CMAS Colorado Measures of Academic Success Test — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Which type of writing asks students to explain a topic clearly using facts and examples, without taking a personal stance?

Informative/explanatory writing (Correct answer)
Argumentative writing
Persuasive writing
Narrative writing

Correct answer: Informative/explanatory writing

Informative/explanatory writing presents facts and explanations about a topic without expressing a personal opinion.

Question 2: What are the three levels of government in Colorado?

Federal, state, and local (Correct answer)
State, county, and city
Federal, state, and county
National, regional, and local

Correct answer: Federal, state, and local

The three levels of government that affect Colorado residents are the federal (national), state of Colorado, and local (city/county) governments.

Question 3: What is the significance of Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado?

It is home to Colorado's largest cattle ranch
It marks the location of the first Colorado gold discovery
It preserves ancient cliff dwellings built by the ancestral Puebloans (Correct answer)
It was the site of Colorado's first railroad terminus

Correct answer: It preserves ancient cliff dwellings built by the ancestral Puebloans

Mesa Verde National Park preserves the remarkable cliff dwellings built by the ancestral Puebloan people over 700 years ago.

Question 4: What does the term 'popular sovereignty' mean?

Only popular people can run for office
States have more power than the federal government
The power of the government comes from the people (Correct answer)
The king or queen holds all power

Correct answer: The power of the government comes from the people

Popular sovereignty means that the authority of the government is created and sustained by the consent of the people, who are the source of all political power.

Question 5: Which testing vendor currently delivers the CMAS assessments in Colorado?

Educational Testing Service (ETS)
McGraw-Hill
Pearson
DRC (Data Recognition Corporation) (Correct answer)

Correct answer: DRC (Data Recognition Corporation)

DRC (Data Recognition Corporation) is the current vendor contracted to deliver CMAS assessments in Colorado.

Question 6: What is a CMAS 'performance task'?

A timed memorization drill
A physical activity graded by a teacher
A multi-part, in-depth task requiring research, analysis, and extended writing (Correct answer)
A short multiple-choice quiz

Correct answer: A multi-part, in-depth task requiring research, analysis, and extended writing

Performance tasks are multi-part assignments where students analyze sources and produce extended written responses.

Question 7: What is the purpose of the CMAS interim assessments offered during the school year?

To satisfy federal No Child Left Behind requirements
To rank schools for public reporting
To provide teachers with data on student progress before the summative assessment (Correct answer)
To replace the summative CMAS test

Correct answer: To provide teachers with data on student progress before the summative assessment

CMAS interim assessments give teachers formative data to adjust instruction before the end-of-year summative exam.

Question 8: What was the significance of the Emancipation Proclamation?

It granted women the right to vote.
It freed enslaved people in Confederate states.
It established the first public schools.
It ended the Civil War.

The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, declared that all enslaved people in the Confederate states (states in rebellion against the Union) were free. While it did not immediately free all enslaved people, it shifted the focus of the Civil War to include the abolition of slavery and paved the way for the 13th Amendment.

Question 9: What does 'point of view' mean when analyzing an informational text?

The number of paragraphs in the text
The perspective or stance the author brings to the topic, which may shape how information is presented (Correct answer)
The font and layout style of the text
The reading level of the text

Correct answer: The perspective or stance the author brings to the topic, which may shape how information is presented

An author's point of view is their perspective on a topic, which can influence which information they include, emphasize, or omit.

Question 10: Which of the following adverbs fits best in the blank in this sentence? My uncle’s computer which was made in 1987 connects _______________ to the Internet.

angrily
fast
quickly
slowly (Correct answer)

Correct answer: slowly

The computer was made in 1987, which is a very old model by modern standards. Older computers typically have much slower internet connection speeds compared to contemporary devices. Therefore, the adverb 'slowly' best describes how such an outdated computer would connect to the Internet.

Question 11: Which of the following is a true statement?

The above passage summarizes the fall weather.
The above passage is science fiction.
The above passage explains how and why the leaves change colors in fall. (Correct answer)
The above passage is all about weather.

Correct answer: The above passage explains how and why the leaves change colors in fall.

Given the correct answer, the missing passage must have detailed the scientific process of how and why leaves change colors during the autumn season. It would likely explain the role of chlorophyll, carotenoids, and anthocyanins, and how environmental factors influence these changes. This makes option C the most accurate summary of such a passage's content.

