Mrs. G.-LP-7th STAAR Redesign 23 #2046509 Practice Part 2

Camels Join the Army!

100

^{Read the dictionary entry.}

^{1. conclude a working career
2. remove from danger
3. retreat from a position
4. withdraw to bed}

^{Which definition best matches the meaning of retired in paragraph 10?}

^{ADefinition 1}

^{BDefinition 2}

^{CDefinition 3}

^{DDefinition 4}

^{A 1- conclude a working career}

200

^{Read this sentence from paragraph 9.}

^{Soldiers reported seeing this camel "swinging along, under a little mountain of carpet-sacks, cooking utensils, blankets, etc."}

^{The most likely reason the author uses figurative language in this description of the camel is to —}

^{A support the purpose for the camels being sold}

^{B emphasize the hardships the camels endured}

^{C convey the peculiar sight of the camels roaming}

^{D describe the type of terrain traveled by the camels}

^{C convey the peculiar sight of the camels roaming}

300

^{This question has two parts.}

^{Part A
The word “politician” has a Greek root that means “affairs of the city.” Based on this information, what does the word politicians mean as it is used in paragraph 7?}

 ^{As Texas politicians argued whether their state should also secede, General Twiggs saw a way to finally rid his command of the camels.} 

 ^{People who supervise transportation systems}

 ^{People in charge of buying and selling goods}

 ^{People who frequently debate}

 ^{People engaged in government}

 

^{Part B
Which phrase from paragraph 7 best supports the answer to Part A?}

 ^{argued whether their state should also secede}

 ^{rid his command of the camels}

 ^{before he received an answer}

 ^{found themselves in charge of weapons, supplies}

 People engaged in government

 argued whether their state should also secede

400

^{Which sentence from the article shows that some people viewed the camels as useful?}

^{A Davis hoped that the camels could be used to explore the deserts of west Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. (paragraph 2)}

^{B He suggested that he could save the U.S. government more than $500 each month by ending the Camel Corps. (paragraph 7)}

^{C They loaned other camels to the postal service to deliver mail around San Antonio, Texas. (paragraph 8)}

^{D When the Civil War ended in 1865, the camels at Camp Verde became the property of the U.S. government. (paragraph 10)}

^{C They loaned other camels to the postal service to deliver mail around San Antonio, Texas. (paragraph 8)}

500

 ^{What is most likely the author's purpose for organizing paragraphs 9 and 10 using cause-and-effect?}

^{9      The soldiers at Camp Verde paid little attention to them. Some camels wandered off; three traveled to the war-torn countryside of Arkansas. One Confederate general used a camel to carry his company's baggage. Soldiers reported seeing this camel "swinging along, under a little mountain of carpet-sacks, cooking utensils, blankets, etc."}

 ^{10      When the Civil War ended in 1865, the camels at Camp Verde became the property of the U.S. government. A year later, the 66 remaining camels were auctioned off. Edward Beale, who had been so taken with the camels, bought some of them. Beale's camels retired to his California ranch, where they lived in comfort. Others were bought and used to carry supplies over land. When these camels were no longer needed, the owners turned the camels loose. Over the years, settlers and miners claimed to see wild camels roaming the American Southwest.}

^{A To explain how the camels were able to travel long distances}

^{B To indicate that the camels were more helpful in certain locations}

^{C To illustrate why the soldiers ignored the camels}

^{D To explain how the camels ended up in many places}

^{D To explain how the camels ended up in many places}

Camels Join the Army! Cont.

100

^{What is the best summary of paragraphs 6 through 8 of the article?}

^{A Despite the ability of camels to carry large loads and go for long periods of time without water, the use of camels did not receive much support from the soldiers. Eventually the camels were used for delivering mail in Texas.}

^{B Camels began to gain the respect of some of the army leaders. The camels were admired for traveling long distances in severe environmental conditions. However, one general requested that the camels be released from military duty.}

^{C Camels were useful to the army because they could carry food and water without consuming any. However, one general wanted to end the use of camels, suggesting that it would save the government money. While his efforts were not successful, the camels were eventually used for other services.}

^{D Even though the camels were praised by the expedition leader, one general wanted to release them on the prairie in order to save the government money. Then Texas seceded from the Northern states, and the camels were put to work carrying supplies and mail.}

^{C Camels were useful to the army because they could carry food and water without consuming any. However, one general wanted to end the use of camels, suggesting that it would save the government money. While his efforts were not successful, the camels were eventually used for other services.}

