Testing Strategies
Poetry
Informational
Literary Fiction
Argumentative
100
Once the test begins, what are the first 3 things you should do?
1. Read the instructions!
2. Skim the passage
3. Preview the questions
100
Why did the poet include the sound device of “Did I ever tell you” throughout the poem?
A) To emphasize the truthfulness of the stories
B) To create a storytelling effect and engage the reader
C) To show that the speaker is forgetful
D) To make the poem sound like a song
B) To create a storytelling effect and engage the reader
100
What is the purpose of the author writing with a chronological text structure?
A. To highlight the most important facts about Quilty the Cat
B. To show how Quilty’s actions led to changes over time
C. To compare Quilty’s intelligence to other cats in the shelter
D. To describe the setting of the animal shelter in detail
B. To show how Quilty’s actions led to changes over time
100
What type of folktale is this passage?
A. Fable
B. Fairytale
C. Legend
D. Tall Tale
A. Fable
100
What is the main claim the author is making in this passage?
a) Zoos should keep all wild animals in captivity.
b) Some animals in captivity can develop unnatural behaviors or stress.
c) Octopuses are more intelligent than other sea creatures.
d) The National Aquarium should have searched for Inky after he escaped.
b) Some animals in captivity can develop unnatural behaviors or stress.
200
You come across a paired passage. One of the questions ask about something found in both passages. What do you do?
See if each answer choice can be found in BOTH passages and if so, highlight them!
200
How does the poet’s word choice, such as “frostbitten,” “brute,” and “mad,” affect the tone of the poem?
A) It makes the poem sound serious and tragic
B) It makes the poem sound mysterious and suspenseful
C) It gives the poem a scientific and factual tone
D) It creates a lighthearted and humorous exaggeration
D) It creates a lighthearted and humorous exaggeration
200
What is the purpose of the illustration of the cat and paw prints in the passage?
A. To provide a visual summary of the main idea
B. To show how Quilty looked before he was adopted
C. To demonstrate the steps Quilty took to escape
D. To entertain the reader with a fictional drawing
A. To provide a visual summary of the main idea
200
Which of the following is the best summary of the folktale?
a) A rabbit and a tiger meet in the jungle and become friends. The rabbit leads the tiger to a well to show him his reflection. The tiger is impressed and leaves the rabbit alone.
b) A clever rabbit tricks a hungry tiger by telling him about a magic well. The tiger sees his reflection, thinks it is another tiger, and jumps in. The rabbit escapes, proving that clever thinking is stronger than strength.
c) A hungry tiger tries to eat a rabbit, but the rabbit outsmarts him. The tiger listens to the rabbit’s advice and becomes wiser.
d) A tiger is afraid of his own reflection and refuses to drink from the well. The rabbit drinks the water and gains magic powers.
b) A clever rabbit tricks a hungry tiger by telling him about a magic well. The tiger sees his reflection, thinks it is another tiger, and jumps in. The rabbit escapes, proving that clever thinking is stronger than strength.
200
How does the author support the key idea that captivity can be harmful to animals?
a) By explaining how Inky escaped from his tank.
b) By providing a study on chimpanzees in captivity.
c) By stating that some animals depend on zoos for survival.
d) By describing how aquariums rescue injured sea animals.
b) By providing a study on chimpanzees in captivity.
300
The main character of the passage has a very unique name that is hard to read. WHAT DO YOU DO?
Abbreviate the name or give them a nickname while reading, but if you write about them, BE SURE TO USE THEIR ACTUAL NAME!!!!
300
How does the poem’s structure contribute to its meaning?
A) The structure helps create the feeling of a grandparent sharing tall tales
B) The structure makes the poem confusing and difficult to understand
C) The structure follows a strict rhyme scheme, making it sound like a nursery rhyme
D) The structure does not affect the meaning of the poem
A) The structure helps create the feeling of a grandparent sharing tall tales
300
Which sentence best supports the idea that Quilty is persistent?