Question 12: What is the purpose of a 'counterclaim' in argumentative writing?

To acknowledge an opposing viewpoint and then refute it to strengthen your argument (Correct answer)
To agree with the opposing side and abandon your argument
To summarize your own argument at the end
To list all facts that support the other side

Correct answer: To acknowledge an opposing viewpoint and then refute it to strengthen your argument

A counterclaim acknowledges the opposing viewpoint and then refutes it, which demonstrates critical thinking and strengthens the writer's argument.

Question 13: What does CMAS stand for?

Colorado Measures of Academic Success (Correct answer)
Comprehensive Multi-Assessment System
Colorado Math and Arts Standards
Colorado Mastery and Achievement Standards

Correct answer: Colorado Measures of Academic Success

CMAS stands for Colorado Measures of Academic Success, the state's standardized testing program.

Question 14: Which sentence correctly uses a colon to introduce a list?

The backpack contained: books, pencils, and a water bottle.
The three main subjects are: tested by CMAS.
She needed: to finish her homework.
Colorado tests students in three subjects: math, ELA, and science. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Colorado tests students in three subjects: math, ELA, and science.

A colon is correctly used after a complete independent clause to introduce a list, as in the fourth option.

Question 15: Which of the following moons of Jupiter is the closest to the planet?

Ganymede
Europa
Io (Correct answer)
Callisto

Correct answer: Io

Io is the innermost of Jupiter's four largest moons, known as the Galilean moons. Its orbital distance is approximately 421,700 km from Jupiter's center, making it closer to the planet than Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto, which orbit at progressively greater distances.