200

^{Which sentence best expresses the controlling idea of the article?}

^{A The camels were bound for the newly formed U.S. Camel Corps that belonged to the U.S. War Department. (paragraph 2)}

^{B He believed the camels could carry supplies to remote army outposts and even carry soldiers to watch over pioneer settlements. (paragraph 2)}

^{C The Southern states decided to secede —or break away —from the Northern states and form the Confederate States of America. (paragraph 7)}

^{D He asked permission to sell the camels or let them loose on the prairie. (paragraph 7)}

^{B He believed the camels could carry supplies to remote army outposts and even carry soldiers to watch over pioneer settlements. (paragraph 2)}

300

^{Based on information presented in the article, the reader can infer that Edward Fitzgerald Beale —}

^{A believed that the camels had earned some time to relax}

^{B retired from the army after the Civil War}

^{C felt that the camels could survive only in a desert environment}

^{D left Texas after it seceded from the North}

^{A believed that the camels had earned some time to relax}

400

What genre is "Camels Join the Army!"? 

Informative = Expository = Informational

500

Read the article "Camels Join the Army!" Based on the information in the article, write a response to the following:

 

Based on information in the article, write an essay in which you argue that the U.S. Army should or should not have attempted to rebuild the Camel Corps following the Civil War.

 

Write a well-organized argumentative essay that uses specific evidence from the article to support your position.

 

Remember to —

     • clearly state your controlling idea
     • organize your writing
     • develop your ideas in detail
     • use evidence from the article in your response
     • use correct spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and grammar

 

Manage your time carefully so that you can —

 

     • review the article
     • plan your response
     • write your response
     • revise and edit your response

 What do you do?

Write your response in the box provided in DMAC.

The House on the Rock

100

Sentence 9 repeats an idea. Rewrite sentence 9 in a clear and effective way.

(9) This long, narrow room jutted out from the rest of the house and stuck out.

This long, narrow room jutted out from the rest of the house.

Or

This long, narrow room stuck out from the rest of the house.

200

^{Which additional detail could BEST follow and support sentence 13?}

^{(13) A few asked if they could get a closer look.} 

^{A Jordan built the house on such a magnificent site.}

^{B One room in the house features 3,064 windows.}

^{C They wanted to come a little closer to the house.}

^{D Jordan charged these early visitors 50 cents each.}

^{D Jordan charged these early visitors 50 cents each.}

300

The word worthy is not the appropriate word to use in sentence 26. Which word should replace worthy in this sentence?

(26) And although the items in some exhibits may look old and worthy, most are not.

A beneficial

B entertaining

C valuable

D effective

C valuable

400

^{Ainsley's paper ends abruptly. Which sentence can be added after sentence 29 to sum up the information in this paper and bring it to a more effective conclusion?}

    ^{(28) Although the House on the Rock is not an actual museum, it is still an enjoyable attraction. (29) People don't seem to care whether or not the items are genuine.} 

^{A They visit to be awed and entertained by the seemingly boundless imagination of one man.}

^{B They are intrigued by the views and the massive rock on which the house was built.}

^{C They usually say in exit surveys that they are simply unable to pick their favorite attraction.}

^{D They enjoy distinguishing between the authentic artifacts and the created ones.}

^{A They visit to be awed and entertained by the seemingly boundless imagination of one man.}

500

What genre is "The House on the Rock"?

Informative = Expository = Informational

My Masterpiece

100

^{Ivy needs to add a sentence to improve the introductory paragraph of her paper. Which sentence can BEST be added after sentence 1?}

  ^{(1) I had always wanted to try one of those guided painting classes. (2) So when our library decided to offer such a class, I told my friend Ella, and we both signed up.} 

^{A When I heard about the class, I knew the instructor would let me copy her painting exactly.}

^{B I'm talking about the kind where an instructor tells you how to make a painting step by step.}

^{C My friend Ella said we should spend time together over break, and I told her we should paint.}

^{D When I first tried to paint sunflowers, I was grateful to see I had a bit of natural talent for art.}

^{B I'm talking about the kind where an instructor tells you how to make a painting step by step.}

200

^{Ivy needs a better transition between the second paragraph (sentences 3–8) and the third paragraph (sentences 9–11). Which phrase can she add to the beginning of sentence 9 to help with this transition?}