A. “With the help of surveillance cameras, the staff was able to isolate one variable—Quilty the (Guilty) Cat.”
B. “Quilty found a way to let himself out by opening handles secured with added safety locks.”
C. “Adoption hours were over, and workers left for the night, leaving the animals in their secure enclosures.”
D. “Since his surge in popularity, Quilty has been adopted by a family who regularly posts his continued antics.”
B. “Quilty found a way to let himself out by opening handles secured with added safety locks.”
300
Which sentence from the folktale best shows that the rabbit is clever?
a) “Oh, mighty Tiger,” the rabbit said, bowing low.
b) “Yes!” the rabbit said. “Come, I will show you.”
c) “The clever rabbit saw the danger and quickly thought of a plan.”
d) “Meanwhile, the rabbit hopped away, laughing.”
c) “The clever rabbit saw the danger and quickly thought of a plan.”
300
Which sentence best supports the argument presented in the passage?
a) "Inky managed to escape his tank, scamper across the floor, and fit his body into a narrow drainpipe."
b) "Many would argue that the small enclosures of zoos provide an unnaturally small space, thereby putting an unnecessary stress on the animals."
c) "The authorities at the aquarium did not begin a search for him, realizing that his daring escape had earned him his freedom."
d) "A study held on chimpanzees in captivity in 6 different locations showed that many began to develop mental illnesses not seen in animals living in the wild."
d) "A study held on chimpanzees in captivity in 6 different locations showed that many began to develop mental illnesses not seen in animals living in the wild."
400
You come across a question that asks for the best definition of a word. It then provides a dictionary entry of that word. Do you need to?
A. Look the word up in the dictionary
B. Re read the sentence in the passage that uses the word.
C. Figure out which definitions are wrong
B. Re read the sentence in the passage that uses the word.
400
Which line from the poem best supports the theme of exaggeration and storytelling?
A) “And then everyone clapped.”
B) “She was so mad, she made me take a bus back.”
C) “Did I ever tell you about the time I wrestled a grizzly bear with my bare hands?”
D) “It was a home run, and I was high up in the stands.”
C) “Did I ever tell you about the time I wrestled a grizzly bear with my bare hands?”
400
What is the main idea of paragraph 2?
A. The shelter workers were unable to figure out how Quilty was escaping.
B. Quilty’s actions were similar to a scene from a popular animated movie.
C. Quilty repeatedly unlocked cages, proving he was determined to be free.
D. The shelter workers quickly stopped Quilty from opening the cages.
C. Quilty repeatedly unlocked cages, proving he was determined to be free.
400
How does the tiger’s reaction to his reflection help develop the plot?
a) It shows that the tiger is brave and wants to fight.
b) It allows the rabbit to escape while the tiger is distracted.
c) It proves that the tiger is the strongest in the jungle.
d) It teaches the rabbit a lesson about honesty.
b) It allows the rabbit to escape while the tiger is distracted.
400
What can the reader conclude about Inky based on the passage?
a) He was a unique octopus who had special skills.
b) He preferred life in the wild rather than in captivity.
c) He was the only octopus to ever escape from an aquarium.
d) He was unhappy with the food provided in the aquarium.
b) He preferred life in the wild rather than in captivity.
500
What do the follow STAAR words mean?
Explain =
How =
Why =
Whether =
Explain = give details
How = ways
Why = reasons
Whether = pick a side
500
Read this line from stanza 4: "I heard the smack!" The sound effect in this line emphasizes the idea
A) The speaker was in pain after the event
B) The moment was exciting and dramatic
C) The speaker was angry about what happened
D) The baseball game was not very important
B) The moment was exciting and dramatic
500
Why did the author most likely include information about Quilty’s social media fame?
A. To show that Quilty’s actions had a lasting impact beyond the shelter
B. To explain why the shelter decided to use extra safety locks
C. To demonstrate how the shelter staff trained Quilty after his escape
D. To argue that more animals should be allowed to roam free
A. To show that Quilty’s actions had a lasting impact beyond the shelter
500
What lesson does the tiger learn by the end of the story?
a) He should be more careful about who he trusts.
b) Strength is more important than intelligence.
c) Rabbits are stronger than tigers.
d) Magic wells do not really exist.
a) He should be more careful about who he trusts.
500
Why does the author mention a study about chimpanzees?
a) To show that animals in captivity can develop mental illnesses.
b) To compare octopuses to chimpanzees.
c) To prove that octopuses are more intelligent than other animals.
d) To explain why some animals need protection in zoos.
a) To show that animals in captivity can develop mental illnesses.