Question 16: Bruno the Bear From A Bond of Love I WILL begin with Bruno; my wife’s pet sloth bear. I got him for her by an accident. Two years ago we were passing through the cornfields near a small town in Iowa. People were driving away the wild pigs from the fields by shooting at them. Some were shot and some escaped. We thought that everything was over when suddenly a black sloth bear came out panting in the hot sun. Now I will not shoot a sloth bear wantonly but unfortunately for the poor beast, one of my companions did not feel the same way about it, and promptly shot the bear on the spot. As we watched the fallen animal we were surprised to see that the black fur on its back moved and left the prostrate body. Then we saw it was a baby bear that had been riding on its mother’s back when the sudden shot had killed her. The little creature ran around its prostrate parent making a pitiful noise. I ran up to it to attempt a capture. It scooted into the sugarcane field. Following it with my companions, I was at last able to grab it by the scruff of its neck while it snapped and tried to scratch me with its long, hooked claws.We put it in one of the large jute-bags we had brought and when I got back home I duly presented it to my wife. She was delighted! She at once put a blue colored ribbon around its neck, and after discovering the cub was a ‘boy’ she christened it Bruno. Bruno soon took to drinking milk from a bottle. It was but a step further and within a very few days he started eating and drinking everything else. And everything is the right word, for he ate porridge made from any ingredients, vegetables, fruit, nuts, meat (especially pork), curry and rice regardless of condiments and chilies, bread, eggs, chocolates, sweets, pudding, ice-cream, etc., etc., etc. As for drink: milk, tea, coffee, limejuice, aerated water, buttermilk, beer, alcoholic liquor and, in fact, anything liquid. It all went down with relish. The bear became very attached to our two dogs and to all the children living in and around our farm. He was left quite free in his younger days and spent his time in playing, running into the kitchen and going to sleep in our beds. One day an accident befell him. I put down poison (barium carbonate) to kill the rats and mice that had got into my library. Bruno entered the library as he often did, and ate some of the poison. Paralysis set in to the extent that he could not stand on his feet. But he dragged himself on his stumps to my wife, who called me. I guessed what had happened. Off I rushed him in the car to the vet’s residence. A case of poisoning! Tame Bear—barium carbonate—what to do? Out came his medical books, and a feverish reference to index began: “What poison did you say, sir?” he asked “Barium carbonate” I said. “Ah yes—B—Ba—Barium Salts—Ah! Barium carbonate! Symptoms— paralysis—treatment—injections of . .. Just a minute, sir. I’ll bring my syringe and the medicine.” Said the doc. I dashed back to the car. Bruno was still floundering about on his stumps, but clearly he was weakening rapidly; there was some vomiting, he was breathing heavily, with heaving flanks and gaping mouth. I was really scared and did not know what to do. I was feeling very guilty and was running in and out of the vet’s house doing everything the doc asked me. Hold him, everybody! In goes the hypodermic—Bruno squeals — 10 c.c. of the antidote enters his system without a drop being wasted. Ten minutes later: condition unchanged! Another 10 c.c. Injected! Ten minutes later: breathing less torturous— Bruno can move his arms and legs a little although he cannot stand yet. Thirty minutes later: Bruno gets up and has a great feed! He looks at us disdainfully, as much as to say, ‘What’s barium carbonate to a big black bear like me?’ Bruno was still eating. I was really happy to see him recover. The months rolled on and Bruno had grown many times the size he was when he came. He had equaled the big dogs in height and had even outgrown them. But was just as sweet, just as mischievous, just as playful. And he was very fond of us all. Above all, he loved my wife, and she loved him too! And he could do a few tricks, too. At the command, ‘Bruno, wrestle’, or ‘Bruno, box,’ he vigorously tackled anyone who came forward for a rough and tumble. Give him a stick and say ‘Bruno, hold gun’, and he pointed the stick at you. Ask him, ‘Bruno, where’s baby?’ and he immediately produced and cradled affectionately a stump of wood which he had carefully concealed in his straw bed. But because of the neighborhoods’ and our renters’ children, poor Bruno, had to be kept chained most of the time. Then my son and I advised my wife, and friends advised her too, to give Bruno to the zoo. He was getting too big to keep at home. After some weeks of such advice she at last consented. Hastily, and before she could change her mind, a letter was written to the curator of the zoo. Did he want a tame bear for his collection? He replied, “Yes”. The zoo sent a cage in a truck, a distance of hundred – eighty – seven miles, and Bruno was packed off. We all missed him greatly; but in a sense we were relieved. My wife was inconsolable. She wept and fretted. For the first few days she would not eat a thing. Then she wrote a number of letters to the curator. How was Bruno? Back came the replies, “Well, but fretting; he refuses food too.” After that, friends visiting the zoo were begged to make a point of seeing how Bruno was getting along. They reported that he was well but looked very thin and sad. All the keepers at the zoo said he was fretting. For three months I managed to restrain my wife from visiting the zoo. Then she said one day, “I must see Bruno. Either you take me by car; or I will go myself by bus or train myself.” So I took her by car. Friends had conjectured that the bear would not recognize her. I had thought so too. But while she was yet some yards from his cage Bruno saw her and recognized her. He howled with happiness. She ran up to him, petted him through the bars, and he stood on his head in delight. For the next three hours she would not leave that cage. She gave him tea, lemonade, cakes, ice cream and what not. Then ‘closing time’ came and we had to leave. My wife cried bitterly; Bruno cried bitterly; even the hardened curator and the keepers felt depressed. As for me, I had reconciled myself to what I knew was going to happen next. “Oh please, sir,” she asked the curator, “may I have my Bruno back”? Hesitantly, he answered, “Madam, he belongs to the zoo and is Government property now. I cannot give away Government property. But if my boss, the superintendent agrees, certainly you may have him back.” There followed the return journey home and a visit to the superintendent’s office. A tearful pleading: “Bruno and I are both fretting for each other. Will you please give him back to me?” He was a kind-hearted man and consented. Not only that, but he wrote to the curator telling him to lend us a cage for transporting the bear back home. Back we went to the zoo again, armed with the superintendent’s letter. Bruno was driven into a small cage and hoisted on top of the car; the cage was tied securely, and a slow and careful return journey back home was accomplished. Once home, a squad of workers were engaged for special work around our yard. An island was made for Bruno. It was twenty feet long and fifteen feet wide, and was surrounded by a dry moat, six feet wide and seven feet deep. A wooden box that once housed fowls was brought and put on the island for Bruno to sleep in at night. Straw was placed inside to keep him warm, and his ‘baby’, the gnarled stump, along with his ‘gun’, the piece of bamboo, both of which had been sentimentally preserved since he had been sent away to the zoo, were put back for him to play with. In a few days the workers hoisted the cage on to the island and Bruno was released. He was delighted; standing on his hind legs, he pointed his ‘gun’ and cradled his ‘baby’. My wife spent hours sitting on a chair there while he sat on her lap. He was fifteen months old and pretty heavy too! The way my wife reaches the island and leaves it is interesting. I have tied a rope to the overhanging branch of a maple tree with a loop at its end. Putting one foot in the loop, she kicks off with the other, to bridge the six-foot gap that constitutes the width of the surrounding moat. The return journey back is made the same way. But who can say now that a sloth bear has no sense of affection, no memory and no individual characteristics? Question: What did Bruno do when he recognized the narrator's wife during her visit to the zoo?

