Example: 2002 OPT - 6th Grade Science Test, Question #16

On which day would the wind chill most affect Charlie if he has to shovel the driveway?

Implied Thinking Process: The students were provided four pictorials to use in determining the correct a nswer. As noted in the question, there is no stated verb. Instead students will need to:

• observe,
• prioritize, and
• identify the cause/effect.

There are several supports for students to determine the necessary “implied” thinking processes:

1. The pictorial will require students to carefully observe the common and critical attributes among the four pictures. They will need to identify the critical attribute that supports the wind chill requirement.
   
   
2. The “universal qualifier” will assist students in determining the appropriate implied thinking processes. In the example above, most affect is the universal qualifier. This would require students to prioritize their options based on their observations and then determine the cause/effect relationship.