(MCAS) ELA Grade 4

English Language Arts
She could hear the bus stopping around the corner. Miata thought of running through a neighbor’s
yard. But that would only get her in trouble.
“Oh, man,” Miata said under her breath. She felt like throwing herself on the ground and crying.
But she knew that would only make things worse. Her mother would ask, “Why do you get so
dirty all the time”
What am I going to do now she asked herself. She prayed that Ana [her friend] would find
the skirt on the bus. She’s got to see it, Miata thought. It’s right there. Just look, Ana.
As Miata rounded the corner onto her block she saw her brother, Little Joe, and his friend Alex.
They were walking with cans smashed onto the heels of their shoes, laughing and pushing each
other. Their mouths were fat with gum.
Little Joe waved a dirty hand at Miata. Miata waved back and tried to smile.
If Ana doesn’t pick up the skirt, she thought, I’ll have to dance in a regular skirt. It was Friday,
late afternoon. It looked like a long weekend of worry.
• • •
• • •
From THE SKIRT by Gary Soto. Illustrated by Eric Velasquez, copyright © 1992 by Gary Soto. Illustrations
© 1992 by Eric Velasquez. Used by permission of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random
House, Inc.
THE MASSACHUSETTS COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT SYSTEM: 25
Release of Spring 2000, 2001 & 2002 Test Items
Rev. 06/03 srm