He refused to eat and lay down quietly.
He became angry and tried to break out of the cage.
He ignored her and stayed in a corner.
He howled with happiness, stood on his head in delight, and interacted with her through the bars. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: He howled with happiness, stood on his head in delight, and interacted with her through the bars.

The passage explicitly describes Bruno's reaction upon seeing the narrator's wife at the zoo. It states, 'He howled with happiness. She ran up to him, petted him through the bars, and he stood on his head in delight.' This directly matches the actions detailed in option A, showing his immense joy and affection.

Question 17: Which sentence best uses a precise, domain-specific vocabulary word in an informative essay about weather?

There was a lot of rain and it was windy.
The Category 4 hurricane made landfall, causing catastrophic storm surges along the coast. (Correct answer)
The weather was not good that day.
The storm was really big and caused lots of problems.

Correct answer: The Category 4 hurricane made landfall, causing catastrophic storm surges along the coast.

Using precise terms like 'Category 4 hurricane,' 'landfall,' and 'storm surges' demonstrates domain-specific vocabulary appropriate for informative writing.

Question 18: Colorado shares its borders with how many other U.S. states?

Six
Seven (Correct answer)
Four
Five

Correct answer: Seven

Colorado borders seven states: Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona (the Four Corners point).

Question 19: What was the main purpose of the Declaration of Independence?

To propose a new constitution
To establish a new government
To declare the colonies' independence from Britain (Correct answer)
To outline the rights of citizens

Correct answer: To declare the colonies' independence from Britain

The Declaration of Independence, adopted on July 4, 1776, served as a formal statement by the American colonies asserting their right to be free and independent states. It articulated their grievances against King George III and formally severed their political ties with Great Britain, making its main purpose to declare independence.

Question 20: Fictional Story: Bruno the Bear Bruno the Bear lived in a lush green forest filled with tall trees and sparkling streams. He was known for his big heart and love for adventure. One sunny day, Bruno decided to explore the other side of the forest. He packed some honey, his favorite snack, and set off on his journey. As he walked, Bruno met a wise old owl named Oliver. Oliver warned Bruno about a steep cliff that lay ahead. "Be careful, Bruno. The cliff can be dangerous if you get too close," he advised. Bruno thanked Oliver and continued on his way. After a while, Bruno reached the cliff. He peered over the edge and saw the beautiful valley below. However, he remembered Oliver's warning and decided to keep a safe distance. Instead, he found a path that led down to the valley safely. In the valley, Bruno discovered a sparkling river and a meadow full of colorful flowers. He spent the day playing and eating honey until the sun began to set. As he made his way back home, Bruno felt grateful for his adventure and the friends he had met along the way. Question: Who did Bruno meet during his adventure?

A rabbit
A deer
A wise old owl (Correct answer)
A fox

Correct answer: A wise old owl

The story clearly states, 'As he walked, Bruno met a wise old owl named Oliver.' This sentence directly identifies the character Bruno encountered during his journey. Therefore, a wise old owl is the correct answer.

Question 21: Which of the following is a primary source of historical information?

An encyclopedia entry on World War II
A diary written by a soldier during World War II (Correct answer)
A documentary film about World War II
A textbook summarizing World War II

Correct answer: A diary written by a soldier during World War II

A primary source is a firsthand account or original material from the time period being studied. A diary written by someone who directly experienced World War II offers an immediate, unfiltered perspective of events as they happened. Textbooks, documentaries, and encyclopedias are secondary sources, as they interpret or summarize primary information.