   ^{(3) On the big day, we entered the library's community room and saw that it had been transformed into a makeshift art studio. (4) Small easels, each holding a blank canvas, stood on folding tables. (5) A paper plate topped with huge, glistening dabs of red, yellow, white, and blue paint was next to each easel. (6) Our first assignment was to paint a white vase of cheerful yellow sunflowers against a blue background. (7) I wanted to snag seats directly in front of the instructor, thinking I might be able to copy her strokes. (8) I quickly herded Ella to the front of the room.
      (9) We were asked to paint our canvas blue. (10) It was easy to follow the artist's sweeping, back-and-forth motions, and although I had never painted before, I could tell I was a natural. (11) I started thinking about where I would hang my new masterpiece.} 

^{A In response}

^{B For this reason}

^{C As the class began}

^{D In the same way}

^{C As the class began}

300

^{What is the MOST effective way to combine sentences 14 and 15?}

^{(14) I tried to cover the jagged white streak with blue paint. (15) To my horror it remained visible beneath the blue.} 

^{A The jagged white streak that I tried to cover with blue paint to my horror remained visible beneath the blue.}

^{B I tried to cover the jagged white streak with blue paint, to my horror it remained visible beneath the blue.}

^{C Trying to cover the jagged white streak with blue paint, it remained visible to my horror beneath the blue.}

^{D I tried to cover the jagged white streak with blue paint, but to my horror it remained visible beneath the blue.}

^{D I tried to cover the jagged white streak with blue paint, but to my horror it remained visible beneath the blue.}

400

^{Ivy has included a sentence that does not belong in the sixth paragraph (sentences 23–28). Which sentence should she remove from this paragraph?}

     ^{(23) Ella must have felt bad for me, because she sweetly complimented my sunflowers. (24) She was wearing a dress that was almost the same shade of yellow. (25) When I said that hers were much better, she looked surprised. (26) "No, they're not. (27) I messed up in at least five places." (28) After a few seconds, she asked, "Want to trade paintings?"} 

^{A Sentence 23}

^{B Sentence 24}

^{C Sentence 25}

^{D Sentence 26}

^{B Sentence 24}

500

^{Ivy needs a better closing sentence for the last paragraph (sentences 33–36). Which sentence should replace sentence 36?}

   ^{(33) That was two years ago, and since then I've taken a few more classes and gotten better at following the instructor's directions. (34) But my sunflower painting still hangs in the most prominent place in my room-directly above my bed. (35) I look at it frequently and smile. (36) I really like it now.} 

^{A Every time I see it, I think of all the difficulty I experienced while painting it.}

^{B To this day, I love to wear the T-shirt I had on that day in the painting class.}

^{C As imperfect as it is, that painting makes me feel happy now.}

^{D From there people see it as they pass by on the sidewalk below.}

^{C As imperfect as it is, that painting makes me feel happy now.}

A Season of Changes/Get It Together

100

^{What change should be made in sentence 3?}

^{(3) My dad changed careers and started working longer hours which meant that everyone had to help more at home.} 

^{A Change careers to career's}

^{B Insert a comma after hours}

^{C Change meant to mint}

^{D Change had to has}

^{B Insert a comma after hours}

200

^{What change should be made in sentence 6?}

^{(6) After the initial shock, my parents finally allow us to keep the puppy, but they had a single stipulation.} 

^{A Change the comma after shock to a semicolon}

^{B Change allow to allowed}

^{C Delete but}

^{D Change single to singel}

^{B Change allow to allowed}

300

^{What change, if any, should be made in sentence 8?}

 ^{(8) Of course, I agreed immediately, but to be honest, I had no idea how drastically my life was about to change.}

^{A Change course to coarse}

^{B Change the comma after honest to a period}

^{C Change drastically to drastic}

^{D No change is needed.}

^{D No change is needed.}

400

^{What change should be made in sentence 3?}

^{(3) Another student stands by the door of his Spanish classroom he is frantically reviewing notes for an upcoming quiz.}

^{A Change stands to will stand}

^{B Change Spanish to spanish}

^{C Insert a semicolon after classroom}

^{D Change reviewing to reveiwing}

^{C Insert a semicolon after classroom}

500

^{What change should be made in sentence 4?}

 ^{(4) These sceens occur daily in school hallways across the country.}

^{A Change sceens to scenes}

^{B Change occur to occuring}

^{C Change across to cross}

^{D Change country to Country}

^{A Change sceens to scenes}