Name:_______________________________________ Date:________________________ Class Period:________

Common Core Diagnostic Test-5th Grade Math & ELA

Directions: Read the questions carefully and choose the best response to the question. Indicate your answer by
writing the letter on the line.

______________1. ​Use this coordinate system to answer question #1.

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.5.G.A.1

According to the coordinate system above, which point represents the coordinates (-1, 3).
A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D

______________ 2. Read the following poem and answer the question that follows.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.5.5.A
“Dreams” by Langston Hughes

1 Hold fast to dreams

2 For if dreams die
3 Life is a broken-winged bird
4 That cannot fly.
5 Hold fast to dreams
6 For when dreams go
7 Life is a barren field
8 Frozen with snow.

According to the figurative language used by the speaker, what is true about dreams?

A) Dreams are essential for your life.

B) When you give up your dreams you cannot move forward.
C) You should accomplish your dreams quickly so they do not die.
D) You can be injured while working towards your dreams.
 Answer Key & Explanation

Question #1
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.5.G.A.1

Use a pair of perpendicular number lines, called axes, to define a coordinate system, with the intersection of the
lines (the origin) arranged to coincide with the 0 on each line and a given point in the plane located by using an
ordered pair of numbers, called its coordinates. Understand that the first number indicates how far to travel
from the origin in the direction of one axis, and the second number indicates how far to travel in the direction of
the second axis, with the convention that the names of the two axes and the coordinates correspond (e.g., x-axis
and x-coordinate, y-axis and y-coordinate).

A) ​Represents (-1, 3) Key

B) Represents (1, 3), this is a discriminating answer because the student may not understand the negative
coordinates on the graph and simply use the magnitude not positive/negative sign.

C) Represents (-1, -3), this is discriminating answer because the student may assume that the first number is
negative leads them to the negative side of coordinate system for both x and y coordinates.

D) Represents (3, -1), this is discriminating because a student that answers with this response may think the
first number represents the y-coordinate and the second number represents the x-coordinate.

Question #2
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.5.5.A

Interpret figurative language, including similes and metaphors, in context.

A) This is discriminating because it does identify the topic of the poem, but a student that selects this
response is answering more generally and not utilizing the metaphors in context in which the speaker is
describing specifically what happens when existing dreams die or fade away.

B) Key

C) This is discriminating because if a student does not understand the idiom “hold fast” to mean tightly
rather than quickly, they may be tempted to choose this answer. Thus they are not interpreting the figurative
language correctly given the context.

D) This is discriminating because students may identify that line 3 is a metaphor, yet take a literal
interpretation of “broken-winged birds” to imply injury without considering the entire context of the poem.