Question 22: What is the responsibility of citizens in a democracy that helps ensure the government represents the will of the people?

Paying for government services
Working for the government
Following social media trends
Participating in elections by voting (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Participating in elections by voting

Voting in elections is a fundamental civic responsibility that allows citizens to choose their representatives and influence government decisions.

Question 23: Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution abolished slavery?

The 15th Amendment
The 19th Amendment
The 14th Amendment
The 13th Amendment (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The 13th Amendment

The 13th Amendment, ratified in 1865, abolished slavery and involuntary servitude throughout the United States.

Question 24: What is the purpose of the separation of powers in the U.S. government?

To make the government work faster
To allow states to govern independently
To give citizens more direct control over laws
To prevent any one branch from having too much control (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To prevent any one branch from having too much control

The separation of powers divides government authority among three branches to prevent tyranny and ensure no single branch becomes too powerful.

Question 25: The population of California is approximately 3.7 x 10^7 people. The land area of California is approximately 1.6 x 10^5 square miles. Divide the population by the area to find the best estimate of the number of people per square mile in California.

24,000 people
2,400 people
240 people (Correct answer)
24 people

Correct answer: 240 people

To find the people per square mile, divide the population by the area: (3.7 x 10^7) / (1.6 x 10^5). Dividing the numerical parts gives approximately 3.7 / 1.6 ≈ 2.3125. Dividing the powers of ten gives 10^(7-5) = 10^2 = 100. Multiplying these results (2.3125 * 100) yields approximately 231.25, which is best estimated as 240 people per square mile.

Question 26: On a coordinate grid, a point is located at (3, –2). In which quadrant is this point?

Quadrant IV (Correct answer)
Quadrant II
Quadrant I
Quadrant III

Correct answer: Quadrant IV

A point with a positive x-value and negative y-value is in Quadrant IV.

Question 27: What forces are primarily responsible for keeping the globe floating in place over its base?

Frictional force and electrical force
Gravitational force and frictional force
Gravitational force and magnetic force
Magnetic force and gravitational force (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Magnetic force and gravitational force

For a globe to float (levitate) over its base, there must be an upward force counteracting the downward pull of gravity. This upward force is typically provided by magnetic repulsion from magnets within the base and the globe, balancing the gravitational force to keep it suspended in place.

Question 28: A stem-and-leaf plot shows the following data: stem 4 with leaves 2, 5, 8 and stem 5 with leaves 1, 3. What is the median of this data set?

51
53
48 (Correct answer)
45

Correct answer: 48

The ordered data set is 42, 45, 48, 51, 53; the median (middle value) of 5 values is the 3rd value: 48.

Question 29: The Ancestral Puebloans who built the Mesa Verde cliff dwellings eventually abandoned the site around 1300 CE. What do most researchers believe caused this?

A prolonged drought and environmental pressures led to migration (Correct answer)
Flooding from the Colorado River destroyed the dwellings
A Spanish military conquest forced them out
Conflict with incoming European settlers

Correct answer: A prolonged drought and environmental pressures led to migration

Research indicates that a severe multi-decade drought in the late 1200s, combined with environmental and social pressures, led the Ancestral Puebloans to abandon Mesa Verde.

Question 30: In CMAS writing, what does 'elaboration' mean?

Writing in all capital letters for emphasis
Shortening paragraphs to one sentence each
Copying sentences directly from the source text
Developing ideas with details, examples, or explanations beyond a brief mention (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Developing ideas with details, examples, or explanations beyond a brief mention

Elaboration means expanding on an idea with specific details, examples, or explanations to make the writing more complete and convincing.

Question 31: When reading an extended text passage on CMAS, which approach is most effective?

Skim just the first sentence of each paragraph
Read the passage actively, noting main ideas and key details (Correct answer)
Read only the questions first and ignore the passage
Memorize the passage word for word

Correct answer: Read the passage actively, noting main ideas and key details

Active reading with attention to main ideas and key details helps students answer comprehension questions accurately.

Question 32: Why is it important to identify an author's purpose (to inform, persuade, or entertain) before reading a text?

