Author’s Purpose & Central Idea
Passage:
Many schools are adding later start times for teenagers. Researchers say students learn better when they get more sleep, and some districts have already reported better attendance.
Question: What is the author’s main purpose?
A. To entertain readers with a school story
B. To explain why later start times may help students
C. To argue that all schools should close earlier
D. To describe one student’s morning routine
B. To explain why later start times may help students
Why: The passage gives research and results (better sleep, attendance). That means the author is explaining benefits, not telling a story or arguing strongly.
Passage:
Jalen checked his speech one last time, smoothing the paper with shaky hands before walking to the front of the room.
Question: What can the reader infer about Jalen?
A. He is confident
B. He is nervous
C. He is angry
D. He is distracted
B. He is nervous
Why: “Shaky hands” = physical clue. That tells us he’s nervous, even though it’s not directly stated.
Passage:
Although Theo was reluctant to speak at first, he eventually shared his opinion with the group.
Question: What does reluctant most likely mean?
A. eager
B. unwilling
C. amused
D. prepared
B. unwilling
Why: He didn’t want to speak at first → that directly defines reluctant.
Question: Which sentence is correct?
A. Their going to the game tonight.
B. There going to the game tonight.
C. They’re going to the game tonight.
D. Theyre going to the game tonight.
C. They’re going to the game tonight.
Why:
Passage:
The hallway buzzed like a beehive as students rushed to class.
Question: What literary device is used?
A. metaphor
B. simile
C. hyperbole
D. personification
B. simile
Why: Uses “like” → comparing hallway to beehive → that’s a simile.
Passage:
The community garden began with only a few volunteers. Over time, more neighbors joined, donated tools, and planted vegetables. By summer, the garden had become a place where families gathered and shared food.
Question: What is the central idea of the passage?
A. Gardening is too much work for one person
B. Families should only grow vegetables in summer
C. A small community effort grew into something meaningful
D. Tools are the most important part of gardening
C. A small community effort grew into something meaningful
Why: The passage shows growth over time → small group → big impact. That’s a central idea about community effort growing, not just gardening details.
Passage:
Mia practiced piano every afternoon, even when her friends were outside playing. Months later, she performed flawlessly at the recital.
Question: Which theme is best supported by the passage?
A. Talent matters more than effort
B. Hard work can lead to success
C. Friends prevent achievement
D. Practice should always come before fun
B. Hard work can lead to success
Why: She practices → succeeds. That pattern = hard work leads to success, a classic STAAR theme.
Passage:
After hours of discussion, the group was finally able to resolve the issue and move forward.
Question: What does resolve mean in this sentence?
A. to argue
B. to remember
C. to solve
D. to delay
C. to solve
Why: “Move forward” = problem is finished. That tells us resolve = solve.
Question: Which revision best improves this sentence?
Original: The movie was good because it was interesting and good to watch.
A. The movie was good because it was good.
B. The movie was interesting and enjoyable to watch.
C. The movie was, like, good and interesting.
D. The movie was good to watch because it was a movie.
B. The movie was interesting and enjoyable to watch.
Why: It removes repetition (“good…good”) and makes the sentence clear and concise, which STAAR loves.
Passage:
“Yeah, this broken laptop is just perfect for finishing my project,” Nia muttered.
Question: What is the speaker most likely using?
A. symbolism
B. irony
C. allusion
D. rhyme
B. irony
Why: She says “perfect” but means the opposite → that’s sarcasm/irony.
Passage:
Plastic waste in oceans harms sea animals, damages habitats, and pollutes beaches. Because of these effects, many cities are reducing single-use plastic bags.
Question: Why does the author include the details about harm to sea animals and habitats?
A. To create humor
B. To support the idea that plastic waste is a serious problem
C. To compare beaches and cities
D. To describe a vacation destination
B. To support the idea that plastic waste is a serious problem
Why: The author lists harms (animals, habitats) to prove a point. That’s evidence used to support an idea, not random description.
Passage:
Andre reached for the send button, then paused. He reread the message twice, took a deep breath, and finally set his phone down.
Question: What can the reader infer about Andre?
A. He is excited to send the message
B. He is unsure about what he wrote
C. He forgot who the message is for
D. He is bored with the conversation
B. He is unsure about what he wrote
Why: He pauses, rereads, doesn’t send → shows hesitation. That means he’s unsure, not confident.
Passage:
The desert was arid; not a drop of rain had fallen there for months.
