softly' is an adverb describing how it chimed.

Question 39English Language Arts

A writer wants to combine these sentences: 'The science fair was canceled. The gym roof was leaking.' Which combined sentence best shows the cause-and-effect relationship?

  1. The science fair was canceled, but the gym roof was leaking.
  2. The science fair was canceled because the gym roof was leaking. Correct answer.
  3. The science fair was canceled, and the gym roof was leaking.
  4. The science fair was canceled; the gym roof was leaking.

Explanation

Cause and effect is shown when one idea explains why the other happened. The leaking roof caused the cancellation, so 'because' correctly links the effect to its cause. The other versions merely add the ideas or contrast them.

Question 40English Language Arts

Read this line from a poem: 'The moon is a silver coin tossed in the sky.' What does the comparison suggest about the moon?

  1. It is round and bright. Correct answer.
  2. It is noisy and moving fast.
  3. It is heavy and dark.
  4. It is small and dull.

Explanation

The line compares the moon to a silver coin, which is round and shiny. That comparison suggests the moon looks round and bright in the sky. The other descriptions do not match the qualities of a coin.

Question 41English Language Arts

Which sentence uses correct subject-verb agreement?

  1. The group of students walk to the museum.
  2. The group of students are walking to the museum.
  3. The group of students walks to the museum. Correct answer.
  4. The group of students walking to the museum.

Explanation

The subject of the sentence is 'group,' which is singular, so the verb must be singular too. 'Walks' agrees with 'group,' while the plural phrase 'of students' does not change the subject. The other options use a plural verb or omit the verb entirely.

Question 42English Language Arts

A student is summarizing a story. Which detail should be left out of the summary?

  1. The main character loses her map in the forest.
  2. The main character meets a guide who helps her find the trail.
  3. The main character reaches the ranger station by sunset.
  4. The main character's boots are brown with red laces. Correct answer.

Explanation

A summary includes the important events and ideas that move a story forward. A detail about the color of the boots does not affect the plot, so it can be left out. The other details describe key events.

Question 43English Language Arts

Read this sentence: 'The runner trained every day; therefore, she finished the race with ease.' What is the role of 'therefore'?

  1. It introduces a contrast.
  2. It shows the result of the first idea. Correct answer.
  3. It adds a second example.
  4. It marks a new topic.

Explanation

'Therefore' is a transition that signals a result or conclusion. The daily training is the cause and finishing with ease is the effect. A contrast word such as 'however' would signal a different relationship.

Question 44English Language Arts

Which sentence uses quotation marks correctly?

  1. My teacher said "we should bring our books tomorrow".
  2. My teacher said "that we should bring our books tomorrow."
  3. My teacher said, we should "bring our books tomorrow."
  4. My teacher said, "We should bring our books tomorrow." Correct answer.

Explanation

Quotation marks enclose a speaker's exact words, and a comma separates the speaker tag from the quotation. The quoted words should begin with a capital letter and the period belongs inside the closing quotation mark. Only the second option follows all of these rules.

Question 45English Language Arts

A student needs to find out which chapter of a science book discusses volcanoes. Which part of the book would help most?

  1. The table of contents Correct answer.
  2. The title page
  3. The index
  4. The glossary

Explanation

The table of contents lists the chapters in order and shows what each one covers, so it is the fastest way to find a chapter on volcanoes. A glossary defines terms, an index lists page numbers for specific words, and a title page gives publication information.

Question 46English Language Arts

Read these two sentences: 'The team practiced all week. The team played poorly in the final game.' Which revision most clearly shows the contrast between the two ideas?

  1. The team practiced all week, so the team played poorly in the final game.
  2. The team practiced all week; the team played poorly in the final game.
  3. The team practiced all week, and the team played poorly in the final game.
  4. Although the team practiced all week, it played poorly in the final game. Correct answer.

Explanation

'Although' is a subordinating conjunction that signals contrast between an expectation and the actual result. It makes the surprising relationship clear in one smooth sentence. The other versions either add the ideas or falsely suggest a cause.

Question 47English Language Arts

A passage explains that some bats help farmers by eating insects that damage crops. Which statement best states the main idea of that passage?

  1. Bats can be helpful to farmers by controlling harmful insects. Correct answer.
  2. Bats live in many parts of the world.
  3. Insects damage crops in many ways.
  4. Farmers grow different kinds of crops.

Explanation

The main idea is the most important point a passage makes about its topic. The passage connects bats, insects, and farmers, so the statement about bats helping farmers captures that point. The other statements are related facts but miss the central connection.

Question 48English Language Arts

Read this sentence: 'The teacher's instructions were clear, so the class finished the project early.' Which word signals the effect?

  1. finished
  2. so Correct answer.
  3. early
  4. clear

Explanation

In a cause-and-effect sentence, the effect is the result that follows from the cause. The word 'so' introduces the result: the class finished early because the instructions were clear. 'Clear' describes the instructions and 'early' tells when they finished.

Question 49English Language Arts

A student is reading a story and comes to the word 'enormous.' Which reference source would best help the student find the meaning of 'enormous'?

  1. A thesaurus
  2. An atlas
  3. An almanac
  4. A dictionary Correct answer.

Explanation

A dictionary gives the meanings of words, so it is the best source for finding what 'enormous' means. An atlas shows maps, a thesaurus lists synonyms, and an almanac contains facts and statistics.

Question 50English Language Arts

Read this sentence: 'The puppy chased its tail around the yard.' Which word in the sentence is a verb?

  1. around
  2. chased Correct answer.
  3. yard
  4. tail

Explanation

A verb shows action or a state of being. 'Chased' is the action the puppy performed, so it is the verb. 'Tail' and 'yard' are nouns, and 'around' is a preposition.