Because texts written to entertain are always fictional
Because knowing the purpose helps readers think critically about how and why information is presented the way it is (Correct answer)
Because identifying purpose is required only for fiction texts
Because the author's purpose determines the length of the text

Correct answer: Because knowing the purpose helps readers think critically about how and why information is presented the way it is

Understanding an author's purpose helps readers approach the text with appropriate critical thinking, recognizing whether the text is meant to inform neutrally or to influence the reader's beliefs.

Question 33: Curtains in theaters prevent sound waves from being reflected as echoes. Which model best explains why curtains prevent echoes?

A ball thrown toward a surface will come in contact faster with a soft surface than with a hard surface.
A ball dropped on a surface will bounce more on a hard surface than on a soft surface. (Correct answer)
A ball thrown at a surface will hit with a greater force on a soft surface than on a hard surface.
A ball rolled across a surface will roll more quickly on a hard surface than on a soft surface.

Correct answer: A ball dropped on a surface will bounce more on a hard surface than on a soft surface.

Echoes occur when sound waves reflect off hard, smooth surfaces. Curtains are soft and absorbent, meaning they absorb sound energy rather than reflecting it. This is analogous to a ball bouncing less (or not at all) on a soft surface compared to a hard surface, where it would bounce significantly more, representing reflection.

Question 34: What is the primary cause of population growth along Colorado's Front Range corridor (Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins, Colorado Springs)?

Federal government relocation of agencies to Colorado
Access to outdoor recreation, a growing tech industry, and quality of life (Correct answer)
Agricultural expansion and farming opportunities
Discovery of new oil and gas reserves in urban areas

Correct answer: Access to outdoor recreation, a growing tech industry, and quality of life

Colorado's Front Range has grown rapidly due to its combination of outdoor recreation access, a booming technology and aerospace industry, and high quality of life.

Question 35: What does it mean if a student scores at 'Level 5 – Exceeded Expectations' on CMAS?

The student's score was invalid
The student demonstrated advanced mastery beyond grade-level expectations (Correct answer)
The student performed below grade level
The student met minimum requirements only

Correct answer: The student demonstrated advanced mastery beyond grade-level expectations

Level 5 – Exceeded Expectations indicates the student demonstrated performance well above grade-level standards.

Question 36: What was the primary purpose of the Voyager 2 mission as indicated by its trajectory through the solar system?

To study the outer planets and their moons (Correct answer)
To establish a permanent base on Mars
To search for extraterrestrial life
To map the entire solar system

Correct answer: To study the outer planets and their moons

Voyager 2 was specifically designed and launched to conduct a 'grand tour' of the outer solar system. Its unique trajectory allowed it to visit all four gas giants—Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune—providing unprecedented data and images of these planets and their numerous moons, fulfilling its primary purpose of studying the outer planets.

Question 37: The point (4, 3) is rotated 90 degrees clockwise about the origin. What are the coordinates of the resulting point?

(-3, 4)
(-4, 3)
(3, -4) (Correct answer)
(4, -3)

Correct answer: (3, -4)

When a point (x, y) is rotated 90 degrees clockwise about the origin, the transformation rule is (x, y) → (y, -x). Applying this rule to the given point (4, 3), the new x-coordinate becomes the original y-coordinate (3), and the new y-coordinate becomes the negative of the original x-coordinate (-4). Therefore, the resulting coordinates are (3, -4).

Question 38: Which of the following amendments to the U.S. Constitution abolished slavery?

The 14th Amendment
The 13th Amendment (Correct answer)
The 15th Amendment
The 19th Amendment

Correct answer: The 13th Amendment

The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1865, formally abolished slavery and involuntary servitude throughout the United States, except as a punishment for a crime. This amendment was a direct result of the Civil War and a monumental step towards civil rights, making it the correct answer.

Question 39: Which editing strategy is most effective when reviewing a CMAS written response?

Read only the first and last sentences
Check only for spelling mistakes
Count the number of sentences and stop if there are enough
Read the response aloud mentally to catch awkward phrasing and errors (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Read the response aloud mentally to catch awkward phrasing and errors

Reading a response aloud mentally helps catch awkward phrasing, missing words, and grammatical errors that silent reading may miss.

Question 40: Which mountain range runs through the center of Colorado and forms the Continental Divide?

The Appalachian Mountains
The Rocky Mountains (Correct answer)
The Sierra Nevada
The Cascade Range

Correct answer: The Rocky Mountains

The Rocky Mountains run through the center of Colorado, and the Continental Divide along their peaks separates water draining to the Atlantic from water draining to the Pacific.