Question: What does arid most likely mean?
A. crowded
B. dry
C. cold
D. noisy
B. dry
Why: “No rain for months” = definition clue → arid = dry.
Question: Which sentence is a run-on?
A. I finished my homework before dinner.
B. I finished my homework, and I studied for the quiz.
C. I finished my homework I studied for the quiz.
D. After I finished my homework, I ate dinner.
C. I finished my homework I studied for the quiz.
Why: Two complete sentences with no punctuation = run-on.
Passage:
The wind whispered through the trees and tapped against the window.
Question: What device is used in this sentence?
A. personification
B. understatement
C. flashback
D. paradox
A. personification
Why: Wind is “whispering” and “tapping” → giving human traits to non-human thing.
Passage:
Unlike printed maps, GPS apps can update in real time and suggest faster routes when traffic changes. This makes them especially useful for drivers in unfamiliar places.
Question: Which sentence best states the central idea?
A. Printed maps are usually easier to read
B. Traffic is annoying for most drivers
C. GPS apps are helpful because they adjust to changing conditions
D. Drivers should never use paper maps
C. GPS apps are helpful because they adjust to changing conditions
Why: Every detail points to GPS being useful because it updates. That’s the big idea everything connects back to.
Passage:
Even after losing the first game, the team returned to practice the next day with more focus and determination.
Question: Which theme is best supported?
A. Losing means giving up
B. Success comes without effort
C. Setbacks can inspire growth
D. Teams should avoid competition
C. Setbacks can inspire growth
Why: They lose but come back stronger → that’s growth after failure, not giving up.
Passage:
Winning the scholarship was a significant moment for Lena because it meant she could attend college without financial stress.
Question: What does significant most likely mean?
A. unimportant
B. difficult
C. meaningful
D. accidental
C. meaningful
Why: Scholarship removes stress → big impact → significant = important/meaningful.
Question: Where should the comma go in this sentence?
Sentence: After the rain stopped we went outside.
A. After, the rain stopped we went outside.
B. After the rain stopped, we went outside.
C. After the rain, stopped we went outside.
D. No comma is needed
B. After the rain stopped, we went outside.
Why: Intro phrase → needs a comma after it. STAAR rule:
👉 After an introductory phrase, add a comma.
Passage:
By the time he finally opened the textbook, the night was nearly over.
Question: What can the reader infer?
A. He started studying early
B. He wasted a lot of time before studying
C. He finished all his work quickly
D. He enjoys reading textbooks
B. He wasted a lot of time before studying
Why: He waited until late → implies procrastination, not directly stated.
500
Passage:
School uniforms are often debated, but many principals say they reduce distractions and help students focus more on learning.
Question: Which word best describes the author’s tone?
A. Bitter
B. Informative
C. Sarcastic
D. Fearful
B. Informative
Why: The conflict is inside her (truth vs fear). That’s person vs self, not external.
Passage:
Nora wanted to tell the truth, but she feared disappointing her father. All evening, she replayed the conversation in her mind.
Question: What type of conflict is shown?
A. Person vs. nature
B. Person vs. self
C. Person vs. technology
D. Person vs. society
B. Person vs. self
Why: The conflict is inside her (truth vs fear). That’s person vs self, not external.
500
Passage:
The coach’s praise boosted Marcus’s confidence, and soon he walked onto the court with a bold, assured smile.
Question: Which context clue best helps the reader understand assured?
A. coach
B. court
C. bold
D. smile
C. bold
Why: “Bold” is a synonym clue → helps define “assured” as confident.
Question: Which revision best combines these ideas clearly?
Sentence 1: The test was difficult.
Sentence 2: Ava studied hard and passed it.
A. The test was difficult Ava studied hard and passed it.
B. The test was difficult, but Ava studied hard and passed it.
C. Difficult test hard Ava passed.
D. Ava passed. The test was difficult because studied hard.
B. The test was difficult, but Ava studied hard and passed it.
Why: Combines ideas clearly using a conjunction (“but”) → shows contrast and improves flow.
Passage:
At first, Kayla hated running. Weeks later, she signed up for a second race before the first one was even over.
Question: Which statement best explains the change in Kayla?
A. She was forced to run
B. She began to enjoy the challenge
C. She wanted to impress her friends
D. She forgot why she signed up
B. She began to enjoy the challenge
Why: She goes from hating it → signing up again → shows she started enjoying the challenge.