STAAR Wars

A. Central Idea

C. Editing- Past, present & future

D. Revising- Adding a Sentence

What is the most likely reason the author wrote the selection "Riding Out West"?

A. To express how important trains were for growing travel.
B. To describe where different states built railroad tracks.
C. To explain why some cities became crowded with more people.
D. To show why people liked to ride in trains more than in wagons.

A. To express how important trains were for growing travel

^{(1) Our class went on a field trip last week. (2) I did not thought a field trip to an outdoor museum would be interesting, but I was wrong. (3) The Chester Sculpture Garden is an amazing place to visit.}

^{What change, if any, should be made to sentence 2 ?}
^{A. Change I to we
B. Change thought to think
C. Change trip to trips
D. No change needed}

B. Change thought to think

^{(7) People have been interested in rhinoceros horns for centuries. (8)Some have used rhino horns to make jewelry or carving them into figurines. (9) Ancient Persians thought that these horns could detect poisons. (10) In Yemen the horns have been used to make the handle of special daggers that are given to boys when they become men. (11) All over the world people have found uses for the rhino horn.}

^{Maggie wants to add this sentence to the second paragraph:}^{As a result, the rhinoceros has become one of the world’s most endangered animals.}
^{Where is the BEST place to add this sentence?
A. After sentence 8
B. After sentence 9
C. After sentence 10
D. After sentence 11}

D. After sentence 11

Which detail from the passage best supports the idea that railroads helped El Paso grow?

A. El Paso is next to the Rio Grande River.
B. By 1890, 10,000 people lived in El Paso, more than 10 times the number before the railroads.
C. Animals that pulled wagons would get tired and have to rest often.
D. Railroads extended into New Mexico and beyond.

B. By 1890, 10,000 people lived in El Paso, more than 10 times the number before the railroads.

^{(8) Drawing was enjoyable, but walking around the garden to studied art was more fun.}

^{What change, if any, should be made to sentence 8?}
^{A. Change studied to study
B. Change drawing to drew
C. Change walking to will walk
D. No change needed}

A. Change studied to study

^{(12) Because of the rhino’s status as endangered, it’s against the law to kill one. (13) The number of rhinos has dropped drastically. (14) In fact, the rhino population has decreased by about 90 percent in the last 40 years. (15) There are now only about 30,000 remaining in the world. (16) It is uncertain whether the rhinoceros will survive as a species. (17) However, many people care about these animals and want to stop the illegal trade of rhino horns. (18) Governments are trying to write bigger laws to protect the rhinos. (19) Conservation organizations are working to make people aware of the problem. (20) Several zoos are developing breeding programs to increase the number of these animals.}

^{Maggie wants a better ending for her paper. Which sentence could BEST be added after sentence 20 to bring this paper to a more effective close?}

^{A) With the combined efforts of many people, it’s quite possible that the amazing rhinoceros will be saved from extinction.}
^{B) If the breeding programs work, there will be more rhinos in zoos soon.}
^{C) Finally, the rhinoceros that so many people love will survive, and it will probably be around for years to come}
^{D) And that will be the end of the worries about rhinos.}

A) With the combined efforts of many people, it’s quite possible that the amazing rhinoceros will be saved from extinction.

According to the passage, what is one way railroads changed life for people in Texas?

A. They made it harder to visit new places.
B. They made travel slower and more expensive.
C. They allowed people to move easily between cities and build new lives.
D. They caused people to stop traveling altogether.

C. They allowed people to move easily between cities and build new lives.

A loud clap of thunder shook the house, rattled the windows, and made me grab her close.

This sentence is written in:
A) Past tense
B) Present tense
C) Future tense

A) Past tense

^{A) It is also against the law to kill an African elephant.}
^{B) However, some people ignore this law to get a rhino horn.}
^{C) Many people believe a rhino horns can used on snakebites.}
^{D) Since rhinos are endangered, it’s against the law to kill them.}

^{B) However, some people ignore this law to get a rhino horn.}

What is the central idea of the selection "Riding Out West"?

A. Trains allowed people to travel to new places.
B. Trains saved people money when they traveled.
C. El Paso became a famous city that people moved to.
D. El Paso was the first city in Texas to build a railroad.

A. Trains allowed people to travel to new places

The rattlesnake gets its name from the rattle at the tip of its tail.

This sentence is written in:
A) past tense
B) present tense
C) future tense

B) present tense

^{(1) The rhinoceros is a huge mammal that is native to Africa and Asia. (2) This animal can grow to more than 6 feet tall and can weigh up to 6,000 pounds. (3) Although it has very stumpy legs, it can run as fast as 35 miles an hour. (4) These characteristics are certainly impressive, but the most unusual thing about a rhino is its horn. (5) A rhino horn, which weighs up to 10 pounds, is made of keratin, the same material that human fingernails are made of. (6) Because many people believe that this material has special powers, rhino horns have become extremely valuable.}

^{Maggie wants to add this detail to the first paragraph:}
^{Although, most animal horns have only a thin layer of keratin, a rhino’s horn is solid keratin.}
^{Where is the BEST place to add this sentence?}

^{A) After sentence 1}
^B)^{After sentence 2}
^{C) After sentence 3}
^{D) After sentence 5}

^{D) After sentence 5}

Which sentence from the passage best shows why railroads were important?

A. “The city is next to the Rio Grande River.”
B. “Few roads could accommodate wagons.”
C. “Railroads extended into New Mexico and beyond.”
D. “They helped bring goods, ideas, and people together.”

D. “They helped bring goods, ideas, and people together.”

A loud clap of thunder will shake the house and will rattle the windows.

A) past tense
B) present tense
C) future tense

C) future tense

^{(5) A rhino horn, which weighs up to 10 pounds, is made of keratin, the same material that human fingernails are made of. (6) Because many people believe that this material has special powers, rhino horns have become extremely valuable. (7) People have been interested in rhinoceros horns for centuries. (8)Some have used rhino horns to make jewelry or carving them into figurines.}

^{Which sentence would best fit after sentence 6?}

^{A. Rhino horns come in different shapes depending on the species.
B. Sadly, this high value has caused many rhinos to be hunted by poachers.
C. Baby rhinos stay close to their mothers for several years.
D. Some zoos around the world care for rhinos.}

^{B. Sadly, this high value has caused many rhinos to be hunted by poachers.}