Question 41: Which geographic feature is most commonly associated with the location of early civilizations?

Plains
Mountains
Rivers (Correct answer)
Deserts

Correct answer: Rivers

Early civilizations, such as those in Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, and China, typically developed along major river valleys. Rivers provided essential resources like fertile soil for agriculture, water for irrigation and drinking, and transportation routes, which were crucial for the growth and sustenance of large populations.

Question 42: A scatter plot shows points generally moving from the lower-left to the upper-right. What type of correlation does this show?

No correlation
Positive correlation (Correct answer)
Negative correlation
Inverse correlation

Correct answer: Positive correlation

When both variables increase together, the scatter plot trends upward from left to right, indicating a positive correlation.

Question 43: On a CMAS math performance task, what should a student do if they are unsure of the final answer?

Show all work and reasoning for partial credit consideration (Correct answer)
Leave the response blank
Guess randomly
Write only the final number without any steps

Correct answer: Show all work and reasoning for partial credit consideration

Showing work and reasoning on performance tasks can earn partial credit even if the final answer is incorrect.

Question 44: What should a student do immediately before beginning a CMAS testing session on the computer?

Read and follow all testing directions and verify the device is working (Correct answer)
Install new software on the device
Share login credentials with a classmate
Turn off the device and wait

Correct answer: Read and follow all testing directions and verify the device is working

Reading directions and verifying the device is functioning properly ensures a smooth start to the testing session.

Question 45: What is this story about?

about Sam’s predicament (Correct answer)
about Sam’s dream
about Sam’s mom’s birthday
about Sam’s athletic ability

Correct answer: about Sam’s predicament

Given the correct answer, the story must have focused on a challenging or difficult situation that Sam was experiencing. A 'predicament' implies a troublesome or embarrassing situation from which it is hard to extricate oneself. Therefore, the narrative revolved around Sam's struggle with a particular problem.

Question 46: How is the CMAS assessment primarily delivered to students?

Oral examination only
Portfolio review
Paper and pencil only
Computer-based testing (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Computer-based testing

CMAS is a computer-based assessment, though paper accommodations exist for students with specific needs.

Question 47: Which accommodation is commonly provided for English Language Learners (ELLs) on CMAS?

Double the number of correct attempts allowed
Testing in a foreign language instead of English
Access to translated test directions or a bilingual glossary (Correct answer)
Automatic exemption from testing

Correct answer: Access to translated test directions or a bilingual glossary

ELL students may receive translated directions or bilingual glossaries to support language access without changing test content.

Question 48: What principle explains why the falling magnets are pushed back up by the magnets at the bottom of the rod?

Gravitational attraction
Friction
Electrical force
Magnetic repulsion (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Magnetic repulsion

Magnets exert forces on each other, and when like poles (e.g., North-North or South-South) face each other, they repel, pushing each other apart. In this setup, the falling magnets are pushed back up because their poles align with the poles of the stationary magnets at the bottom of the rod in a way that causes magnetic repulsion.

Question 49: A data set has values: 5, 7, 7, 9, 12. What is the mode?

12
9
8
7 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 7

The mode is the value that appears most frequently; 7 appears twice while all other values appear once.

Question 50: Which statistical question could be answered using data collected from a survey?

How many seconds are in an hour?
What is the exact height of the Empire State Building?
How many hours per week do 5th graders in our school spend reading? (Correct answer)
What is the boiling point of water?

Correct answer: How many hours per week do 5th graders in our school spend reading?

A statistical question anticipates variability in answers; asking about reading hours across many students requires data collection and analysis.

Question 51: Which graph type is best for showing how a quantity changes over time?

Pie chart
Scatter plot
Bar graph
Line graph (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Line graph

Line graphs are specifically designed to show how a quantity changes continuously over a period of time.

CMAS Colorado Measures of Academic Success Test

The CMAS (Colorado Measures of Academic Success) is administered by the Colorado Department of Education and assesses student performance in English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies against Colorado Academic Standards. The assessment is used for school accountability, student growth measurement, and informing instructional decisions across Colorado public schools.

Questions

90 min

Time Limit

60%

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